If you pay for only one: choose Claude for writing and code, ChatGPT Plus for the broadest feature set, or Google AI Plus or Pro for images and Google integration.
“Free tier” can mean Gemini works all day without reaching a limit, while Claude hits its limit after a few rounds. The same monthly price can also buy very different capabilities. This guide compares Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity from free access through API pricing, then recommends options by use case. Prices follow official pages: Google lists Taiwan prices in TWD, while other providers mainly list USD; check checkout for the amount charged in TWD.
Monthly prices (TWD and USD)
Information as of October 14, 2026 (Claude plans: October 31, 2026), based on each provider’s official pricing page. Taxes depend on the checkout region.
| Service | Free | Entry paid plan | Main paid plan | High usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini (Google AI) | NT$0 | AI Plus NT$165/month | AI Pro NT$650/month | AI Ultra NT$3,300 or NT$6,500/month |
| ChatGPT | US$0 | Go (US$8/month in the US; local pricing in some regions) | Plus US$20/month | Pro US$100, US$200, or US$500/month |
| Claude | US$0 | None | Pro US$20/month (US$17/month billed annually) | Max US$100/month, Ultra US$200/month |
| Grok | US$0 | Plus US$8/month | Premium US$30/month | Super US$100 or Ultra US$200/month |
| Perplexity | US$0 | None | Pro US$20/month (US$17/month billed annually) | Max US$200/month |
- Google lists Taiwan monthly prices in TWD (NT$165/650/3,300/6,500) on its official plan page.
- ChatGPT Pro comes in US$100, US$200, and US$500 tiers, which differ mainly in usage (OpenAI release notes).
- Since October 12, 2026, new Grok subscribers choose from Plus, Premium, Super, and Ultra, rolling out globally over several days (check checkout for your region); paid plans include X Premium benefits when you connect your X account. Existing SuperGrok and X Premium plans continue (xAI announcement).
- Claude lists local-currency billing; check checkout for the amount in TWD.
Free-tier comparison
| Model | What you can use for free | Quota | Biggest limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Sonnet + Haiku | Medium; wait for the quota to reset after reaching the message limit | Flagship models and Claude Code require payment |
| ChatGPT | Primary model, unlimited text | Generous | Images and advanced tools have limits |
| Gemini | Flash-Lite + image generation + Deep Research + Gemini Live | Very generous | Model usage is limited; video generation requires payment |
| Grok | Chat, image generation, and voice | Limited (no official count) | Wait for the reset when it runs out; sign in with X or email |
| Perplexity | Unlimited basic search + limited Pro Search | Sufficient | Deep Research once a month on Free |
Gemini offers the widest range of free features: the Flash-Lite model, Nano Banana 2 image generation, Gemini Live voice, and Deep Research. ChatGPT offers unlimited text conversations, but limits images and tools. Claude has the highest quality but the tightest quota. Perplexity is the best starting point for research because its basic search is strong.
A zero-cost stack: ChatGPT for everyday text, Gemini for visuals, Perplexity for search, and Claude’s limited quota for high-quality writing. That covers about 80% of everyday needs.
Paid-tier comparison
| Category | Claude Pro/Max/Ultra | ChatGPT Go/Plus/Pro | Google AI Plus/Pro/Ultra | Grok Plus/Premium/Super | Perplexity Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | US$20 / Max US$100 / Ultra US$200 | Go US$8; Plus US$20; Pro US$100–500 | NT$165 / NT$650 / NT$3,300–6,500 | Plus US$8; Premium US$30; Super US$100 | US$20 (US$17 billed annually) |
| Flagship model | Opus; Fable costs extra usage on Pro and uses up to half the weekly quota on Max and Ultra | GPT-6 Pro (Pro $100, Pro $200, Business, Enterprise); Plus includes GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex | Flash model (AI Plus and above), Pro model (AI Pro and above) | Latest Grok models (Premium and above) | Search integration |
| Images | None | Yes | Yes (Nano Banana 2) | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | Claude Code, Research | GPTs, Codex, Deep Research | Workspace integration, video generation, Flow credits, Antigravity | X integration, Grok Bot (Premium and above) | File analysis, Deep Research |
Claude: flagship models justify the subscription
Opus breaks down assumptions and analyzes problems from multiple angles where Sonnet may simply provide a reasonable answer. Fable is the new flagship for reasoning and writing. Pro costs US$20/month, or US$17/month with annual billing, and includes Opus. Fable is not included in Pro’s plan quota and requires paid usage credits. Max (US$100) and Ultra (US$200) raise the limits; Fable can use up to half of the weekly quota on both (Claude pricing). See Claude Opus vs Sonnet for details.
ChatGPT: everything in one plan
Go costs US$8/month in the US (ads may appear in some regions, including Taiwan) and suits occasional users who reach the free limit. Its chat model is the same Luna as Free, with a higher quota. Plus costs US$20/month and includes search, images, voice, data analysis, and GPTs, with Sol for chat. GPT-6 Sol began rolling out on October 7, 2026, and GPT-6 Luna on October 8; availability depends on your account. GPT-6 Pro, powered by GPT-6 Astra, is available in Chat on Pro $100, Pro $200, Business, and Enterprise; Plus users can use GPT-6 Astra in ChatGPT Work and Codex (OpenAI details). ChatGPT Plus is not the leader in every individual category, but it is the only option that does nearly everything. See Claude vs ChatGPT and Gemini vs ChatGPT.
Gemini: the cheapest paid entry
AI Plus costs NT$165/month, the lowest entry price of the five, with the Flash model, 2x the Free usage limits, video generation, Flow credits, and 400 GB of storage. AI Pro costs NT$650/month with 4x the Free limits and adds the Pro model, the Antigravity coding tool, and 5 TB. For people who already need Google One, AI Plus can feel like an almost-free AI upgrade. Its disadvantage is a less complete Chinese experience than ChatGPT. See Gemini Free vs Google AI Pro.
Perplexity Pro: built for verification
Perplexity does not compete on chat quality. Its value is search depth and source credibility. Pro substantially increases query limits and adds file analysis and deeper multi-source research. See Perplexity vs ChatGPT.
API pricing
APIs charge by token, and prices change frequently. Check the latest platform pages for exact figures. Output tokens typically cost three to five times as much as input tokens.
| Platform | Representative model | Standard short-prompt input / output per 1M tokens | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Fable 5.1 | US$10 / US$50 | Opus 5.5 US$4 / US$20, Sonnet 5.5 US$2 / US$10, Haiku 5.5 US$0.10 / US$0.50 (prompts up to 100K tokens); prompt caching available |
| OpenAI | GPT-6 Sol | US$2 / US$10 | GPT-6 Luna US$0.10 / US$0.50; GPT-6 Astra US$10 / US$50; batch API available |
| Gemini | 3.8 Flash | US$0.75 / US$3.75 (through 2026; US$1.50 / US$7.50 from January 1, 2027) | Generous free quota; small personal projects may cost nothing. Free-tier content is used to improve Google products |
| Grok | Grok 4.7 | US$2 / US$6 | Fast is available only in Cursor and Grok Build, not the public API |
The first rule: set a hard limit on every API key. A buggy pipeline can repeat the same call hundreds of times and create a large bill. Use batch processing to lower costs when the workflow does not require an immediate response.
Best value by use case
- Students and light users: ChatGPT + Gemini + Perplexity free tiers, at zero cost. See the Gemini student plan guide for student offers.
- Content creators: Claude Pro for text + ChatGPT Plus for images. If the budget covers only one, choose ChatGPT and use Claude’s free quota for writing.
- Developers: Claude Max for architecture and code review + ChatGPT Plus or Pro for Codex execution.
- Heavy users: Claude Max + ChatGPT Pro + Google AI Pro + Perplexity Pro + Grok. When the tools save billable time, the return is often positive.
If only one can remain, choose Claude Max. Its writing and coding advantages are the hardest to replace; Gemini Free can cover images and Perplexity Free can cover search.
Penchan’s experience
I subscribe to all five: Claude Ultra, ChatGPT Pro, Google AI Pro, Perplexity Pro, and Grok. Claude handles long-form and multi-agent work, ChatGPT handles ideation and programming, Gemini creates visuals, Perplexity verifies facts, and Grok tracks real-time information. If I could keep only one, it would be Claude Max because the largest gaps are in writing and programming, while the other functions have free substitutes.
Google’s TWD prices are official list prices; other providers’ USD prices are official list prices, and TWD charges depend on regional checkout. Actual prices follow each platform’s latest announcements. This consumer comparison of AI subscriptions is not investment advice.