Anthropic vs OpenAI
Updated onCompare Anthropic and OpenAI side-by-side. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and target market.
Anthropic
AI safety and research company that develops the Claude family of large language models and related products for businesses and developers.
Starts at $0
vs
OpenAI
OpenAI is an American artificial intelligence company that develops advanced language, vision, and multimodal models and products such as ChatGPT and the OpenAI API.
Starts at $0 / month
Which should you choose?
Anthropic
You prioritize safety‑first governance, HIPAA‑ready enterprise offerings, and multi‑cloud deployment options for highly regulated or security‑sensitive workloads, and you’re willing to trade some consumer‑grade features for stronger compliance and controls. ([privacy.claude.com](https://privacy.claude.com/en/articles/10015870-what-certifications-has-anthropic-obtained))
OpenAI
You want the broadest feature set and ecosystem (voice, video, images, custom agents), very strong prosumer and SMB adoption, and a mature developer platform and Azure integration, while still having enterprise‑grade security through ChatGPT Business/Enterprise and the OpenAI API. ([openai.com](https://openai.com/business/chatgpt-pricing/))
Typical cost comparison
Scenario: 10-person knowledge-work team on entry-level business plans, billed annually
Anthropic
$300 per month
OpenAI
$250 per month
OpenAI saves you $50 per month in this scenario.
Key differences
| Category | Anthropic | OpenAI | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Cost Profile | ChatGPT Business seats are typically cheaper than Claude Team and OpenAI’s flagship GPT‑5.2 API tokens are priced aggressively, but Claude offers a generous, ad‑free free tier and competitive Sonnet and Opus API pricing that can be more economical for certain workloads, so the cheaper option depends on plan and model mix. ([openai.com](https://openai.com/business/chatgpt-pricing/)) | ||
| Cloud & Deployment Flexibility | Claude is available via Anthropic’s own platform and fully managed offerings on AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI and now Azure, giving enterprises true multi‑cloud choice, while OpenAI models are offered mainly through OpenAI’s own platform and the Azure OpenAI / Azure AI Foundry services. ([aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/anthropic/)) | ||
| Enterprise Governance, Compliance & Regulated Use | Anthropic leads with a safety‑first narrative and offers HIPAA‑ready Enterprise plans with BAAs plus ISO 27001, ISO 42001 and SOC 2 certifications, while OpenAI emphasizes SOC 2 and privacy addenda but generally limits HIPAA‑grade use to specialized healthcare offerings rather than standard ChatGPT tiers. ([privacy.claude.com](https://privacy.claude.com/en/articles/10015870-what-certifications-has-anthropic-obtained)) | ||
| Feature Breadth & Multimodality in the Chat App | ChatGPT bundles advanced voice conversations, live video, integrated image and video generation, and rich customization into one interface, whereas Claude focuses on text and vision with strong reasoning but fewer native multimedia and automation features. ([chatgpt.com](https://chatgpt.com/features/voice-with-video/)) | ||
| Primary Audience & Go-To Use Cases | OpenAI’s ChatGPT is the default starting point for most consumers and prosumers and widely adopted by small teams, whereas Anthropic positions Claude more explicitly as an AI for work and enterprise problem‑solving. ([chatgpt.com](https://chatgpt.com/)) |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Anthropic | OpenAI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Enterprise per-seat plans | Claude offers Team and Enterprise plans and ChatGPT offers Business and Enterprise, all priced per user per month with centralized billing and admin controls. ([claude.com](https://claude.com/pricing)) | ||
| Consumer chat product with free tier | Both Anthropic (Claude) and OpenAI (ChatGPT) provide browser, desktop and mobile chat apps with free tiers, though limits, ads, and available models differ by plan. ([claude.ai](https://claude.ai/)) | ||
| Developer API with tools/agents and fine-tuning | Both vendors expose rich APIs with tool use and agent workflows; OpenAI currently has a broader model catalog and Agents SDK, while Anthropic offers Skills, Cowork, a Compliance API, and integrations via AWS Bedrock and Vertex AI. ([claude.ai](https://claude.ai/)) | ||
| Safety-focused training & alignment as a product theme | Anthropic markets Claude as built with a safety‑first, Constitutional‑AI approach, while OpenAI also invests heavily in alignment and safety but emphasizes capability and versatility more in its product messaging. ([claude.ai](https://claude.ai/)) | ||
| Ads-free default experience in core chat product | Claude explicitly advertises no ads or sponsored content, whereas OpenAI has begun testing ads on Free/Go ChatGPT tiers while keeping Plus/Pro ad‑free. ([claude.com](https://claude.com/product/overview)) | ||
| HIPAA-ready configuration with BAA | Anthropic sells a HIPAA‑ready Claude Enterprise configuration with BAAs and specific safeguards, whereas OpenAI generally does not sign BAAs for standard ChatGPT tiers and instead steers regulated customers to limited healthcare or API configurations. ([support.claude.com](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/13296973-hipaa-ready-enterprise-plans)) | ||
| Multi-cloud deployment on major hyperscalers | Claude is natively available on AWS Bedrock and Google Cloud Vertex AI and is being deployed on Azure, while OpenAI models are primarily consumable via OpenAI’s own platform plus Azure OpenAI / Azure AI Foundry. ([aws.amazon.com](https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/anthropic/)) | ||
| Native image & video generation in chat | Claude can analyze images but lacks official built‑in text‑to‑image or text‑to‑video generation, while ChatGPT integrates DALL·E‑style image tools and Sora‑based video generation for paid tiers. ([platform.claude.com](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/vision)) | ||
| Native voice conversations with real-time video | ChatGPT supports full‑duplex voice and live video conversations on mobile and web for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans, whereas Claude does not yet offer an equivalent live audio‑video chat mode. ([chatgpt.com](https://chatgpt.com/features/voice-with-video/)) |
Review Consensus
Anthropic
"Across expert and user reviews, Claude is praised for thoughtful, safe long‑context reasoning and a refined UX, but criticized for stricter limits and fewer built‑in multimedia and automation features than ChatGPT. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/features))"
Based on 88 reviews
- ● Users praise Claude’s clear, contextual writing and reasoning, especially for complex problem‑solving and long-form content. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/features))
- ● Many reviewers like its ability to handle long documents and large contexts without losing the thread. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
- ● Security-conscious teams appreciate Anthropic’s safety posture and conservative handling of sensitive or controversial topics. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
- ● Frequent complaints focus on usage and rate limits that can interrupt longer troubleshooting or coding sessions. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
- ● Some users find Claude less feature-rich than ChatGPT, citing absent native image/video tools and fewer integrations. ([pcmag.com](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/claude))
- ● A subset report that Claude can be overly cautious or vague on sensitive topics compared with other models. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
Data as of 2/19/2026
- ● PCMag finds Claude polished and capable at general tasks, with a pleasant interface and strong writing quality. ([pcmag.com](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/claude))
- ● Reviewers highlight Claude’s usefulness as a thoughtful assistant for research, planning and creative work. ([pcmag.com](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/claude))
- ● They note that Claude often feels more human and reflective than some competitors in extended conversations. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● PCMag and others point out that Claude lags peers on sheer feature breadth and ecosystem integrations. ([pcmag.com](https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/claude))
- ● Some tests show occasional weaknesses in very technical or niche tasks compared with the latest GPT‑5.x models. ([geeky-gadgets.com](https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/claude-opus-4-6-performance/))
- ● Reviewers also mention message caps and occasional sluggishness when Claude is doing extended reasoning. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/claude-2025-12-11/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
Data as of 2/19/2026
- ● Hands‑on testing finds Opus 4.6 exceptionally strong at reasoning, creativity and complex multi‑step tasks. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● Reviewers describe Claude’s responses as more self‑aware and conversationally natural than many rivals. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● The long context window and ability to work across big documents are highlighted as major productivity wins. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● Tom’s Guide notes that Claude can occasionally overthink or be slower when deep reasoning is enabled. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● They point out that Claude still lacks some convenience automations and app tie‑ins that ChatGPT users enjoy. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
- ● Some tradeoffs are seen in edge cases where Claude is more cautious or evasive than direct. ([tomsguide.com](https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/i-spent-24-hours-with-claude-opus-4-6-heres-why-it-feels-more-human-than-any-other-ai-ive-tested))
Data as of 2/19/2026
OpenAI
"User and analyst reviews show ChatGPT/OpenAI as a highly rated, feature‑rich and widely adopted platform whose main challenges are managing hallucinations, pricing complexity and enterprise data‑governance risk rather than raw capability. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/features))"
Based on 1,821 reviews
- ● Reviewers consistently praise ChatGPT’s ease of use and versatility across writing, coding, analysis and everyday tasks. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/features))
- ● Many users highlight huge time savings and productivity gains for both individuals and teams. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/openai-chatgpt/reviews?page=2&qs=pros-and-cons))
- ● The rich feature set—custom GPTs, plugins, multimodal input and broad integrations—is seen as a major advantage. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/features))
- ● Common complaints focus on hallucinations or incorrect answers that still require human verification. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/products/chatgpt/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons))
- ● Some enterprises worry about data privacy and compliance if ChatGPT is used without strict governance. ([softkraft.co](https://www.softkraft.co/openai-data-security/))
- ● A subset of users find pricing and tier fragmentation (Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise) confusing. ([ucstrategies.com](https://ucstrategies.com/news/understanding-the-differences-between-claude-free-and-paid-plans-features-usage-limits-and-pricing/))
Data as of 2/19/2026
Based on 1,961 reviews
- ● OpenAI’s portfolio (ChatGPT, DALL·E, API) is valued for strong core models and rapid innovation cadence. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openai))
- ● API and platform capabilities score highly for scalability and integration flexibility in enterprise use. ([gartner.com](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/ai-application-development-platforms/vendor/openai-32467057/product/openai-api))
- ● Customers appreciate the breadth of categories OpenAI leads in, from chatbots to image and code generation. ([g2.com](https://www.g2.com/sellers/openai))
- ● Some reviews mention complex contracting and pricing negotiations for large-scale enterprise deployments. ([gartner.com](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/ai-application-development-platforms/vendor/openai-32467057/product/openai-api))
- ● Enterprises note that managing data residency, retention and auditability requires careful configuration and legal review. ([redresscompliance.com](https://redresscompliance.com/data-privacy-risks-in-openai-contracts/))
- ● A minority report concerns about vendor lock‑in due to tight coupling with Azure and OpenAI’s ecosystem. ([techcommunity.microsoft.com](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azure-ai-foundry-blog/gpt-5-model-family-now-powers-azure-ai-foundry-agent-service/4454860))
Data as of 2/19/2026
Based on 205 reviews
- ● Gartner reviewers rate OpenAI API highly on product capabilities and integration/deployment experience. ([gartner.com](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/ai-application-development-platforms/vendor/openai-32467057/product/openai-api))
- ● Many cite fast time‑to‑value when adding GPT models into apps via the API or Azure OpenAI. ([gartner.com](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/ai-application-development-platforms/vendor/openai-32467057/product/openai-api))
- ● The breadth of models (GPT‑5 family, reasoning models, multimodal) is seen as a competitive edge. ([ai.azure.com](https://ai.azure.com/catalog/models/gpt-5))
- ● Some customers mention that support and documentation can lag behind rapid feature releases. ([gartner.com](https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/ai-application-development-platforms/vendor/openai-32467057/product/openai-api))
- ● A few reviews flag cost predictability and rate changes as ongoing concerns at high scale. ([burnwise.io](https://www.burnwise.io/ai-pricing/openai))
- ● Enterprises sometimes struggle with internal governance around ChatGPT and API use, not just the tooling itself. ([softkraft.co](https://www.softkraft.co/openai-data-security/))
Data as of 2/19/2026
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