What AI subscriptions cost in 2026 and which one is worth it

Does this sound familiar? You sign up for an AI subscription, pay your $20 month after month, and then realize after a few weeks that another service would have been a much better fit for what you’re actually using AI for. That’s exactly where the problem lies. At first glance, the market looks like a one-size-fits-all pricing model. ChatGPT Plus costs $20 (€23), Google AI Pro $19.99 (€21.99), and Claude Pro and Perplexity Pro are around $20 (€18). If you only look at the numbers, you’re missing the point. While you pay roughly the same amount almost everywhere, you’re actually buying something different each time.

The big picture

The table shows it at a glance. When it comes to the basic subscription, there’s hardly any difference between providers, most are around $20. The difference lies elsewhere. Each service has its own specialty and clear weaknesses. Here’s what you really get for your money.

ChatGPT: the reliable all-rounder

The Plus plan, at $20 (€23) per month, offers the most comprehensive toolkit on the market, combining text, images, voice mode, data analysis, and custom GPTs all in one app. If you’re not sure exactly what you need AI for, this is the safest bet. The downside is that ChatGPT often responds in a deliberately cautious and detailed manner, whereas others get to the point more quickly. The Pro tier for $200 (€229) is only worth it for heavy users who need the most powerful models without strict limits.

Google Gemini: strong in Google’s ecosystem

AI Pro for $19.99 (€21.99) offers more than just the model, namely 2 TB of storage, Gemini integrated directly into Gmail, Docs, and on Android phones, plus video generation and a very large context window for long documents. Those who already live in Google’s ecosystem will get the most out of this. AI Ultra, starting at $99.99 (€99.99), is overkill for average users.

Anthropic Claude: the text engine

The Pro plan, for around $20 (€18), delivers the cleanest and best-structured texts, especially for long documents like term papers or code documentation, along with a large context window. When it comes to programming, many consider Claude the top choice. However, it lacks a few extras, most notably its own image generator, which the other services include. Max, starting at around $100 (€90), is strictly for power users.

Perplexity: answers with sources

The Pro plan, for around $20 (€18), isn’t a traditional chatbot but rather an answer engine with footnotes. Every statement comes with a link, so you can verify where it comes from. For research, academic study, and fact-checking, it’s hard to beat. For creative or open-ended tasks, however, Perplexity falls short of a pure chatbot. For heavy users, Perplexity offers the Max tier, priced at around $200 (€175) depending on the market.

Grok: Real-time and a casual tone

SuperGrok, priced at around $30 (€27), runs directly on X and draws its connection to current events from there, complemented by a more casual, sometimes cheeky tone. It’s great if you want to know what’s happening right now. Its focus is on currency and tone, not deep, well-sourced research. “Heavy” is the professional tier, priced at around $300 (€255) depending on the market.

Microsoft Copilot: AI in the office

Copilot used to be available as a standalone subscription; today, the AI is integrated into Microsoft 365, starting at $9.99 (€9.99) per month or around $100 (€100) per year. In Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, this is the quickest way to integrate AI into your workflow; when bundled with Office, it’s even more affordable than the competitors’ standalone subscriptions. Outside of Office, however, Copilot is noticeably more limited and less flexible than a standalone chatbot. Those who want more can opt for Microsoft 365 Premium for $199.99 (€219) a year, which now includes the former Copilot Pro.

What do you get for free?

All six have a free tier, but they vary in how useful they are. It’s not the number of messages that matters, but the model. Almost everywhere, the free version only gives you the fast, everyday model; the most powerful one is reserved for paid plans.

ChatGPT runs for free on the fast standard model and switches to a more limited version after just a few messages; the latest models aren’t available. Claude gives you the solid Sonnet model for free, complete with a large context window; the top-tier Opus model is available only with a subscription. The free tier at Perplexity is the most useful, since searching with sources works even without a subscription, only in-depth searches are capped at a few per day. The free version of Gemini is especially worthwhile if you already use a Google account. Grok runs for free with limited functionality via X, and Copilot allows free chatting, but its real strength in Word and Excel is found in the paid package.

Which subscription is right for whom?

Beginners and those who are undecided are best off with ChatGPT, the broad all-rounder for explanations and summaries. For academic work and research with citations, Perplexity is the go-to choice because every answer includes its source. For programming and long texts, Claude is the top pick with clean code and good documentation. In the office with Word, Excel, and Outlook, Copilot shines with its integration, while heavy Google users get the most out of Gemini and its extras. When it comes to images and video, ChatGPT and Gemini offer the broadest capabilities, with Gemini especially strong in video, while Claude is the only one of the six that doesn’t generate images at all. And if you want to stay close to what’s happening on X, Grok is the right fit.

Almost all main subscriptions cost around $20 a month; the euro prices include VAT, while the dollar prices are shown pre-tax. The difference isn’t in the price, but in what you do with it. For most people, a single subscription is enough. The “Pro,” “Max,” “Ultra,” and “Heavy” tiers aren’t standard products, but rather plans designed for heavy users and professionals. Their prices and features depend more on the market, bundling, and availability; if in doubt, refer to the provider’s specifications. Choose the subscription that fits your daily life, not the one with the longest list of features.