ChatGPT vs Consensus
ChatGPT and Consensus overlap on work tasks and share 2 tasks. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.
Short answer
ChatGPT wins for 20 of 20 roles in our data. Consensus starts at $8.99/mo and ChatGPT at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Verdict by role
| Role | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | ChatGPT | covers 20 tasks relevant to this role against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Lawyer | ChatGPT | covers 21 tasks relevant to this role against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| HR manager | ChatGPT | covers 24 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Finance manager | ChatGPT | covers 22 tasks relevant to this role against 1; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Marketer | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Sales manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Data analyst | ChatGPT | covers 24 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Teacher | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Executive assistant | ChatGPT | covers 41 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Logistics manager | ChatGPT | covers 41 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Procurement manager | ChatGPT | covers 24 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Secretary | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Recruiter | ChatGPT | covers 25 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| HR administrator | ChatGPT | covers 24 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Tax consultant | ChatGPT | covers 21 tasks relevant to this role against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Auditor | ChatGPT | covers 20 tasks relevant to this role against 0; built for this role |
| Economist | ChatGPT | covers 22 tasks relevant to this role against 1; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Project manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Social media manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 tasks relevant to this role against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
Side by side
| ChatGPT | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | OpenAI | Consensus |
| Category | Chat assistants | Research and search |
| Free plan | Yes: The default model with a limited number of messages every few hours, after which it switches to a lighter model; file uploads and image generation with small limits; no Projects with large files and no full Deep Research | Yes: Unlimited search, a limited number of AI summary queries a month |
| Cheapest paid plan | Plus, $20/mo | Premium, $8.99/mo |
| Top plan | Pro, $200/mo | Teams, $9.99/mo |
| Tasks covered | 64 | 3 |
ChatGPT: All-purpose chat assistant with web search, file and spreadsheet analysis, voice and custom GPTs.
Consensus: Answers from research papers with a meter of how many studies agree and disagree.
Tasks both handle
Only ChatGPT covers
- Categorize a bank statement by cash flow line
- Write a business letter
- Get a spreadsheet formula from a plain-language request
- Analyze budget variances, actual versus plan
- Write a job ad and a job description
- Write a customer FAQ
- Write a sales proposal
- Reconcile the trial balance with the bank and source documents
Only Consensus covers
Pitfalls to watch at work
ChatGPT
- On the free and personal paid plans, chats may be used for training by default: in Settings, Data controls, turn off Improve the model for everyone before your first work task
- Employee names and tax IDs, account details, amounts and contract terms go into the chat only anonymized: replace them with [Employee 1], [Counterparty], [X]
- The model invents statute numbers, court decisions and links in a confident tone: check every such fact in the primary source
Consensus
- The agreement meter counts papers without weighing their quality: one large study matters more than ten small ones
- For decisions about people (hiring, evaluation) a research summary stays background information and is never the basis for the decision
FAQ
Is ChatGPT or Consensus better for work?
In our data ChatGPT is the better choice for 20 of 20 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.
Which is cheaper, ChatGPT or Consensus?
Consensus starts at $8.99/mo and ChatGPT at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Do ChatGPT and Consensus have free plans?
ChatGPT: Yes. The default model with a limited number of messages every few hours, after which it switches to a lighter model; file uploads and image generation with small limits; no Projects with large files and no full Deep Research. Consensus: Yes. Unlimited search, a limited number of AI summary queries a month.
Compare ChatGPT with
- ChatGPT vs Claude
- ChatGPT vs Copilot in Word
- ChatGPT vs Gemini in Google Sheets
- ChatGPT vs NotebookLM
- ChatGPT vs Gemini
Compare Consensus with
- Consensus vs Elicit
- Consensus vs Perplexity
- Consensus vs Semantic Scholar
- Consensus vs Scite
- Consensus vs Gemini in Google Drive
Alternatives to ChatGPT · Alternatives to Consensus · ChatGPT pricing · Consensus pricing
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