ChatGPT vs Grok
ChatGPT and Grok sit in the same category and share 3 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. Grok starts at $8/mo and ChatGPT at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Verdict by role
| Role | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | ChatGPT | covers 20 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Lawyer | ChatGPT | covers 21 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| HR manager | ChatGPT | covers 24 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Finance manager | ChatGPT | covers 22 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Marketer | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Sales manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3 |
| Data analyst | ChatGPT | covers 24 of this role's tasks against 2; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Teacher | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Executive assistant | ChatGPT | covers 41 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Logistics manager | ChatGPT | covers 41 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Procurement manager | ChatGPT | covers 24 of this role's tasks against 1; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Secretary | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Recruiter | ChatGPT | covers 25 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| HR administrator | ChatGPT | covers 24 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Tax consultant | ChatGPT | covers 21 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Auditor | ChatGPT | covers 20 of this role's tasks against 0; built for this role |
| Economist | ChatGPT | covers 22 of this role's tasks against 0; part of the role's core toolkit; built for this role |
| Project manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Social media manager | ChatGPT | covers 40 of this role's tasks against 3; part of the role's core toolkit |
Side by side
| ChatGPT | Grok | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | OpenAI | xAI |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| 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: A limited number of messages every few hours, limited reasoning and DeepSearch, image generation with a small quota |
| Cheapest paid plan | Plus, $20/mo | X Premium, $8/mo |
| Top plan | Pro, $200/mo | SuperGrok Heavy, $300/mo |
| Tasks covered | 64 | 3 |
ChatGPT: All-purpose chat assistant with web search, file and spreadsheet analysis, voice and custom GPTs.
Grok: xAI chat with real-time access to the X feed, for mention monitoring and quick reviews.
Tasks both handle
- Analyze customer reviews by topic
- Build a competitor price review
- Write a series of company social media posts
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 Grok covers
No unique tasks in this data
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
Grok
- The default model has fewer guardrails on style and claims: proofread client-facing text more carefully than after other chats
- In X settings, turn off permission for Grok to train on your posts and conversations, which is on by default
- X data is people's posts rather than facts: check a quote from the feed in the primary source before it goes into a report
FAQ
Is ChatGPT or Grok 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 Grok?
Grok starts at $8/mo and ChatGPT at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Do ChatGPT and Grok 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. Grok: Yes. A limited number of messages every few hours, limited reasoning and DeepSearch, image generation with a small quota.
Compare ChatGPT with
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- ChatGPT vs Gemini
Compare Grok with
Alternatives to ChatGPT · Alternatives to Grok · ChatGPT pricing · Grok pricing
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