Which AI Should YOU Actually Pay For?
I switched from ChatGPT to Claude last month. Better writing support, blog updates, and access to Claude Code for development work when I need it. Multiple reasons, one decision.
The "best" AI depends on what you actually do all day. Here's the breakdown by task, as of January 2026. These tools evolve monthly, so strengths shift, but the decision framework stays the same.
By What You Actually Do
Sorting Data & Working with Excel/Google Sheets
Winner: OpenAI (ChatGPT)
ChatGPT writes Excel formulas, explains what's broken, and helps sort messy data. "I have 500 rows of customer data with inconsistent date formats" → ChatGPT walks you through cleanup step by step.
Beyond formulas, it excels at structured thinking—building financial models, thinking through scenarios, identifying what variables matter, working through ambiguous business problems to clear decisions. This thought partnership is where ChatGPT shines.
Gemini works directly in Google Sheets from the sidebar, but ChatGPT's formula logic and structured reasoning are superior.
Writing Emails & Memos
Winner: Tie - OpenAI or Claude
Both excel at professional business writing. ChatGPT leans crisp and efficient. Claude is more nuanced. For most work, you won't notice a difference.
Connecting to Your Email & Learning Your Tone
Winner: Gemini
Gemini sits in your Gmail sidebar, reads your email style, and drafts responses that sound like you. Say "draft a reply confirming the meeting" and it pulls context from the thread.
ChatGPT and Claude require copy-pasting. That gets old fast.
Trade-off: Gemini's integration is brilliant, but reasoning for complex topics is weaker.
Analyzing Meeting Recordings & Videos
Winner: Gemini
Gemini watches and listens to videos natively—no transcript needed. Useful for catching up on meetings or analyzing public competitor demos. ChatGPT and Claude need transcripts first.
Note: Follow company policies on confidential recordings.
Researching & Source Audit Trail
Winner: Claude (with web search)
Claude searches the web, cites specific sources you can verify, and synthesizes across multiple pages of research. Ask "what are the three main disagreements across these sources?" and it connects the dots.
What sets it apart: honesty. If sources conflict or something's uncertain, Claude tells you rather than confidently making up citations or smoothing over contradictions. For research where accuracy matters, this carefulness is the feature.
The Claude 4.5 family has significantly improved reasoning quality for complex synthesis.
Creating Outlines for Decks
Winner: Claude (Artifacts feature)
Claude's Artifacts feature builds an actual outline you can edit in real-time and export. It becomes a working document, not just chat text.
ChatGPT gives you text to copy-paste. Claude gives you a structure you manipulate directly.
Creating Images for Presentations & Marketing
Winner: Gemini (Nano Banana model)
Gemini's Nano Banana model keeps subjects perfectly consistent. Upload your product bottle, and it generates that exact bottle in different settings—office, outdoor, retail shelf—maintaining brand consistency.
You can edit existing images with prompts: "change the background to a sunny office." It edits pixels rather than regenerating from scratch.
For branded, consistent visuals across slides, Gemini wins. For generic illustrations, ChatGPT's DALL-E is fine.
Working on Big Multi-Part Projects
Winner: Claude
Extended context is the game-changer. Claude handles multiple documents simultaneously—presentations, notes, research—and maintains context across all of them.
I've synthesized months of meeting notes, strategy documents, and research papers into coherent recommendations. ChatGPT loses track with that volume. Gemini struggles with complex synthesis across sources.
Important: Be mindful of what you share. Check your organization's AI usage policies for sensitive data.
So What Should You Actually Do?
What's the one task that, if it took 50% less time, would change your week?
Spreadsheet work & structured decision-making → ChatGPT ($20/month)
Email management in Gmail → Gemini (free with Workspace or $20/month)
Research and multi-document projects → Claude ($20/month)
Analyzing videos or creating branded images → Gemini ($20/month)
Mix of everything → ChatGPT (most versatile) or Claude (complex documents)
The 30-Day Reality Check
Pick one. Use it daily for 30 days on actual work. Track: "How much time did I save on [specific task]?"
If you're not saving 3+ hours per week, you either picked wrong or haven't built the habit.
My switching decision wasn't complicated, I evaluated what filled my calendar (writing, document analysis, development work) and matched it to Claude's strengths. Your decision should be just as straightforward: what task takes up most of your time?
These tools evolve fast. What's true in January 2026 might shift by March. Reassess every few months as your needs and the platforms change.
The goal isn't picking the "best" AI. It's solving your specific time-sink problem.
What's the task that kills your productivity every week? That's your answer.