AI models explained: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and the rest

An AI model is software trained to predict the next token in text, then used as a chat app or an API. In 2026 the main families are OpenAI's GPT-6 (ChatGPT), Anthropic's Claude and Google's Gemini 4, plus open-weight models you can self-host. There is no single best model: pick by the job, then check the provider's current list price. An AI model is software trained to predict the next token in text, then used as a chat app or an API. In 2026 the main families are OpenAI's GPT-6 (ChatGPT), Anthropic's Claude and Google's Gemini 4, plus open-weight models you can self-host. There is no single best model: pick by the job, then check the provider's current list price.

People searching "ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini" are usually asking two things: which assistant to use day to day, and which model to call from an app. Those are related but not the same. The chat products wrap a model in tools, memory and a subscription. The APIs sell tokens. Reddit threads in r/ArtificialInteligence, r/AILounge and r/GeminiAI in 2026 keep landing on the same split: ChatGPT as the generalist, Claude for long documents and careful writing or code, and Gemini when the work already lives in Google's apps. That is a usage pattern, not a benchmark crown.

This page is the evergreen hub for that choice. When a new flagship ships, we update the dates and prices here and link the news story, rather than publishing a second "what is X" article that competes for the same searches.

What is an AI model?

A large language model reads and writes in tokens, which are pieces of text, not whole words. Everything you send it — the system prompt, the chat so far, files, tool definitions and the reply — shares one context window, which Anthropic describes as the model's working memory. A one-million-token window is now common on flagship models, but recall still drops as the window fills, so a bigger number is not a free pass. For why the same sentence can cost different amounts on two models, see what a tokenizer is.

Builders usually meet models in three forms: a consumer chat app, a paid API billed per million tokens, or open weights you run yourself. Open weights are not automatically "free to ship"; the license decides what you may do, which we unpack in open model licenses explained.

ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini: which is better?

There is no single winner. Comparison write-ups and user threads in 2026 repeat the same practical split:

• ChatGPT (OpenAI, GPT-6 family) is the broad assistant: writing, coding, images and everyday questions in one product. GPT-6 is a family, not one model. In OpenAI's own description, Astra is the flagship and the API model, Sol powers paid ChatGPT plans, and Luna powers Free and Go.
• Claude (Anthropic) is the usual pick for long documents, careful instruction-following, and coding work. The current flagship coding and reasoning line includes Claude Opus 5.5. Anthropic also launched Claude Fable 5.2 and Mythos 5.2 on November 9, 2026.
• Gemini (Google, Gemini 4) is the usual pick when the work is already in Gmail, Docs, Drive or Search. Google describes Gemini 4 Argon as the model for most software engineering and knowledge work, and Gemini 4 Carbon as the higher-effort model for longer, harder jobs.

The useful test is your own work: run the same five real prompts through two assistants before you pay for a second subscription. Public leaderboards move weekly and often measure a different job than yours.

How much do the APIs cost?

List prices below are standard per-million-token rates from the providers' own pages, checked on November 11, 2026. Cached-input, batch, long-context and "fast" tiers are cheaper or dearer; always read the live pricing page before you budget.

Google's November 10 post says Carbon is offered at the same introductory price as Gemini 4 Argon, and that the November 30 change "applies to the Carbon model intended for public access only." OpenAI's pricing page also lists lower-priced GPT-6.1 Sol, Terra and Luna rates, and a higher long-context band when input exceeds 272,000 tokens. The biggest bill cut for repeat prompts is usually prompt caching, not switching models. For a worked comparison from October, see our LLM API pricing comparison; some rows there predate Carbon's public launch, so treat this table as the current flagship snapshot.

What should I actually pick?

1. Start with the tools you already use. Google Workspace points to Gemini. A ChatGPT subscription already includes Codex for many plans. A Claude plan is the usual on-ramp to Claude Code.
2. Match the job. Long contracts and multi-file code favor Claude in user reports. Everyday questions and image work often stay on ChatGPT. Live Google files favor Gemini.
3. Check whether you need the API or the app. Consumer plans and API tokens are billed differently. If you are building a product, the table above is the starting point, not a chat-subscription page.
4. Consider open weights when you need to self-host, keep data on your own machines, or cut volume costs. That path has hardware and license trade-offs; start with Mistral Large 4 self-hosting costs and the open-license explainer.
5. Re-check prices when you ship. Introductory rates expire. Carbon's $2 / $10 input / output price is only until November 30, 2026, per Google.

Sources

• OpenAI, API pricing (checked Nov. 11, 2026)
• Anthropic, Claude API pricing (checked Nov. 11, 2026)
• Google, “Gemini 4 Carbon is now available,” Koray Kavukcuoglu, Nov. 10, 2026
• OpenAI, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6 for everyone
• Anthropic docs, Claude Opus 5.5 overview
• Anthropic docs, context windows
• Reddit threads used only to identify questions people ask, not as sources for figures: r/ArtificialInteligence, “how do you decide which one to use?”, r/AILounge, 2026 breakdown