The short answer: your existing subscription usually decides
If you already pay for Claude, Cowork is included and is built for scheduled, unattended work. If you use ChatGPT, Work is included, can be tried on the Free plan in the desktop app, and adds team tasks and Sites on higher plans. Neither has a published head-to-head test.
Scope and evidence
Task: delegating a recurring office deliverable to an agent. Claude Cowork facts come from Anthropic's Cowork page, Help Center and pricing; ChatGPT Work facts from OpenAI's Work page and ChatGPT pricing, read on November 5, 2026, plus our profiles of each.
AppFor.ai did not run either agent for this page.
Compare the same criteria
Each line sets Anthropic's documentation for Cowork against OpenAI's for Work.
- Access. Cowork: paid Claude plans only, Pro ($20 a month billed monthly), Max from $100, Team and Enterprise. Work: all ChatGPT plans on desktop, limited on Free and Go; on web and mobile from Plus ($20 a month). What this means: only Work has a free starting point.
- Surfaces. Cowork: web, desktop and mobile, the same Claude everywhere. Work: start and steer on web and mobile, desktop for local files, apps and the built-in browser. What this means: both follow you across devices, with deeper local work on desktop.
- Scheduling. Cowork: schedule a task at any cadence; it runs unattended in the cloud even with the laptop closed. Work: one-time or recurring tasks, plus team tasks shared with colleagues. What this means: both automate weekly reports; Work adds shared team tasks.
- Connections. Cowork: connectors, skills and sub-agents, and access through Amazon Bedrock and other cloud providers. Work: more than 1,400 plugins and approved business context. What this means: check that your own tools are supported on either side.
- Approvals. Cowork: permission settings make Claude show its plan and wait for approval before significant steps. Work: Plan mode gathers context, asks questions and waits for you to approve a step-by-step plan. What this means: both let you approve before the agent acts.
Which fits your real work?
A freelancer who wants to try an agent without paying. ChatGPT Work on the desktop Free plan fits.
A marketer who needs a deck every Monday, built while offline. Claude Cowork's cloud scheduling fits.
A team that shares recurring updates. ChatGPT Work's team tasks fit on Business and Enterprise.
Cost of getting the work done
Cowork: from $20 a month with Claude Pro; heavier use needs Max from $100, and plan usage limits apply.
Work: free in limited form on desktop, from $20 a month with Plus for web and mobile; Pro from $100 adds longer sessions.
Try both on the same small task
Suggested check: give both the same weekly report brief.
- Totals match the spreadsheet.
- Flags appear only where the change exceeds 10%.
- The agent asked for approval where you expected.
- Note the time and usage each took.
Decision checklist
Use the lines that match your situation. Our Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work profiles have more detail.
- If you pay for Claude already, start with Cowork.
- If you want a free trial route, start with ChatGPT Work on desktop.
- If tasks must run while you are offline, check Cowork's cloud scheduling.
- If colleagues share the recurring task, look at Work's team tasks.
Go to the source
Sources & further reading
Based on the official documentation below. Features and access can change; check the provider before making a decision.
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