ChatGPT Projects vs Claude Projects vs Custom GPTs

ChatGPT projects, Claude projects, and custom GPTs look similar but work completely differently. Today I'm breaking down the context limits, collaboration features, memory architecture, and pricing, to help you determine which tool actually fits your workflow, together with practical advice to help you choose.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hi everyone, Andy here and welcome back to the AI breakdown.
Today we are going to dive into chat, GPT projects, cloud projects, and custom gpt.
I've spent months testing all three on real work, and each tool has a specific superpower that makes it perfect for certain workflows.
And even if you're familiar with these tools, the landscape has changed.

(00:20):
OpenAI has released some new features very recently that has bridged some of the gaps between cloud projects and OpenAI projects.
So today I'm breaking down when to use each one, what they actually cost, and which one will genuinely save you time based on how you actually work. 7 00:00:43,330.493581673 --> 00:00:54,210.493581673 Right? Let's start with the basics Claude Projects and Chat GPT projects both let you create workspaces where you can upload files, set instructions, and have ongoing conversations. 8 00:00:54,705.493581673 --> 00:00:57,915.493581673 You're not starting fresh every time like you do with regular chats. 9 00:00:58,245.493581673 --> 00:00:59,355.493581673 That's the promise anyway. 10 00:00:59,805.493581673 --> 00:01:01,575.493581673 Custom GPTs are different. 11 00:01:01,635.493581673 --> 00:01:03,255.493581673 They're purpose-built assistance. 12 00:01:03,645.493581673 --> 00:01:12,885.493581673 You can figure one with specific instructions and knowledge then handed to someone else to use it's distribution, not collaboration, but here's where it gets interesting. 13 00:01:13,245.493581673 --> 00:01:20,295.493581673 The way these tools handle information under the hood is fundamentally different, and that difference matters more than most people realize. 14 00:01:21,617.58416784 --> 00:01:25,757.58416784 Let's talk about context windows, because this is where the first major divide happens. 15 00:01:26,237.58416784 --> 00:01:32,867.58416784 Claude projects can handle 200,000 tokens in a single conversation that's roughly 500 pages of text. 16 00:01:33,107.58416784 --> 00:01:44,207.58416784 And recently Enro added rag retrieval augmented generation, which means Claude can now store an intelligently search through up to 10 times more knowledge than that baseline. 17 00:01:44,777.58416784 --> 00:01:50,507.58416784 When your project approaches the 200,000 token limit, it automatically switches to rag mode. 18 00:01:50,987.58416784 --> 00:01:52,37.58416784 Faster responses. 19 00:01:52,37.58416784 --> 00:01:53,117.58416784 No loss of accuracy. 20 00:01:53,477.58416784 --> 00:01:58,877.58416784 With chat GPD projects, you're looking at 32,000 tokens on the plus and team plans. 21 00:01:59,327.58416784 --> 00:02:00,797.58416784 That's about 80 pages. 22 00:02:01,127.58416784 --> 00:02:07,877.58416784 If you're on the Pro plan, at $200 a month, you get 128,000 tokens, which is around 320 pages. 23 00:02:08,357.58416784 --> 00:02:16,127.58416784 Custom GPTs fall into the same range, but they handle files through retrieval rather than holding everything in memory now. 24 00:02:16,502.58416784 --> 00:02:19,472.58416784 Does this matter for everyday tasks? Honestly, not always. 25 00:02:19,772.58416784 --> 00:02:24,932.58416784 If you're drafting LinkedIn posts or brainstorming ideas, the smaller context window are fine. 26 00:02:25,412.58416784 --> 00:02:37,82.58416784 But if you are working with comprehensive reports, legal documents, extensive research, anything that requires understanding the full picture across hundreds of pages, Claude can hold the entire context chat. 27 00:02:37,82.58416784 --> 00:02:42,272.58416784 GPT forces you to chunk it up, and when you do that, you lose the connections between ideas. 28 00:02:42,767.58416784 --> 00:02:45,767.58416784 Those connections are often where the most valuable insights live. 29 00:02:47,16.26348114 --> 00:02:53,736.26348114 And here's another interesting angle with Claude Projects on the team or enterprise plan, you get true shared workspaces. 30 00:02:54,186.26348114 --> 00:03:01,266.26348114 Multiple people can access the same project, upload files, build on shared context, and see each other's conversations. 31 00:03:01,536.26348114 --> 00:03:06,396.26348114 It's a shared brain for your team as the project owner you control who gets access. 32 00:03:06,906.26348114 --> 00:03:09,891.26348114 Until recently, chat, GPT projects were strictly solo. 33 00:03:10,611.26348114 --> 00:03:14,961.26348114 Even on the teams plan, every workspace was isolated, but that's changed. 34 00:03:15,381.26348114 --> 00:03:24,201.26348114 Business enterprise and EDU users can now share projects, invite teammates, and actually collaborate in a shared context instead of working in silos. 35 00:03:24,591.26348114 --> 00:03:30,981.26348114 Closing the gap with Claude, but Personal Plus and Pro users still get solar projects only. 36 00:03:31,386.26348114 --> 00:03:34,371.26348114 Custom GPTs take a different approach entirely. 37 00:03:34,731.26348114 --> 00:03:37,581.26348114 You build one, configure it, and share it with anyone. 38 00:03:38,61.26348114 --> 00:03:43,191.26348114 They can use it, but they can't collaborate on building it or see each other's conversations. 39 00:03:43,461.26348114 --> 00:03:45,891.26348114 It's packaged expertise, not a workspace. 40 00:03:46,281.26348114 --> 00:03:55,281.26348114 So if you need true team collaboration with a shared knowledge base, Claude Projects or Chat GPT projects, depending on your license, are your options right now. 41 00:03:55,281.26348114 --> 00:04:03,38.13151239 Among these three tools, memory architecture is another hidden differentiator that changes how these tools feel over time. 42 00:04:03,463.13151239 --> 00:04:07,328.13151239 Claude projects continuously reference everything inside a specific project. 43 00:04:07,688.13151239 --> 00:04:12,218.13151239 Like uploaded documents, notes, you've added past conversations with Rag. 44 00:04:12,458.13151239 --> 00:04:15,728.13151239 Claude doesn't just store files, it searches them intelligently. 45 00:04:16,148.13151239 --> 00:04:23,108.13151239 Even in a 100 page document, it can find and surface exactly what's relevant to your question without you having to point it there. 46 00:04:23,798.13151239 --> 00:04:26,828.13151239 Chat GPT projects can be configured in one of two ways. 47 00:04:27,188.13151239 --> 00:04:36,518.13151239 Default memory or project only memory With default memory Chat, GPT can draw on your broader history things it's learned about your tone, goals, or preferences. 48 00:04:36,893.13151239 --> 00:04:38,993.13151239 And use that context inside your project. 49 00:04:39,623.13151239 --> 00:04:46,523.13151239 It also remembers prior chats and uploaded files within that project, so you can pick up where you left off without re-explaining yourself. 50 00:04:46,883.13151239 --> 00:04:52,793.13151239 With project only memory Chat, GPT stays completely focused on what's inside that specific project. 51 00:04:53,123.13151239 --> 00:04:59,663.13151239 It won't pull in context from your other chats or memories, which makes it ideal for long running or confidential work. 52 00:04:59,993.13151239 --> 00:05:10,643.13151239 However, if you share a chat GPT project, it automatically switches to project only memory to keep everyone's personal context and conversations private in both cases. 53 00:05:10,943.13151239 --> 00:05:18,653.13151239 Chat GPT has upped its game recently by ensuring it can reference previous conversations and uploaded files automatically when relevant. 54 00:05:19,133.13151239 --> 00:05:23,33.13151239 You don't have to point it to a specific section unless you want finer control. 55 00:05:23,663.13151239 --> 00:05:26,483.13151239 Custom gpt start every conversation fresh. 56 00:05:26,873.13151239 --> 00:05:30,923.13151239 Same instructions, same files, but no memory of previous chats. 57 00:05:31,193.13151239 --> 00:05:34,883.13151239 It's like talking to an expert with a fixed knowledge base who has amnesia. 58 00:05:36,185.03823624 --> 00:05:39,995.03823624 Now let's look at multimodal capabilities and advanced tools. 59 00:05:40,505.03823624 --> 00:05:46,385.03823624 Chat G PT projects give you the full open AI toolkit, image generation, advanced voice mode. 60 00:05:46,985.03823624 --> 00:05:51,905.03823624 Code interpreter, web search, deep research and canvas for visual editing. 61 00:05:52,505.03823624 --> 00:05:54,35.03823624 It's an all-in-one workspace. 62 00:05:54,95.03823624 --> 00:06:02,615.03823624 If you're switching between writing, creating images, analyzing data, and researching all in the same project, chat, GPT is built for that. 63 00:06:03,5.03823624 --> 00:06:04,955.03823624 Claude projects take a different path. 64 00:06:05,345.03823624 --> 00:06:08,45.03823624 You get artifacts for viewing and iterating on content. 65 00:06:08,540.03823624 --> 00:06:15,590.03823624 A solid code interpreter web search, and deep research and extended thinking mode, but no native image generation. 66 00:06:15,920.03823624 --> 00:06:20,930.03823624 But you can connect cloud to thousands of external tools through MCP integrations. 67 00:06:21,410.03823624 --> 00:06:25,220.03823624 Custom GPTs let you choose which tools to enable when you build them. 68 00:06:25,640.03823624 --> 00:06:33,620.03823624 Web search canvas, image generation code interpreter, the end user gets a simplified interface with just the tools you've allowed. 69 00:06:33,890.03823624 --> 00:06:36,830.03823624 It's streamlined, focused, and intentionally limited. 70 00:06:37,400.03823624 --> 00:06:38,600.03823624 So here's the decision point. 71 00:06:38,960.03823624 --> 00:06:47,120.03823624 If you are doing multimodal content creation, like writing images, data analysis, chat, GPT projects give you the most unified toolkit. 72 00:06:47,600.03823624 --> 00:06:54,230.03823624 If you're tackling research, heavy writing, deep document analysis, or team collaboration, Claude projects are the better fit. 73 00:06:54,710.03823624 --> 00:07:00,740.03823624 And if you want to hand someone a focused assistant that does one thing really well, custom GPTs are ideal. 74 00:07:06,250.03823624 --> 00:07:12,610.03823624 Let's talk money because choosing the wrong plan, waste budget, or locks you outta features you actually need Chat. 75 00:07:12,610.03823624 --> 00:07:16,420.03823624 GPT projects are now available to everyone, even on the free plan. 76 00:07:16,930.03823624 --> 00:07:23,980.03823624 This is another recent change, but remember, only business enterprise and ADU users get shared team-based projects. 77 00:07:24,490.03823624 --> 00:07:27,430.03823624 Cloud projects cost $20 per month on the pro plan. 78 00:07:27,670.03823624 --> 00:07:35,500.03823624 If you are working solo, if you want collaboration, the team's plan starts at $30 a month per person with a five user minimum. 79 00:07:35,920.03823624 --> 00:07:39,370.03823624 That's $150 a month to unlock shared workspaces. 80 00:07:39,940.03823624 --> 00:07:55,390.03823624 Whereas with chat GPT business, which is also $30 a month per person, you only need two licenses, so a minimum cost of $60 to unlock shared projects, custom GPTs require a chat, GPT plus PRO or team accounts create them. 81 00:07:55,660.03823624 --> 00:07:59,830.03823624 So $20, $200 or $30 per person, respectively. 82 00:08:00,655.03823624 --> 00:08:03,85.03823624 Once you create one, though, anyone can use it for free. 83 00:08:03,325.03823624 --> 00:08:11,349.93199157 You don't need a paid plan to use someone else's GPT only to create your own time for some guidance on when to use each tool. 84 00:08:11,679.93199157 --> 00:08:20,319.93199157 Use Claude Projects if you're working with massive knowledge bases, hundreds of pages, dozens of PDFs, and you need intelligent retrieval across all of it. 85 00:08:20,979.93199157 --> 00:08:28,209.93199157 Claude still leads on scale and context size, and its rag system means it can surface exactly what's relevant, even in huge data sets. 86 00:08:28,824.93199157 --> 00:08:33,804.93199157 It's also ideal for teams that need deep collaboration around long form research or analysis. 87 00:08:34,584.93199157 --> 00:08:43,494.93199157 Use chat GPT projects if you want an all-in-one workspace that blends writing, image generation, data analysis, voice and web research. 88 00:08:43,824.93199157 --> 00:08:57,594.93199157 Basically, if you want to do everything in one place with a business plan or hire, you also get shared projects for true collaboration chat GT's Built-in memory now means it can remember prior chats and files within a project automatically. 89 00:08:57,909.93199157 --> 00:09:00,219.93199157 So you don't have to restate context every time. 90 00:09:00,789.93199157 --> 00:09:04,899.93199157 It's not quite as retrieval driven as Claude yet, but it's catching up fast. 91 00:09:05,439.93199157 --> 00:09:12,939.93199157 Use custom gpt if you want to create a repeatable assistant for a specific job something others can use without editing or collaborating. 92 00:09:13,359.93199157 --> 00:09:18,519.93199157 They're perfect for packaging expertise or automating a narrow workflow, not for evolving projects. 93 00:09:20,359.15471805 --> 00:09:21,409.15471805 It for this breakdown. 94 00:09:21,649.15471805 --> 00:09:29,179.15471805 Expect plenty more from Open AI and Anthropic as they race to make these tools smarter, more connected, and a lot more capable. 95 00:09:29,539.15471805 --> 00:09:31,879.15471805 Thanks for listening and catch you next time.