Short answer: most people need one paid general AI assistant, not three. The main plans cost about $20 a month each and cover the same everyday tasks. List what you actually used each one for in the last 30 days, keep the one you reach for most, use free tiers for the rest, and switch to yearly billing only after a few steady months.
What the main plans cost
US prices before tax.
| Plan | Monthly | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Plus | $20 | Notebookcheck, July 2026 |
| Claude Pro | $20, or $200 a year paid upfront | Anthropic’s pricing page |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99 | Notebookcheck, July 2026 |
| Perplexity Pro | about $20 | Notebookcheck, July 2026 |
Higher tiers, such as ChatGPT Pro at $200 or Claude Max from $100 a month, are for heavy daily use. If you aren’t hitting the limits of a $20 plan most weeks, you don’t need them. Prices change, so check each provider’s page before you decide.
A 30-day usage audit
0 of 5 answered
If a plan is bundled with something you already pay for, such as storage, count that part only if you would buy it anyway.
A worked example
Demo values: three assistants at $20 a month each, $60 a month or $720 a year. The audit shows one is used most days and the other two once a week for things their free tiers handle.
| Choice | A year |
|---|---|
| Keep all three, monthly | $720 |
| Keep one, monthly | $240 |
| Keep one, yearly at $200 | $200 |
Keeping one plan saves $480 a year. Paying yearly saves another $40, but only makes sense once you know you’ll still use it in month eleven.
AI free trials
AI apps often offer a free month, sometimes for students. Treat it like any trial: note who bills you, the date it turns paid and the price after. If your account doesn’t show the trial or a cancel option, ask support before the charge date, not after.
Keep AI plans on the same list as everything else
AI plans are easy to miss because each one feels like a work tool. Cadora puts them on the same list as your streaming and bills, totals them, and reminds you before renewals when notifications are on. It doesn’t connect to your bank or your AI accounts; you add the plans yourself.
FAQ
Do I need both ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro?
Most people don’t. Both cost about $20 a month and cover similar everyday tasks. Keep the one you use most and use the other’s free tier, unless your work clearly needs both.
Is yearly billing worth it for an AI subscription?
Only after a few steady months. Claude Pro, for example, is $200 a year upfront against $240 paid monthly, a $40 saving that disappears if you stop using it halfway through.
Will a free AI trial charge me automatically?
Usually, yes, if you gave a payment method: it turns into a paid plan on the end date unless you cancel. Check where it’s billed, and cancel before that date if you don’t want it.
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Khai Do is an independent iOS developer in Vietnam who builds and supports Cadora under Aquifer.