ChatGPT vs. Grok: How They Compare

Key Takeaways

In the ever-evolving world of AI chatbots, OpenAI's ChatGPT and xAI's Grok stand out as two of the most recognizable and widely used on the market. There's plenty to dig into with these two AI assistants, but here's what you need to know about them at a glance:

• ChatGPT is much more widely used. In October 2025, OpenAI announced that ChatGPT had surpassed 800 million weekly active users. In contrast, Grok AI had a reported 30.1 million monthly active users as of September 2025 [1,2].

• If you need a well-regarded generative AI tool for a variety of professional tasks, try ChatGPT. 

• If you want a generative AI tool with access to real-time data on X and less stringent safeguards, consider Grok. 

Below, you'll learn more about how ChatGPT and Grok compare to one another, including their features, costs, strengths, and weaknesses. Afterward, if you want to boost your generative AI skills, you might consider enrolling in Vanderbilt University's ChatGPT: Master Free AI Tools to Supercharge Productivity Specialization.

ChatGPT vs Grok: Comparison 

ChatGPT and Grok can perform many of the same tasks, but they differ in cost, their exact set of features, and what they're best suited for. At a glance, here's how each of these popular AI chatbots compares to one another:

ChatGPT: What you need to know  

ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot by OpenAI, capable of producing unique outputs based on natural language prompts composed by users. In practice, this means users can do everything from converse with ChatGPT to asking it to compose text, write code, or analyze data. While other AI systems generally require technical knowledge to operate, AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be instructed to perform tasks using normal, everyday language, empowering a wide range of people to leverage the technology for their own purposes.

There are a variety of models in the GPT family, such as GPT-5.2, GPT-5 Mini, and GPT-5-nano. Previous, retired models include GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, OpenAI o4-mini, and GPT-5, among many others. Much like other generative AI companies, OpenAI regularly updates its ChatGPT models to improve their capabilities, efficiency, and reasoning.

Features and price

ChatGPT offers numerous different capabilities based on the price you pay to use it. Here are the price and features that you can expect from  ChatGPT’s personal plans [3]:

ChatGPT's precise features vary depending on your subscription level. To better understand ChatGPT's full capabilities, here are some of its top features according to OpenAI itself [4]:

• Content generation: Like other generative AI tools, ChatGPT is defined by its ability to quickly generate content, particularly text.

• Coding: While every version of ChatGPT can produce or check code, Plus and higher subscriptions provide access to Codex, an AI agent used for software development.

• Web search: You can ask ChatGPT to search the web for up-to-date information.

• Deep research: This is an agent contained in ChatGPT that enables it to plan and conduct multi-step web research, then synthesize the information into a report. Higher subscription levels can perform more intense deep research. 

• Image generation and input: You can prompt ChatGPT to produce and iterate images.

• File uploads: Uploading files directly allows you to analyze, summarize, or reference them in chats.

• Data analysis: Although you can't do complex real-time data analysis, you can analyze data files and produce Excel sheets based on data inputs, among other things.

• Voice mode: Prefer to talk directly to the AI chatbot? Voice mode makes it possible.

• Scheduled Tasks:  You can ask ChatGPT to perform a specific task at a certain time.

• Custom GPTs: You can create custom GPTs in ChatGPT designed for specific tasks with their own unique rules and behaviors.

Strengths 

ChatGPT is well-suited to generating text, composing code, performing cursory data analysis, summarizing documents, and assisting with research. In the world of generative AI tools, it's a relatively reliable AI chatbot that can perform a wide range of productivity tasks, depending on your subscription level, particularly thanks to features like Codex, deep research, and the ability to create custom GPTs.

Weaknesses 

Like other generative AI tools, ChatGPT tends to be overconfident in some of its outputs, occasionally even "hallucinating" information that isn't true to fit the prompt. This means that its outputs should be validated rather than simply trusted. As a result, it's better used as a tool than to completely replace human judgment.

Grok: What you need to know 

Grok is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk and others in 2023. Much like ChatGPT, Grok can generate unique outputs from user input. As a result, it can be used to perform many of the same tasks, such as content creation, research, image generation, coding, and data analysis, among others.

Although Grok is capable of doing many similar tasks to other large language models (LLMs), it's unique in that it has direct real-time access to data on X (formerly Twitter), responds to users with a humorous (sometimes sophomoric) tone, and has fewer guardrails than ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or Claude. This means that users can leverage Grok to analyze real-time data from X and produce more edgy content than is possible with other models.

Grok controversies

Grok's tendency towards flippancy, access to X content, and its low guardrails mean that it's relatively easy for users to produce obscene and offensive content. Key controversies include the chatbot making racist and antisemitic statements, as well as being used to produce explicit (and potentially illegal) imagery. As a result, it's wise to exercise caution when interfacing with Grok AI, particularly for minors.

Features

Grok AI offers many of the same features as ChatGPT, including multimodal support to produce both text and images. The precise features you can use in Grok depend on your subscription level and the model you're using. Here's what you can expect to pay for Grok [5]:

Some of the top features included in Grok, according to xAI include [6]: 

• Real-time search: Grok can analyze real-time data from X trends, providing insights into user sentiments.

• File upload: You can upload files to Grok, so that it can summarize, reference, or analyze the data contained in them.

• Coding: Grok can produce and review code for programmers.

• Grok Voice: Grok's version of voice mode, which allows users to interact with Grok AI using their voices rather than via text.

• Image generation: Grok can produce images based on text prompts.

• Grok Think: This advanced reasoning model breaks down complex problems into smaller steps before providing a final response to your query.

• Grok Heavy: The most advanced version of Grok 4, capable of performing complex tasks and employing multi-agent systems.

Strengths 

Grok is strong in content creation, coding, and extended thinking, but excels at providing real-time data insights into the sentiments of social media users. Some users also appreciate the blunt nature of Grok's responses.

Weaknesses 

Grok's moderation policies and low guardrails occasionally result in it producing obscene or explicit responses. Similarly, its tone may be distracting for users who want a straightforward experience using a large language model.

When to use ChatGPT vs Grok

ChatGPT and Grok share many of the same features. That said, they differ in their price offerings and overall feel.

If you want a capable, trusted generative AI tool with a variety of features accessible across a range of price points, pick ChatGPT. It's a well-known chatbot that provides much of what users are looking for to complete their tasks.

If you want a tool that can access X data in real time and provides fewer restrictions than other generative AI tools, consider Grok. While its tone may not suit every user, some may appreciate its relatively blunt responses when completing certain tasks.

Keep up with GenAI on Coursera 

Generative AI is transforming how professionals work across industries. Learn more about generative AI and build the skills you need to stay up with this evolving landscape with these resources: 

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Fun Facts About GenAI

• Read more: 53 Artificial Intelligence Use Cases + How to Get Started

• Explore: Popular AI Courses

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