ChatGPT (OpenAI) vs Notion AI: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for ChatGPT (OpenAI) vs Notion AI.
⚡ Quick Verdict
ChatGPT (OpenAI) edges ahead with a 4.8/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Notion AI |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $10/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $125/mo | $50/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $250/mo | $100/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ GPT-4o-mini unlimited. GPT-4o limited. No API access. | ❌ No |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Notion AI |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Plus | $20/mo | $10/mo |
| Team | $25/mo | — |
| Enterprise | Custom | — |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Notion AI |
|---|
Pros & Cons
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
✅ Pros
- Most capable general-purpose AI model
- Free tier is genuinely useful
- GPTs (custom AI agents) for specific workflows
- Code interpreter for data analysis
- 200M+ users — massive community
❌ Cons
- Plus at $20/mo for full GPT-4o access
- Rate limits even on paid plans
- Can hallucinate confidently
- No built-in team collaboration on free tier
- API pricing separate from subscription
Notion AI
✅ Pros
- Deep integration with Notion workspace
- Q&A across all your docs and databases
- Summarize pages and meeting notes instantly
- Write and edit within your workflow
- No context switching needed
❌ Cons
- $10/member/month on top of Notion subscription
- AI quality is decent but not best-in-class
- Only works within Notion
- Can't access external data
- Gets expensive for large teams
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose ChatGPT (OpenAI) if...
- You are a solo devs needing a coding copilot
- You are a content creators automating writing
- You are a researchers and analysts
🚫 Skip if...
- Teams needing real-time collaboration
- Privacy-sensitive industries
- Tasks requiring 100% accuracy
✅ Choose Notion AI if...
- You are a notion power users with large knowledge bases
- You are a teams wanting ai within their existing workspace
- You are a project managers summarizing meeting notes
🚫 Skip if...
- Users not already on Notion
- Those needing best-in-class AI (use ChatGPT)
- Solo users (ChatGPT is cheaper)
🏆 Our Verdict
Both ChatGPT (OpenAI) (4.8/5) and Notion AI (4.4/5) are excellent tools in their category. ChatGPT (OpenAI) takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ChatGPT (OpenAI) better than Notion AI?
It depends on your needs. ChatGPT (OpenAI) excels in some areas while Notion AI has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does ChatGPT (OpenAI) pricing compare to Notion AI?
ChatGPT (OpenAI) starts at Free / $20/mo, while Notion AI starts at $10/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from ChatGPT (OpenAI) to Notion AI?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Notion AI typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from ChatGPT (OpenAI).
Which is easier to use, ChatGPT (OpenAI) or Notion AI?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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