Updated 4 September 2026 · Independent comparison

ChatGPT vs Devin:
which should you use?

ChatGPT and Devin, side by side. Find the one that fits what you need to do.

Find your best fit

The 30-second answer

ChatGPT is built for coding, data & technical work. Devin autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion.

Pricing, simplified

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

2 of 2 have a free plan 0 of 2 prices re-read automatically · how we know No paid placement

The 30-second comparison

If you only read one section, make it this one. Rows where both sides say the same thing are left out — the point is where they differ. Where each row came from is listed underneath.

ChatGPT and Devin side by side, with the better fit for each row.
CategoryChatGPTDevinBetter fit
What it's built forBest general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it.Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion. There is a free tier, with paid plans above it.ChatGPT
Fit for coding, data & technical workBuilt for thisStrong fitChatGPT
Free planYes. Free tier, ad supported; unlimited everyday text chats, limited image creation, memory and voiceYes. Free plan at $0Tie
Cheapest way to pay$8 a month.$20 a month.ChatGPT
What the paid tiers cost
  • One person, from $8/month
  • Per seat, from $25/month
  • One person, from $20/month
  • Enterprise, priced on request
Tie
What to watch out forWeaker than a dedicated editor once a project spans many files.Autonomy means less visibility into what changed — review discipline matters more, not less. Larger organisations may still be routed through sales rather than self-serve.Tie
Who it is usually forstudents, developers, working professionalsdevelopersTie
What it asks of youNo setup — it works in a browser.Expects some technical comfort to get going.Tie
Made byOpenAI — San Francisco, US.Cognition — San Francisco, US.Tie

ChatGPT is ahead on 3 of the 9 rows compared, 2 of them about how well it does the job itself. That is a clear lead rather than a tiebreaker.

Overall pick

ChatGPT

Best general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it.

✓ The job is mainly coding, data & technical work ✓ Best general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it. ✓ You want the cheaper paid plan, $8 against $20 ✓ You would rather not configure anything first
Choose Devin instead if…

Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion.

Devin is the better answer when the job is what it was built for rather than what the pick above does broadly.

✓ Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion. ✓ There is a free tier, with paid plans above it. ✓ Free plan at $0 ✓ It is aimed at developers

How we know

Every row that separated these two, and where it came from. Nothing here is a hands-on test — if a line rests on a vendor’s own pricing page, it says so and links it.

The 3 rows that decided this page, with the source for each.
RowFavoursWeightWhere it came from
What it's built forChatGPTHow well it does the jobFrom this site’s own catalogue record for each product — compiled by hand, not imported. How a product gets listed
Fit for coding, data & technical workChatGPTHow well it does the jobBoth products are listed under coding, data & technical work in the catalogue, and this is the fit recorded against each listing. Everything listed under coding, data & technical work
Cheapest way to payChatGPTEverything elseFrom each vendor’s own pricing page. Dates and pages are listed below.

The prices

ChatGPT. Read by hand on 4 September 2026, because ChatGPT cannot be read automatically: chatgpt.com refuses automation (403); openai.com/chatgpt/pricing carried no readable prices. Verify by hand. chatgpt.com/pricing

Devin. Read by hand on 4 September 2026, because Devin cannot be read automatically: devin.ai answers 429 to automation on every run; the docs carried no prices. Verify by hand. devin.ai/pricing

The ratings

The category these two share. Coding, Data & Technical Work — both are listed there in the catalogue, and the fit recorded against each listing is a judgement made here, by hand.

The nine-category grid below. Derived from what each product is listed for, by one script, once per build — so the same pair always reads the same. It is a derivation, not a review.

What this is not

Neither product was run side by side to produce this page. Nobody was paid to appear on it and nothing here is ranked by commission.

To put the same question to both and read the answers yourself, run them side by side — that is a live test, and this is not.

Choose based on what you’re doing

All ten categories, including the ones where neither of these is the answer. These ratings are derived from what each product is listed for, not from running it — a rating here is a reading of the record, and the record is linked.

01

General-Purpose AI Assistants

Questions, brainstorming, explanations, everyday tasks, decision-making, general advice.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Not a good fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
02

Search, Research & Academics

Web research, deep research, books, academic papers, citations, news, fact-checking.

ChatGPT
Limited fit
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
03

Writing, Communication & Language

Emails, reports, essays, editing, summarizing, translation, presentations.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
04

Coding, Data & Technical Work

Programming, debugging, data analysis, spreadsheets, math, engineering, technical research.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Good fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
05

Business, Finance & Professional Work

Business strategy, investing, market research, legal, sales, HR, accounting, consulting.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Not a good fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
06

Image & Design

Image generation, photo editing, logos, graphics, product design, advertising creatives.

ChatGPT
Not a good fit
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
07

Video

Video generation and editing, clipping, subtitles, avatars, animation and motion capture.

ChatGPT
Not a good fit
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
08

Audio, Voice & Music

Voice generation, transcription, music, dubbing, sound cleanup and podcast production.

ChatGPT
Bad fit
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: Neither
09

Marketing & Content Creation

Social media, SEO, advertising, copywriting, content ideas, scripts, brand development.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Bad fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
10

Productivity, Automation & Personal Life

AI agents, workflows, scheduling, meetings, organization, shopping, travel, personal finance.

ChatGPT
Built for this
Devin
Not a good fit
Best choice: ChatGPT
Pick ChatGPT if

Best general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it.

by OpenAI
The job is mainly coding, data & technical work
Best general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it.
You want the cheaper paid plan, $8 against $20
You would rather not configure anything first
Pick Devin if

Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion.

by Cognition
Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion.
There is a free tier, with paid plans above it.
Free plan at $0
It is aimed at developers

Pricing, simplified

The plans people actually compare, read from each vendor’s own page.

PricingSimple, up-to-date plan overview.
ChatGPTby OpenAI
Devinby Cognition
Free version
ChatGPT
Yes — Free plan availableAd supported; unlimited everyday text chats, limited image creation, memory and voice
Devin
Yes — Free plan availableFree plan at $0
Individual plans
ChatGPT
Go $8 / month
Plus $20 / month
Pro $100 / monthor $200 / month
Devin
Pro $20 / month
Max $200 / month
Teams $80 / monthor $40 / month
Business plans
ChatGPT
From $25 / user / monthFrom $20 / user / month (annual)Business standard seat, Business premium seat
DevinNot sold to teams
Enterprise
ChatGPTNot published
Devin
Custom pricing
View full details
Interactive

Tell us what you use AI for

Pick your main job and the verdict below changes to match. Every answer is on the page already, so this works as a reader, not a lookup.

The verdict for that job
ChatGPT
ChatGPT. It is built for coding, data & technical work; Devin does it well without it being its focus; both have a free plan you can start on; ChatGPT is cheaper to start paying for, $8 against $20.
9 rows compared

Frequently asked questions

Is ChatGPT or Devin better?

ChatGPT is ahead on 3 of the 9 rows compared, 2 of them about how well it does the job itself. That is a clear lead rather than a tiebreaker. ChatGPT is built for coding, data & technical work; Devin does it well without it being its focus; both have a free plan you can start on; ChatGPT is cheaper to start paying for, $8 against $20. ChatGPT: Best general option for explaining unfamiliar code, debugging a single file, or analysing a spreadsheet with real Python behind it. Devin: Autonomous agent that takes a ticket and works it to completion. There is a free tier, with paid plans above it.

Is ChatGPT or Devin cheaper?

ChatGPT — paid plans start at $8 a month against $20 a month.

Do ChatGPT and Devin both have free plans?

Yes. ChatGPT: Free tier, ad supported; unlimited everyday text chats, limited image creation, memory and voice. Devin: Free plan at $0.

What should I watch out for?

ChatGPT: Weaker than a dedicated editor once a project spans many files. Devin: Autonomy means less visibility into what changed — review discipline matters more, not less. Larger organisations may still be routed through sales rather than self-serve.

Read more

ChatGPT

What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.

Devin

What it is for, who makes it, what it costs and what to use instead.

Best AI for Coding

Programming, debugging, data analysis, spreadsheets, math, engineering, technical research.