Choosing the right AI model isn't just about which is "smartest" — it's about which one handles your specific task best.
TL;DR — Which to Use When
| Task | Best Model | |------|-----------| | Writing & editing | Claude | | Coding & debugging | ChatGPT or Claude | | Long document analysis | Claude | | Real-time web info | Gemini or ChatGPT | | Image understanding | All three (Gemini leads) | | Following complex instructions | Claude | | Data analysis with Python | ChatGPT (Code Interpreter) |
ChatGPT (GPT-4o)
Made by: OpenAI
Strengths
- Code Interpreter: Upload files, run Python, generate charts — unmatched for data analysis.
- Plugins & tools ecosystem: Largest ecosystem of third-party integrations.
- Function calling: Best-in-class support for structured JSON outputs.
- Wide capability: Strong generalist across writing, code, and reasoning.
Weaknesses
- Can be verbose — tends to hedge and add caveats even when not needed.
- Sometimes refuses tasks that Claude handles fine.
Best Prompt Style
GPT-4o responds well to clear, direct Markdown-formatted prompts. Use headers and bullet points to structure complex instructions.
You are a senior data analyst. Given the CSV below, analyze sales trends
by region and output a brief summary table followed by 3 key insights.
[CSV data here]
Claude (3.5 Sonnet / 3.7)
Made by: Anthropic
Strengths
- Instruction-following: Exceptionally good at following complex, multi-part instructions.
- Long document analysis: 200K token context window.
- Writing quality: Most natural, nuanced prose.
- XML tags: Responds especially well to XML-structured prompts.
- Extended thinking: Can reason step-by-step internally before answering.
Weaknesses
- No built-in code execution like GPT-4o's Code Interpreter.
- Sometimes overly cautious on edge-case requests.
Best Prompt Style
Claude shines with XML-structured prompts and explicit formatting instructions.
You are an expert technical writer.
<document>
[paste document here]
</document>
<task>
Summarize this document into:
1. A 2-sentence executive summary
2. 5 key bullet points
3. One recommended action
</task>
Output only the structured summary — no preamble.
Gemini (1.5 Pro / 2.0 Flash)
Made by: Google
Strengths
- Multimodal: Best at understanding images, charts, screenshots, and PDFs natively.
- Google Search integration: Real-time web access baked in.
- Speed: Gemini 2.0 Flash is extremely fast and cheap.
- Google Workspace integration: Natural fit if you live in Docs, Sheets, Gmail.
Weaknesses
- Writing quality slightly below Claude for nuanced prose.
- API ecosystem is less mature than OpenAI's.
Best Prompt Style
Gemini works well with clear, direct instructions and excels at multimodal tasks.
Look at this chart [attach image].
Tell me:
1. What trend is shown over time?
2. What's the highest data point and when did it occur?
3. What's a possible explanation for the dip in Q3?
Which One Should You Start With?
If you're a beginner: Start with ChatGPT (GPT-4o). Most tutorials reference it and the free tier is generous.
If you write or work with long documents: Use Claude. The instruction-following and writing quality are unmatched.
If you need real-time data or work with images: Gemini is your best bet.
If you're building a product: Test all three and A/B test your specific use case. Never assume — always measure.
The Model-Agnostic Truth
The quality of your prompt matters more than which model you pick. A great prompt on GPT-4o will beat a bad prompt on Claude every time.
Master the fundamentals — clarity, context, format, examples — and you'll get excellent results from any of these models.