ChatGPT vs Microsoft Recall

Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.

ChatGPT

General-purpose AI chat assistant for writing, research, coding and everyday tasks

Free · from $8/moVisit site

Microsoft Recall

Searchable local snapshots of your screen history on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs

Pricing unknownVisit site

Choose ChatGPT if…

you want a free plan to start with
you work on Web
you're in its core audience: individuals and students, writers and knowledge workers

Choose Microsoft Recall if…

you work on Windows
you're in its core audience: windows 11 copilot+ pc owners, knowledge workers

Side by side

FeatureC

ChatGPTM

Microsoft Recall

Pricing modelFreemiumPricing unknown

Starting price$8/mo—

Free plan

Free trial

API

Open source

Trains AI on your contentYesNo

Data retention—Oldest snapshots deleted when max storage reached; user chooses how long snapshots are kept

Web search—

File upload & analysis—

Image generation—

PlatformsWebWindows

CategoryAI ChatbotsPersonal Assistants

CompanyOpenAIMicrosoft

Based in—United States

Founded——

Part of——

Key features

C ChatGPT

Chat-based answers to questions and tasks
Help with writing and editing
Coding help through the included Codex agent
Several individual tiers from Free to Pro
Per-seat team workspaces through Business
Enterprise plan sold through sales

M Microsoft Recall

Automatic screen snapshots every few seconds and on content change
Search by typed or spoken description
Text and visual matches labeled close or related
Timeline browsing and per-app result filtering
Exclude specific apps and websites
Sensitive information filtering for passwords and card numbers
Local encrypted storage protected by Windows Hello
Click to Do actions on text and images in snapshots

Plans and prices

From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.

ChatGPT

Free$0

Go$8/mo (US)

Plus$20/mo

ProFrom $100/mo

Business$20/user/mo billed annually; $25 monthly

EnterpriseCustom

Microsoft Recall

Pricing unknown. Plan details aren't published.

Strengths and limitations

ChatGPT

Free plan available
Go plan costs $8/month in the US
Codex is included in all plans, Free included
Business plan starts at just 2 users

Free plan has limited features
Pro tiers cost $100–$500 per month
Enterprise pricing is only available from sales

Microsoft Recall

Snapshots are stored locally and encrypted, and the page says they are not shared with Microsoft
Off by default, with app, website and sensitive-data filters
Search works by text or voice and also matches images
Admins can't secretly turn on snapshots on managed devices