C
CGeneral-purpose AI chat assistant for writing, research, coding and everyday tasks
Free, from $8/mo
Claude vs Ollama
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
C
Choose Claude if…
- you work on Web, iOS, Android
- you're in its core audience: knowledge workers, software developers
O
Choose Ollama if…
- you want the lower entry price ($16.67/mo vs $17/mo)
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you work on Linux
- you're in its core audience: developers, ai engineers
Side by side
Feature Claude Ollama
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price$17/mo$16.67/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
Trains AI on your content—No
Data retention—Cloud prompts/responses processed transiently, not stored beyond request time
GitHub stars—185K
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Chrome, APImacOS, Windows, Linux, API
CategoryAI ChatbotsLocal & Open Models
CompanyAnthropic PBCOllama
Based inUnited States—
Founded——
Part of——
Key features
C Claude
- Chat with web search and memory
- File creation and code execution
- Artifacts, Slides, Docs and Design tools
- Claude Code for software development
- Projects for organizing work
- Scheduled and handed-off tasks
- Chrome, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace integrations
- Per-token API with batch discount
O Ollama
- Run open models locally with unlimited usage
- Cloud-hosted open models with pay-as-you-go token pricing
- Off-peak discounted rates for some models
- Tool calling support on compatible cloud models
- Concurrent requests up to 10 on higher plans
- API keys with per-key cost budgets (Enterprise)
- Shared team billing and administration
- Usage alert email at 90% of monthly allowance
Plans and prices
From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.
Claude
Free$0
Pro$20/mo or $17/mo billed yearly ($200)
MaxFrom $100/mo
Team Standard$25/seat/mo or $20/seat billed yearly
Team Premium$125/seat/mo or $100/seat billed yearly
Enterprise$20/seat billed yearly + usage at API rates
Ollama
Free$0
Pro$20/mo or $200/yr ($16.67/mo billed annually)
Max$100/mo
Team (early access)$500/mo
EnterpriseCustom
Strengths and limitations
Claude
- Free plan includes web search, code execution and memory
- Apps for web, desktop, iOS and Android
- Max plans include $100-$200/month in API credits
- Enterprise plan offers a HIPAA-ready option and a Compliance API
- Claude Code is not included in the free plan
- Max plans are billed monthly only
- Enterprise requires a 20-seat minimum
- API is billed separately from chat plans
Ollama
- Local model use is free and unlimited
- Prompt and response data is never logged or trained on
- Open source project on GitHub
- Published per-token prices for every cloud model
- Free cloud usage is limited to starter models unless you buy credits
- Unused monthly credits do not roll over
- Free plan allows only 1 concurrent cloud request
- Cloud hosting is primarily in the US
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Built from each vendor's public website; we haven't tested them hands-on. Editorial policy