ChatGPT Dots gives you a standing AI agent with its own cloud computer that pursues goals in the background. Claude Cowork gives you delegated tasks and schedules that run in the cloud while you decide exactly what happens. Both keep working after you close your laptop. The real difference is who decides what work gets done: a Dot can find work on its own, while Claude does what you've set up. If you're paying for ChatGPT Pro and your team runs on Slack, Dots is worth trying. If you want the cheapest, most controllable way to hand off real work, start with Claude.
Checked against OpenAI's launch coverage and Anthropic's help center on October 19, 2026.
TL;DR
- ChatGPT Dots launched September 29, 2026. You get one agent with ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium. It has its own cloud computer you can watch, reaches 4,000+ apps, and takes messages in ChatGPT, Slack, and Teams.
- Claude Cowork is now built into Claude on Pro and Max. You describe an outcome and Claude does the work in a cloud session. Scheduled tasks run hourly, daily, or weekly. It starts at $20 a month.
- Dots is more autonomous. It carries a goal forward and does background research on its own.
- Claude is more controllable. You approve each action by default, every run is reviewable, and it costs far less to start.
- Want to try delegating real work this week? The free Claude Cowork course shows you how.
Side-by-side
| ChatGPT Dots | Claude Cowork | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A persistent personal agent | Delegated tasks and schedules |
| Made by | OpenAI | Anthropic |
| Model | GPT-6 Astra | Claude (you can choose the model on scheduled tasks) |
| Cloud computer | Its own, which you can open and watch | An isolated cloud session per task |
| Works with laptop closed | Yes | Yes, unless the task needs local files |
| Starts work on its own | Yes, including proactive research | Only on the schedule you set |
| Apps | 4,000+ via OpenAI plugins | Connectors, plugins, skills, and a built-in browser |
| Where you talk to it | ChatGPT (web, desktop, mobile), Slack, Teams | Claude web, desktop, iOS, Android |
| Approvals | Automated review before account or sharing actions | Manual (default), Auto, or Skip; your choice |
| How many | One included at launch | As many tasks as your usage allows |
| Plans | ChatGPT Pro, Business Premium; Enterprise beta | Every paid Claude plan |
| Entry price | ChatGPT Pro | $20 a month (Claude Pro) |
| Region limits | Pro not offered in UK, EEA, Switzerland | None specific to Cowork |
How the two models of work differ
Dots: give it a goal, let it run
A Dot is closer to an assistant than a tool. You give it ongoing responsibility, such as "keep my pipeline updated and tell me when a deal goes quiet," and it carries that forward between chats. It learns your preferences from feedback, and context follows you across channels, so a project started in ChatGPT can move into a Slack channel without a new briefing.
When nobody has assigned it anything, a Dot can do proactive research. During that time its app connections are read-only, so it can look but can't send or change anything. Actions that touch your accounts or share information go through an automated review first, and a monitoring system can pause it.
Claude: describe the outcome, set the schedule
Claude works one task at a time. You describe what you want finished, and Claude plans the steps, works across your files and connected apps, and hands back the result:
Every weekday at 8 AM, check my inbox for new customer questions, draft replies for the simple ones, and give me a list of anything that needs me personally.
Here's the task I'll schedule: "Weekday inbox triage," weekdays at 8:00 AM. I'll read new customer emails, draft replies for routine questions (hours, pricing, order status), and save them as drafts without sending. Then I'll post a short list of anything that needs your judgment. Want me to schedule it?
Each run is its own session you can open and review. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud even when your computer is asleep. The only exception is a task that needs files on your own computer, which waits for the desktop app. Nothing runs unless you set it up. More on how Cowork works.
Where ChatGPT Dots is better
- Your team lives in Slack or Teams. Messaging an agent where your team already talks, with shared context, is a real advantage.
- You want it to notice things. Proactive research means a Dot can bring you something you didn't ask for. Claude only reports on what you've set up.
- You want to watch it work. You can open the Dot's computer at any moment.
- You need a huge app catalog. 4,000+ plugins is broad coverage.
Where Claude Cowork is better
- Cost. Claude Pro is $20 a month and includes Cowork. Dots requires ChatGPT's top tiers. Full Claude pricing.
- Control. Manual approval is the default, and you can switch to Auto with safety review or Skip. Claude asks before permanently deleting files.
- Predictability. Every run is a scheduled, reviewable session. You know what ran and why.
- Availability. Every paid Claude plan gets it. Dots on Pro isn't available in the UK, EEA, or Switzerland yet.
- Real documents. Claude is strong at producing finished spreadsheets, decks, and reports from your files.
What to verify with either one
- Both can be confidently wrong. OpenAI says Dots can still make mistakes, and the same is true of Claude. Check anything that goes to a customer or changes a record.
- Neither knows your business on day one. Give it your pricing, tone, and rules, or you'll get generic results.
- Start narrow. Connect one or two apps for one job. Widen access once the results hold up.
- Watch usage. Long-running agent work uses more of your plan on both sides. OpenAI says Dot usage counts toward plan limits after the first month.
The verdict
Pick ChatGPT Dots if you already pay for ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium, your team runs on Slack or Teams, and you want an agent that takes initiative.
Pick Claude Cowork if you want to start for $20, approve what the AI does, and set up specific recurring jobs you can review.
Comparing all three always-on agents? See ChatGPT Dots vs Grok Bot vs Claude, or the other pairings: Grok Bot vs Claude and ChatGPT Dots vs Grok Bot.
Frequently asked questions
Does Claude have something like ChatGPT Dots?
Yes, Claude Cowork, which is now built into Claude on Pro and Max. It runs multi-step tasks in a cloud session that keeps going when your laptop is closed, and scheduled tasks can run hourly, daily, or weekly. The difference is that Claude doesn't keep a standing agent that finds work on its own; you set up each task.
Is ChatGPT Dots better than Claude Cowork?
It depends on how you work. Dots is more autonomous and integrates with Slack and Teams, which suits teams already on ChatGPT Pro. Claude Cowork is cheaper, available on every paid plan, and asks for your approval by default, which suits people who want control over each task.
How much do ChatGPT Dots and Claude Cowork cost?
One Dot is included with ChatGPT Pro or Business Premium, and OpenAI says more Dots will cost extra at prices it hasn't announced. Claude Cowork is included with every paid Claude plan, starting with Pro at $20 a month, or $17 a month billed annually.
Can Claude Cowork run tasks when my computer is off?
Yes. Cowork runs tasks in cloud sessions on Anthropic's servers, and scheduled tasks run even when your computer is asleep or the desktop app is closed. Tasks that need files or apps on your computer only run while the Claude desktop app is open.
Which is safer, ChatGPT Dots or Claude Cowork?
Both have safeguards. Dots runs an automated review before actions that touch your accounts and limits proactive research to read-only access. Claude asks before each action by default and requires explicit permission to permanently delete files. Either way, start with low-stakes jobs and review the results.
Learn to delegate before you pick
The tool matters less than knowing what to hand off and how to brief it. Our free Claude Cowork course walks you through real tasks: writing a good brief, setting up your first scheduled task, and checking the output. Those skills transfer to Dots too.
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