Independent software research43 records · prices verified 13.09.2026
The Plain StackSoftware decisions, with the receipts
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INDEPENDENT SOFTWARE RESEARCH

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Verified pricing, documented limits and a recommendation that changes with your work — not with the commission.

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  • 43tools researched
  • 43prices verified
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RESEARCH STATUS

What changed recently.

The full research log
43tools tracked
64price records
23corrections published
todaysince last check
Correction

Five prices had only ever been read on the annual view

Notion, Linear, Gamma, Calendly and n8n were published at a figure the vendor only offers on a twelve-month commitment. Re-read on each vendor's monthly view: Notion €9.50 → €11.50, Linear $10 → $12, Gamma $9 → €10, Calendly $10 → $12, n8n €20 → €24. Hootsuite is now recorded in the euros its own page shows rather than in dollars. Perplexity was re-read and is unchanged: its public page still publishes no monthly-billing figure at all, and the record now says so.

Correction

Every French page had been returning a 404 for two days

A rebuild on 11 September began serving French articles at their English address, so every French URL that had ever been indexed stopped working. The translated addresses are restored, 69 permanent redirects now cover the broken window and the older spellings before it, and each page names its counterpart in the other language. Build checks were added that fail the deployment if a French page ever goes missing again.

Correction

Calendly price corrected

We were publishing $10.00. The month-to-month price is $12.00. Corrected to the month-to-month figure already recorded in this record's own billing condition

Correction

Gamma price corrected

We were publishing $9.00. The month-to-month price is €10.00. Corrected to the month-to-month figure already recorded in this record's own billing condition

BUILD A STACK

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Choose a job and a budget. Suggestions use the same verified records as every review.

Your work
Your budget
SUGGESTED STACK

3 tools to start

ChatGPTcontent writing
Free
Claudelong-form drafting
Free
DeepLtranslating client documents
Free
Indicative budgetEUR 31.99/mo + USD 20.00/moVendor currencies are never combined with each other.
OPEN COMPARATOR

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VS

ChatGPT

Claude

18 / 18 rows
Price on record€23.00/mo · Plus$20.00/mo · Pro
What the figure isMonth-to-monthMonth-to-month
CommitmentNoneNone
Annual optionNot recorded on this recordNot recorded on this record
Free planYesYes
Free trialNot recorded on this recordNot recorded on this record
Billed peraccountaccount
Setup efforteasy · minuteseasy · minutes
Platformsweb, ios, android, apiweb, ios, android, api
API on recordYesYes
Integrations on recordAPI, GPT store, third-party appsAPI, third-party apps
Best forfreelancers, consultants, small-teamsfreelancers, consultants, long-form writers
Primary strengthStrong free planExcellent nuanced long-form output
Main limitationFree tier usage capsUsage limits on free plan
Evidence levelVendor documentedVendor documented
Hands-on testNone recordedNone recorded
Pricing freshnessChecked 8 days ago · FreshChecked 38 days ago · Due soon
Features freshnessChecked 38 days ago · FreshChecked 38 days ago · Fresh
Visit ChatGPT ↗Visit Claude ↗

Comparison uses verified records only. Vendor currencies are shown without conversion. A field that is not on the record does not appear here.

DECISION FILES

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SHORTLIST

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Updated 06.08.2026 · 5 recordsSHORTLIST

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Updated 20.08.2026 · 6 recordsSHORTLIST

Best AI Meeting Assistants for Small Teams

AI meeting note-takers compared for small teams: Otter, Fathom and alternatives — free tiers, CRM sync, accuracy notes and honest limits.

Updated 07.08.2026 · 3 recordsHEAD TO HEAD

ChatGPT vs Claude for Freelancers

ChatGPT vs Claude for freelance work: drafting, research, long-form and price. A practical head-to-head with verdicts by use case.

Updated 06.08.2026 · 2 records
REFERENCE RECORDS

Three strong places to start.

All 43 records

ChatGPT

OpenAI · assistants, writing

€23.00/mo · Plus
Free plan

Why it works

  • Strong free plan
  • Very broad model capability

Watch out

  • Free tier usage caps
  • Can produce confidently wrong answers on niche topics
Read the recordOfficial site ↗
Vendor documented · 05.09.2026

Claude

Anthropic · assistants, writing

$20.00/mo · Pro$17.00/mo billed annually
Free plan

Why it works

  • Excellent nuanced long-form output
  • Large context window

Watch out

  • Usage limits on free plan
  • Fewer native plugins than some rivals
Read the recordOfficial site ↗
Vendor documented · 06.08.2026

Notion

Notion Labs · projects

€11.50/mo · Plus€9.50/mo billed annually
Free plan

Why it works

  • Flexible and powerful
  • Generous free plan

Watch out

  • Learning curve for databases
  • AI add-on costs extra
Read the recordOfficial site ↗
Vendor documented · 13.09.2026
DISCLOSED PARTNERS

Tools we track, with the relationship stated.

8 of the 43 tools we track carry a disclosed affiliate relationship: Beautiful.ai, ClickUp, Descript, ElevenLabs, Gamma, Later, Miro and Todoist. The other 35 records carry no paid link, and say so on the record itself.

Partnership never changes a verdict, a price record or a published limitation.

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DescriptAffiliate link
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