Western AI tools · 7
Western AI tools: prices, limits and regional availability
ChatGPT, Claude and Runway set the price points the rest of the market reacts to, but their plans change often and their availability depends on where you are. Mainland China and Hong Kong, for example, are not on OpenAI’s or Anthropic’s lists of supported regions.
This page tracks each plan’s monthly and yearly price, what it includes, how to pay, and what the vendors say about regional availability.
In short
On monthly billing, Gemini has the lowest entry price at $4.99/month. The others start at: ChatGPT at $8, Pika at $10, Runway at $15, Claude at $20, Perplexity at $20, Luma Dream Machine at $30 per month. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Pika and Runway all have a free plan; Luma Dream Machine does not. Each tool page lists exactly what the free plan includes.
Plans side by side
Price tracker →| Tool | Made by | Free tier | Paid from | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Global | OpenAI | Yes | $8/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
| Claude Global | Anthropic | Yes | $20/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
| Gemini Global | Yes | $4.99/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 | |
| Luma Dream Machine Global | Luma AI | No | $30/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
| Perplexity Global | Perplexity | Yes | $20/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
| Pika Global | Pika Labs | Yes | $10/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
| Runway Global | Runway | Yes | $15/mo | Verified Oct 29, 2026 |
Full pricing
ChatGPT
OpenAI
OpenAI's general assistant with search, files, data analysis, images and voice in one app.
Claude
Anthropic
Anthropic's assistant for long documents, careful writing, analysis and agentic coding with Claude Code.
Gemini
Google's assistant across the web, Android and Gmail, Docs and Sheets. Paid Google AI plans add more Gemini use, Google's top models and cloud storage.
Luma Dream Machine
Luma AI
Palo Alto-based Luma AI's video and image generation app, built around its own Ray models. It also offers third-party models such as Kling, Seedance and Veo from the same credit balance.
Perplexity
Perplexity
An AI answer engine that searches the web and cites its sources in every answer. Paid plans add top models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, Deep Research and Computer.
Pika
Pika Labs
Pika Labs' creative platform for AI video, images and sound. Alongside its own Pika models it offers third-party models such as Seedance, MiniMax and Nano Banana on one credit balance.
Runway
Runway
New York-based video generation and editing suite. Besides its own Gen models it also offers third-party models such as Kling and Seedance inside one credit balance.
No tools match. Try a maker name such as Alibaba or OpenAI.
Head-to-head
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Western AI tool?
On monthly billing, Gemini has the lowest entry price at $4.99/month. The others start at: ChatGPT at $8, Pika at $10, Runway at $15, Claude at $20, Perplexity at $20, Luma Dream Machine at $30 per month.
Which Western AI tools have a free plan?
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Pika and Runway all have a free plan; Luma Dream Machine does not. Each tool page lists exactly what the free plan includes.
Is ChatGPT available in China?
Mainland China and Hong Kong are not on OpenAI’s list of supported countries and territories, and the ChatGPT pricing page shows no prices for the China region.
Is Claude available in China?
Mainland China and Hong Kong are not on Anthropic’s list of supported countries and regions.
Is Gemini available in China?
Hong Kong is on Google's official list of places where the Gemini web app is available, and Google AI plans are sold there. Mainland China is listed for Workspace (work) accounts only, and it is not on the list of countries where Google AI plans are offered. The Gemini API's list of available regions includes neither.
Can I pay for Luma with Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Luma's help center lists only credit or debit cards, bank payments and Cash App Pay on the web, plus Apple ID payment methods in the iOS app. Alipay and WeChat Pay are not mentioned. Luma's terms also say the service is intended for users in the United States.
Is Perplexity available in China?
Perplexity does not publish a list of supported countries. Its terms say the service is operated in the United States, that people using it from elsewhere are responsible for following local laws, and that it does not guarantee the app is available in any particular location.
Can I use Pika outside the US?
Pika's terms say the service is operated from the United States and may not be available in every jurisdiction. Use from outside the US is at your own risk, and it can't be used from countries under US sanctions.
Can I pay for Runway with Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Runway bills through Stripe and lists Alipay and WeChat Pay among its payment methods, but notes that not every method is offered in every location.