By skyforbes 
Stop guessing which AI tool makes you money faster. I tested both for a month.
Everyone’s talking about “making money with AI,” but nobody shows you the real numbers. Which tool actually pays for itself? Which one gets you to $1K faster?
I spent 30 days testing both Claude and ChatGPT across 12 different side hustles. Real projects. Real clients. Real money.
Here’s what I learned.
The Problem With Most AI Advice
Scroll through YouTube or Twitter and you’ll see:
- “ChatGPT made me $10K in a week!” (no proof)
- “Claude is better for everything!” (sponsored content)
- “Use THIS prompt to get rich!” (doesn’t work)
The truth? Both tools are powerful. But they’re built for different things.
Using the wrong one costs you time, money, and opportunities.
The 60-Second Difference That Changed Everything
Week 1: I used ChatGPT for everything. Fast responses, great for brainstorming, but struggled with long-form content that needed depth.
Week 2: Switched to Claude. Slower to start conversations, but the quality of writing? Night and day for client work.
Week 3–4: Used both strategically based on the task.The Revenue Breakdown:
ChatGPT-powered income: $487
- Social media content bundles
- Quick blog outlines
- Email subject line testing
- Brainstorming sessions
Claude-powered income: $760
- Long-form articles
- Technical documentation
- Course curriculum design
- In-depth strategy documents
Total: $1,247 in 30 days
The 3 Side Hustles Where ChatGPT Wins
1. Social Media Management ($180/week potential)
ChatGPT crushes short-form content. I created:
- 30 Instagram captions in 10 minutes
- 50 tweet ideas in one session
- Hashtag research in seconds
Real client: Local coffee shop paid me $150 for a month of Instagram content. Took me 2 hours with ChatGPT.
2. Email Marketing ($200–500/project)
ChatGPT’s speed makes it perfect for:
- Subject line variations (A/B testing)
- Quick email sequences
- Newsletter outlines
Real earnings: $320 for a 7-email welcome sequence (3 hours of work)
3. Brainstorming & Ideation ($50–100/hour)
When clients need ideas FAST, ChatGPT delivers volume:
- Product name variations
- Content calendar concepts
- Marketing angle ideas
The 3 Side Hustles Where Claude Dominates
1. Long-Form Content Writing ($300–800/article)
Claude’s writing feels more… human. Less editing required.
Real project: 2,500-word SEO article on “Remote Work Tools”
- With ChatGPT: 4 hours (heavy editing needed)
- With Claude: 2.5 hours (minimal edits)
- Client paid: $450
2. Technical Documentation ($500–1,500/project)
Claude handles complex instructions better. I used it for:
- SaaS user guides
- API documentation
- Process workflows
Real earnings: $680 for a 30-page software manual
3. Course Creation ($1,000–5,000/course)
Building online courses requires depth and structure. Claude excels here:
- Module outlines with learning objectives
- Detailed lesson scripts
- Assessment questions with rationale
Real project: Created a mini-course framework in 6 hours (client paid $800 upfront)
The Pricing Reality Nobody Talks About
ChatGPT Costs:
- Free version: Slow, limited features
- Plus ($20/mo): Worth it for serious work
- Break-even: Need to make $20+ to justify
Claude Costs:
- Free version: Generous limits
- Pro ($20/mo): Similar to ChatGPT Plus
- Break-even: Same $20+ threshold
My Real ROI:
- Month 1 investment: $40 (both subscriptions)
- Month 1 revenue: $1,247
- Net profit: $1,207
- ROI: 3,017%
The Decision Framework I Now Use
Use ChatGPT when you need:
- ✅ Speed over perfection
- ✅ Multiple variations quickly
- ✅ Brainstorming volume
- ✅ Short-form content
Use Claude when you need:
- ✅ Quality over speed
- ✅ Long-form depth
- ✅ Complex reasoning
- ✅ Professional polish
Use BOTH when:
- ✅ ChatGPT generates ideas → Claude refines them
- ✅ You’re scaling a service business
- ✅ Different clients have different needs
The 3 Prompts That Made Me the Most Money
Prompt 1: High-Converting Product Descriptions (ChatGPT)
Create 5 product descriptions for [product]. Each should be 100 words,
include emotional benefits, address one objection, and end with urgency.
Target audience: [describe]. Make them scan-friendly with short paragraphs.
Earned me: $240 for an e-commerce client
Prompt 2: SEO Article Framework (Claude)
Write a comprehensive 2,000-word article on [topic] for [audience].
Include: compelling intro with hook, 7-10 H2 sections with actionable
advice, real-world examples, common mistakes section, and strong CTA.
Optimize for keyword: . Tone: informative but conversational.
Earned me: $450 per article
Prompt 3: Email Sequence (ChatGPT → Claude combo)
ChatGPT: "Generate 10 email subject line ideas for [campaign goal]"
(Pick top 3)
Claude: "Write a 5-email nurture sequence about [topic]. Email 1:
Problem awareness. Email 2: Solution intro. Email 3: Social proof.
Email 4: Objection handling. Email 5: Strong CTA with urgency."
Earned me: $320 per sequence
What I Wish I Knew on Day 1
Mistake #1: Trying to use one tool for everything
Cost me: 10+ hours of frustration and editing time
Solution: Match the tool to the task (use my framework above)
Mistake #2: Not investing in paid versions fast enough
Cost me: Probably $200–300 in lost opportunities
Solution: If you’re serious about earning, the $20/month pays for itself in one small project
Mistake #3: Not keeping a prompt library
Cost me: Hours rewriting similar prompts
Solution: Document what works. Build your personal prompt vault.
Your 7-Day Quick Start Plan
Day 1–2: Pick ONE side hustle from this article Day 3: Set up free accounts for both AIs Day 4: Test my 3 prompts above with your niche Day 5: Find your first client (Upwork, LinkedIn, local business) Day 6: Deliver the work using the right AI Day 7: Collect payment and upgrade to paid if needed
Goal: $100–300 in your first week
The Bottom Line
After 30 days and $1,247 in earnings, here’s my honest take:
If you can only afford one:
- Choose ChatGPT if you need speed and volume
- Choose Claude if you need quality and depth
If you’re serious about AI income:
- Get both ($40/month)
- They’ll pay for themselves in 2–3 hours of work
- Use them strategically based on the task
The real secret? It’s not about which AI is “better.” It’s about using the right tool for the right job — and actually doing the work.
Want the Complete Roadmap?
I documented everything from my 30-day experiment in a comprehensive guide:
✅ All 12 side hustles tested (with earnings breakdown)
✅ 50+ money-making prompts (copy-paste ready)
✅ Day-by-day action plan to reach $1K
✅ Real client examples and pricing strategies
✅ ROI calculators and decision frameworks
Launch price: $29 (originally $67) — No fluff, just tested strategies
The Question You Should Ask
Not “Which AI is better?”
But rather: “Which AI gets ME to $1K faster?”
The answer depends on your skills, your niche, and your goals.
Stop researching. Start testing. Your first $1K is closer than you think.
What’s your experience with AI side hustles? Drop a comment below — I read and respond to all of them.
P.S. If you found this helpful, follow me for more real-world AI income experiments (no BS, just numbers).
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