Choose Claude if…
- Your work is writing-, analysis-, and judgment-heavy
- You want strong controls and careful, on-brand output
- You want a capable default that's fast to roll out
AI platform guide
Claude, OpenAI, or a private model — which AI platform should your business run on?
Most teams pick an AI tool before they've decided what actually matters: who owns the data, how it connects to your work, and what it costs to run at scale. Here's a practical, vendor-neutral way to choose — and how we set up whichever one fits.
The short answer
Start with the question, not the tool.
For most established businesses, the right move is a hosted platform — Claude or OpenAI on a business plan — because they're fast to deploy, capable, and don't use your data to train their models. You move to a private, in-house model when data residency, privacy rules, or cost-at-scale demand it. The decision comes down to four things: data, customization, connections, and cost.
Side by side
Claude vs. OpenAI vs. a private model.
| What matters | Claude (Anthropic) | OpenAI (ChatGPT) | Private / in-house |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Reasoning, writing, and careful work with business controls | Broad adoption, custom GPTs, and building on a deep API | Strict privacy, data residency, and high-volume use |
| Data & privacy | Business plans: your data isn't used to train models | Enterprise/Team: business data excluded from training | Data never leaves your network — you host it |
| Customization | Projects and custom assistants per team | Custom GPTs and fine-tuning options | Full control — your models, prompts, and data |
| Connects to your tools | Connectors to your systems and data | Custom GPTs + a broad API ecosystem | Built to your stack — more setup, fewer limits |
| Cost model | Per-seat / usage-based | Per-seat / usage-based | You pay for infrastructure, not per seat |
| Setup effort | Fast to stand up for a team | Fast to stand up for a team | Higher — infrastructure and security work |
| Who owns it | Vendor-hosted, you control the workspace | Vendor-hosted, you control the workspace | You own the whole stack |
Platform features and plans change often — treat this as a decision framework, not a spec sheet. We confirm the current details for your situation on the call.
How to choose
Pick by what your business actually needs.
Choose OpenAI if…
- Your team already uses ChatGPT and likes it
- You want custom GPTs and a deep API to build on
- You value the largest ecosystem of integrations
Choose a private model if…
- Data residency or privacy rules require it
- You want to own the stack with no per-seat lock-in
- You run high volumes where hosted costs add up
The honest take
The platform matters less than the setup around it.
A blank chat box doesn't change how a team works. The value comes from tuning the platform to your industry, connecting it to your tools, and training your people to use it. That's the same whichever platform you pick — and it's exactly what we do.
Common questions
Choosing an AI platform — FAQs.
Is our data safe with Claude or ChatGPT for business?
On business and enterprise plans, both Anthropic (Claude) and OpenAI (ChatGPT) state that your business data is not used to train their models. You still control access, connections, and what gets shared. For the strictest data-residency needs, a private self-hosted model keeps everything inside your own network.
What is a private or in-house AI model?
It's an open-weight model (such as a Llama- or Mistral-family model) that you run on hardware you control — your own servers or private cloud — so your data never leaves your network. You own the setup and pay for infrastructure rather than per-seat licenses.
Do we have to pick just one?
No. Many teams run a hybrid: a hosted platform for everyday work and a private model for sensitive data or high-volume tasks. The right mix depends on your data sensitivity, budget, and existing tools.
How long does setup take?
A hosted platform like Claude or OpenAI can be configured for a team quickly. A private in-house deployment takes longer because of infrastructure and security setup. We scope timing on a call based on the platform, connections, and customization you need.
Not sure which fits?