Custom GPTs vs. Claude Projects: Which Should You Sell?
Why This Question Actually Matters Now
A year or two ago, this wasn't even a debate.
If you wanted to build something with AI and sell it, you used ChatGPT.
Now Claude Projects are a real option.
And the choice you make here affects more than just output quality.
It affects:
How easy your product is to use
How easy it is to sell
How much friction your buyers feel
So this isn't just a tech decision.
It's a business decision.
The Mistake Most People Make
They try to figure out which tool is "better."
That's not the right question.
The better question is:
How are people going to use what I'm building?
Because the best tool on paper doesn't matter if your buyer struggles to actually use it.
How Custom GPTs Work (and Why They Sell Easier)
A custom GPT is basically a packaged version of ChatGPT.
You:
Write instructions
Upload knowledge
Configure behavior
Then you send a link.
That's it.
Someone clicks it and starts using it.
There's very little setup required on their end.
Why This Matters for Selling
Your buyer doesn't have to:
Build anything
Configure anything
Figure anything out
They just use it.
When Custom GPTs Are the Better Choice
You want to sell a standalone product
You're targeting beginners or non-technical users
You want something easy to distribute
You care about simplicity over depth
This is why most people start here.
How Claude Projects Work (and Why They're Different)
Claude Projects are more like workspaces than products.
You can:
Add detailed instructions
Upload large amounts of content
Maintain context across longer interactions
They're powerful.
But they're not plug-and-play.
The Tradeoff
Instead of sending a link, your buyer has to:
Copy your instructions
Upload files
Recreate the setup
That's friction.
And friction affects conversions.
Here's what to know about selling Claude Projects.
When Claude Projects Make More Sense
You're teaching people how to build their own tools
Your audience is more advanced
The value is in the system, not just the output
You need deeper context and more control
In those cases, the extra setup is worth it.
The Real Difference Comes Down to This
Custom GPTs are built for distribution.
Claude Projects are built for depth.
If your goal is to sell something quickly and easily, distribution wins.
If your goal is to create something more advanced and customizable, depth matters more.
The Subscription Factor (Don't Ignore This)
Both tools require a paid plan to fully use.
Your buyers will need:
ChatGPT Plus for custom GPTs
Claude Pro for Projects
So either way, there's a small barrier.
But ChatGPT has more name recognition.
Which means:
Less explaining
Less hesitation
Easier adoption
That matters when someone is deciding whether to buy.
What Most People Actually Do
They start with custom GPTs.
Not because they're perfect.
But because they're easier to sell.
Once they validate the idea, they might rebuild it in Claude for:
Better performance
More advanced use cases
But the first version is usually built for simplicity.
A Smarter Way to Think About It
Instead of choosing one forever, think in phases.
Phase 1: Build a simple version people can actually use.
Phase 2: Improve it based on feedback.
Phase 3: Rebuild or expand using a more advanced setup if needed.
This keeps you from getting stuck trying to pick the "perfect" tool.
Final Takeaway
The best platform isn't the one with the most features.
It's the one your buyer can actually use without getting stuck.
For most people selling AI tools right now, that's still custom GPTs.
Claude Projects come in when you need more depth and control.
If you want help deciding what to build and how to actually sell it without overcomplicating things, it's all inside
Her AI Club: https://heraiclub.co
meet joycehamilton
Hey, I'm Joyce — and I help service providers turn their expertise into AI tools that make money.
If you're a coach, consultant, or course creator who's tired of trading hours for dollars, you're in the right place. I teach you how to build custom GPTs, price them, and sell them — so you can earn without being personally present every time.
No coding required. No tech background needed. Just a willingness to turn what you already know into something that works for you.
Want to see how this actually works? Join Her AI Club — a membership where you'll build your first monetizable AI tool in 90 days (with step-by-step guidance, real examples, and a community of people doing the same thing).
