Open Twitter or LinkedIn right now, and you’ll see the same debate raging: “ChatGPT is dead, long live Claude!” or “Gemini just killed everything else.”
For a beginner trying to start an online business, this constant noise is paralyzing. You want to start building a passive income stream, but you get stuck analyzing which $20/month subscription is actually worth it.
Here is the truth: All of them are powerful, but they are not created equal.
If your goal is to generate revenue—whether through Kindle publishing, affiliate marketing, or coding automations—you need to pick the right tool for the specific job. Using ChatGPT for creative writing is like using a hammer to tighten a screw; it works, but it’s messy.
I’ve tested these models extensively while building my own income streams. Here is the definitive breakdown of which AI model you should use to actually make money in 2025.
1. ChatGPT (by OpenAI)
The “Swiss Army Knife” & Coder
ChatGPT (specifically the GPT-4o model) is still the most versatile tool on the market. It doesn’t just write text; it “thinks” logically better than the others.
- Best For:
- Coding & Scripts: If you want to build a simple web calculator to put on a website (to attract traffic) or write a Python script to automate data entry, ChatGPT is the undisputed king.
- Data Analysis: You can upload an Excel sheet of your monthly expenses or sales data, and it will create charts and find trends instantly.
- Custom GPTs: You can build your own mini-AI agents to do specific tasks (like a “SEO Headline Generator”) and even sell them or use them as lead magnets.
Verdict: Use ChatGPT if your income strategy involves building software, analyzing data, or creating complex logic flows.
2. Claude (by Anthropic)
The “Human” Writer & Creative Soul
If you try to write a fiction book or an engaging blog post with ChatGPT, it often sounds robotic. It uses words like “delve,” “testament,” and “landscape” way too much.
Claude (specifically the Claude 3.5 Sonnet model) is different. It understands nuance, tone, and emotion far better. It writes like a human being.
- Best For:
- Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): If you are following the strategy in my book to write non-fiction guides, Claude is your best friend. It can handle large amounts of text and maintain a consistent voice.
- Copywriting: Writing sales emails, landing pages, or ad scripts that actually convert readers into buyers.
- Summarizing Long Documents: Claude has a huge “context window,” meaning you can feed it an entire PDF book and ask it to summarize it or extract key lessons.
Verdict: Use Claude if your primary income source is writing-heavy (Books, Blogs, Newsletters, Copywriting).
3. Gemini (by Google)
The Live Researcher
The biggest weakness of most AI models is that they hallucinate (make things up) or their knowledge is outdated. Gemini is plugged directly into Google Search.
- Best For:
- Market Research: “Find me the top 5 trending dog toys on Amazon this week and list their price points.” Gemini can pull live data much faster than the others.
- YouTube SEO: Since Google owns YouTube, Gemini is fantastic at suggesting video titles and descriptions based on what is currently ranking.
- Google Workspace Integration: If you run your business on Google Docs and Sheets, Gemini integrates seamlessly to speed up your workflow.
Verdict: Use Gemini for niche research, trend spotting, and SEO planning.
The “Money-Making” Comparison Matrix
| If you want to… | The Winner Is | Why? |
| Write an eBook for Amazon | Claude | Natural prose, less repetition, better flow. |
| Build a Chrome Extension | ChatGPT | Superior coding logic and debugging capabilities. |
| Find a Profitable Niche | Gemini | Access to real-time search trends and data. |
| Create Social Media Posts | Claude | Writes posts that don’t sound like “marketing fluff.” |
| Automate Emails | ChatGPT | Great at structured formatting and logic. |
Stop Collecting Tools, Start Building Systems
Here is the trap: Paying for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and Gemini Advanced adds up to $60+ a month. That cuts into your margins.
You don’t need all of them to start. You need a System.
In the “Bossless Life” philosophy, tools are just leverage. A carpenter doesn’t buy a saw and stare at it; he builds a table. You shouldn’t just buy an AI subscription; you should build an asset.
In my book, I don’t just compare tools—I give you the specific workflows to use them. I show you:
- The exact prompts to make ChatGPT code for you (even if you aren’t a programmer).
- How to train Claude to write in your voice so you don’t sound generic.
- How to build a “Tech Stack” that costs less than $20/mo but generates thousands in value.
Ready to stop testing tools and start cashing checks?
Get the complete breakdown of the essential AI toolkit in my guide:
>> Grab “How to Make Money Online with AI” on Amazon
Don’t let analysis paralysis stop you. Pick one tool, buy the roadmap, and launch your first asset this weekend.