Write and edit documents with Claude or ChatGPT

Claude and ChatGPT both have a Word add-in. Pick by plan and by where you write: in Word, in a Google Doc, or as a finished file.

Picks: 6; ranked

Claude and ChatGPT both work inside Microsoft Word and can also draft documents in chat. ChatGPT for Word is a sidebar add-in on every ChatGPT plan, including Free. Claude for Word is an add-in for Word on the web, Windows and Mac, generally available on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans. On every Claude plan, Claude also builds Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files you download, and can edit a Google Doc live beside the chat. Both can make mistakes or change text you meant to keep, so check facts and figures before you share.

Good for

Anyone drafting memos, reports and proposals from notes
Word users who want edits in the document, not a copy and paste
Writers who want an editor that keeps their terms and tone
Claude Code users who need tracked changes or PDF output from a skill

The short answer

Our advice: write inside Word with either add-in. ChatGPT for Word is the one to try first on a Free plan; Claude for Word needs Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise. Use Claude if you also want a finished Word or PDF file from a chat, or live edits in a Google Doc. Check every figure yourself.

Our advice: both can write inside Word, so choose by plan and where you write. Try your own notes in both.

Best for

ChatGPT for Word on a Free plan: it is available on all ChatGPT plans
Claude for Word on a paid plan for tracked changes, comment threads and redline review
Claude for a .docx or PDF from notes in one chat
Claude with the docx skill for tracked changes in Claude Code

Skip it if

You need the AI to read other files on your computer inside Word (ChatGPT for Word cannot)
You plan to send the first draft unchecked

Draft, edit and export a document

1
Give it your material and your reader
Paste your notes, the audience and the length. ChatGPT for Word works with the document you have open but cannot read other files on your computer, so paste the text you want it to use.
Prompt
```
Here are my notes for a two-page memo to our finance director. Ask me up to 5 questions first. Do not invent facts or figures.
```
2
Agree an outline first
For bigger changes, OpenAI suggests asking for an outline or an explanation of proposed edits before the document changes. Do the same in Claude.
Prompt
```
Suggest an outline for this memo. Wait for my OK before you write anything.
```
3
Write the draft in your voice
Give a sample paragraph of your own writing and the terms that must stay as they are. The write skill helps Claude Code cut stock AI phrasing.
Prompt
```
Turn the outline into a draft. Plain words, short paragraphs. Keep these terms exactly: [your terms].
```
Uses write
4
Edit in place
In Word, select the text and describe the change, and say what must stay the same. In Claude for Word, use tracked changes mode so each edit is a revision you can accept or reject. In Claude Code, the docx skill adds tracked changes and comments.
Prompt
```
Shorten this section for an executive audience. Keep the facts and defined terms.
```
Uses docx, doc-coauthoring
5
Get the file and check it
In Claude, turn on Settings > Capabilities > Code execution and file creation (called Create and edit files in newer settings), then ask for a .docx or PDF. In ChatGPT, tables and charts may need manual fixes. Save a copy before big changes.
Prompt
```
Create this as a Word document with standard headings and a one-column layout.
```
Tip: Read it once out loud. Change any figure or claim you cannot trace to your notes.
Uses pdf

Best plugs for this

Our advice: ChatGPT is first because its Word add-in is on every plan including Free. Claude is the alternative with Claude for Word on paid plans, finished files and Google Docs.

1
ChatGPTBuilt inAssistant
ChatGPT for Word puts ChatGPT in a Word sidebar to draft, revise and summarise. Writing blocks give editable drafts in chat.
Free and upPlan
2
ClaudeAssistant
Claude for Word edits inside Word with tracked changes (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise). Also creates Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files from chat and edits Google Docs beside the chat.
Free and up; Word add-in on paid plansPlan
3
docxSkill
Lets Claude create, read and edit Word documents, including tracked changes and comments.
211,105 installs
4
doc-coauthoringSkill
Anthropic skill that walks you through a spec, proposal or decision doc in three stages.
96,782 installs
5
pdfSkill
Lets Claude read, merge, split, fill and create PDF files.
221,065 installs
6
writeSkill
Edits English or Chinese prose to cut AI patterns instead of swapping in fancier words.
15,656 installs

ChatGPT

ChatGPT puts a sidebar inside Word on every plan, including Free.

Plan: Any plan. ChatGPT for Word is on all plans including Free; ChatGPT Work availability depends on plan and workspace settings.

What it can do

Draft, revise, summarise and reformat inside Word through a sidebar
Edit drafts in chat with writing blocks
Create documents from instructions, source files or a saved template in ChatGPT Work
Pull in Google Docs when the Google Workspace app is enabled

Limits

ChatGPT for Word cannot read other files on your computer
Complex formatting, tables and charts may need manual fixes
Word usage draws on your plan's shared usage allowance
Plugins are not supported in ChatGPT for Word

Claude

Claude works in Word through an add-in, builds finished files, and edits Google Docs beside the chat.

Plan: Any plan for chat and files: turn on Code execution and file creation in Settings > Capabilities for Word or PDF files. Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise for the Word add-in.

What it can do

Use Claude for Word, an add-in with tracked changes and comment threads (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise)
Create Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files you download
Edit Google Docs, Sheets and Slides live beside the chat on web and desktop
Keep instructions and source documents in a Project
Use the docx and pdf skills for tracked changes and PDF work

Limits

Team and Enterprise owners can turn file creation off
Free accounts can create up to five Projects
Live Google editing uses the Docs, Sheets and Slides connectors, on the web in Chrome or in Claude Desktop
Claude for Word needs a Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan

Questions

What is the best AI for writing documents?

It depends on where you write. ChatGPT for Word and Claude for Word both put the assistant in a Word sidebar: ChatGPT's is on every plan, Claude's on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise. Claude also builds Word and PDF files and edits Google Docs beside the chat. Our advice: run the same notes through both.

Is there a Claude for Word?

Yes. Claude for Word is an add-in for Word on the web, Windows and Mac, generally available on Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans. It edits with tracked changes and works through comment threads. Separately, Claude's Microsoft 365 connector searches SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook and Teams, for work Microsoft accounts only.

Is ChatGPT for Word free?

It is available on all ChatGPT plans, including Free. Word usage is token-based and draws on your plan's shared usage allowance, so heavy use can reduce what is left for other premium features.

Can Claude make a Word document?

Yes. Turn on Code execution and file creation in Settings > Capabilities, then ask for a Word document. It is on by default for Free, Pro, Max and Ultra, and works on web, desktop and mobile.

Can Claude edit my Google Doc?

Yes. Claude can edit Google Docs, Sheets and Slides live in a pane beside the chat, on the web in Chrome and in Claude Desktop with its built-in browser turned on. Turn on the Docs, Sheets and Slides connectors first.

Can ChatGPT change things I did not ask for?

It can. OpenAI says ChatGPT can make mistakes and change content you meant to keep. Save a copy before big changes and check figures, citations and edits.

Does it handle tables and charts?

Only partly in Word. OpenAI says complex formatting, tables and charts may need manual adjustments. Claude can build charts inside a file it creates, but open the result and check it.

Can I reuse the same format for every document?

Yes. ChatGPT Work can save a reference file as a template, and Claude Projects keep your instructions and sources for every chat. Availability of Work depends on plan and workspace settings.

Is my document used to train the AI?

In ChatGPT Business, Enterprise and Edu workspaces, inputs and outputs are not used to train OpenAI models by default. On other plans, data use follows your plan and data controls, so check your settings before pasting private text.

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 9

Use Claude for Word · claude.com
ChatGPT for Word · help.openai.com
Create and edit files with Claude · support.claude.com
Use Google Workspace connectors · support.claude.com
Working with writing blocks and code blocks in ChatGPT · help.openai.com
Creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ChatGPT Work · help.openai.com
What are projects? · support.claude.com
Connect to Microsoft 365 · support.claude.com
Using Skills in Claude · support.claude.com