Who is Winning the Paid AI Subscription Race

Free versions of AI platforms are available that enable users to leverage chatbots to generate text, create images, and carry out other tasks, such as performing research. However, paid AI subscriptions offer features that enhance these GenAI capabilities.  

Companies may choose to invest in an AI subscription if they feel it creates business value.  

But which GenAI tools are organizations paying for? TSL Tech Research surveyed more than 60 IT professionals in firms with 50 to 500 employees to find out. 

Here’s an overview of the results with some insights into what the findings might mean for IT leaders. 

Paid AI Subscription Market 

We asked IT leaders at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) which AI solutions they use paid versions of. Microsoft Copilot came out on top with ChatGPT at a close second. Google Gemini rounded out the top 3. 

• 59% Microsoft Copilot 

• 55% ChatGPT 

• 21% Google Gemini 

Key Takeaways: 

Almost 60% of SMBs see Microsoft Copilot as a wise investment. The paid version of ChatGPT wasn’t far behind at over 50%, while Google Gemini lagged, capturing only a little over 20% of the market. Gemini still held its own against its other competitors that only registered in the single digits. 

Let’s take a closer look at the top 3 paid versions of GenAI solutions to get an idea of why they are the front runners. 

1) Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot was the winner of the paid AI subscription race. Copilot is an affordable option for SMBs that want a paid version. For a reasonable monthly fee per user, organizations can use Microsoft 365 Copilot, a business version with an add-on that integrates AI into 365 data and applications. 

2) ChatGPT 

ChatGPT gave Microsoft a run for its money in the paid subscription race. ChatGPT Plus may be a popular choice for SMBs because of its capabilities for coding and writing. The paid version also offers faster response times and priority access to new features and models, more advanced data analysis, higher usage limits, and access to special features, such as voice capabilities. ChatGPT Team and ChatGPT Enterprise are available for companies with higher usage needs that also want to use the platform for collaboration. 

3) Google Gemini 

Google Gemini has paid versions that are available as part of the Google One AI Premium plan. The paid version provides access to the more advanced Gemini Pro model along with Google Search’s AI Mode, Deep Search, and other tools. Features include enhanced coding assistance, better video and image generation, and access to advanced research tools. 

Paid AI Subscription Also Rans 

The rest of the GenAI solutions only captured a sliver of the paid subscription market. 

• 8% Claude 

• 6% Other 

• 3% Grok 

• 3% Perplexity 

Out of the SMBs surveyed, 5% aren’t using paid versions of GenAI solutions. 

Key Takeaways: 

These GenAI platforms may have paid versions with niche capabilities that don’t appeal to the wider SMB market. For example, Claude focuses on responsible AI use and Perplexity Pro is used for real-time web browsing and reasoning. Grok is an AI feature of the social platform X. 

Insights into the Paid AI Subscription Market 

TSL Tech Research conducts original online research into tech trends to give IT professionals and service providers an idea of how companies are using technology. 

Using these research findings, IT leaders at SMBs can understand which paid AI subscriptions are seen as good investments. According to the survey, most SMBs are investing in paid subscriptions to Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT. These findings may indicate that SMBs are generating return on investment (ROI) from these tools. IT service firms may want to promote their partnerships with the technology companies that sell these popular paid subscriptions. 

Looking for more insights into IT trends? Reach out to TSL Tech Research to run a survey or ask us to design a custom survey for your business.