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How much does AI cost for a small business?
Short answer
Often nothing to start. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity all have free plans. Paid individual plans in the UK App Store mostly cost £6.99 to £20 a month, and business plans with admin controls and stronger data terms cost about £15 to £25 per user a month. Specialist tools such as AI phone answering cost extra.
Individual plans (UK App Store, 17 October 2026)
| Tool | Free plan | Main paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Yes | Go £6.99, Plus £19.99 a month |
| Claude | Yes | Pro £20 a month or £199.99 a year |
| Gemini | Yes | Google AI Plus £4.49, Google AI Pro £18.99 a month |
| Perplexity | Yes | Pro £20 a month |
| Microsoft Copilot | Yes | Microsoft 365 Premium £18.99 a month |
| Canva | Yes | Pro £100 a year (details) |
Web prices are often shown in US dollars instead, so your card statement can differ slightly.
Business plans
| Plan | Published price |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot | £18.10 per user a month, paid yearly |
| Google Workspace Business Standard (Gemini included) | $14 per user a month flexible, less yearly (details) |
| ChatGPT Business | Priced per user, minimum two (details) |
| Claude Team | Per seat, 2 to 150 people (details) |
Typical budgets
- Sole trader: £0 to £20 a month. One paid assistant is usually enough.
- Team of five: if you already pay for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, start with the AI included there before adding another subscription.
- Phone answering: AI receptionist services start from tens of pounds a month. See are AI phone answering services any good?
Work out whether a tool pays for itself with our AI tool break-even calculator, and keep the invoices: see can I claim ChatGPT as a business expense?
Related questions
How much does an AI chatbot cost?
Chat assistants like ChatGPT are free to £20 a month for one person. A custom chatbot for your website is a separate product, usually charged monthly or per conversation by the provider.
How much does an AI agent cost?
Agent features are increasingly bundled into paid plans, with extra usage charged by credits or metered pricing. Check the allowance before you let one run unattended (see can AI agents be trusted?).
Is there VAT on AI subscriptions?
Often, yes. See is there VAT on ChatGPT?
Sources
- Apple App Store (UK): ChatGPT
- Apple App Store (UK): Claude
- Apple App Store (UK): Google Gemini
- Apple App Store (UK): Perplexity
- Apple App Store (UK): Microsoft Copilot
- Microsoft: Copilot business plans and pricing (UK)
- Google Workspace: pricing (UK)
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
More on ai costs and free plans
- Are AI tools free?
- Can ChatGPT Plus make videos?
- Can I claim ChatGPT as a business expense in the UK?
- Can more than one person use ChatGPT Plus?
- Do AI subscriptions like Claude, Canva and Grammarly charge UK VAT?
- Does ChatGPT Plus have usage limits?
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