Pick your lane
From chatting with AI to building your own tools
Three tracks, same six stages. Short steps, real commands, exact install links, and a Tell me more button wherever you want the longer version. Plus a setup kit for getting your own computer ready.
Not sure which one? Anything you learn in one carries over to the others: the ideas are the same, only the buttons move. If you want the shortest path to a working tool, start with Claude. If you already pay for ChatGPT, start there. Grok is the leanest of the three and assumes you are comfortable in a terminal.
| Claude | ChatGPT | Grok | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat | claude.ai | chatgpt.com | grok.com and X |
| Build in the browser | Artifacts | Canvas | Grok Studio |
| Desktop app | Yes, official | Yes, official | No official desktop app |
| Terminal agent | Claude Code | Codex | Grok Build |
| Free tier can use the agent | No, Pro or higher | No, Plus or higher | No, paid xAI plan |
One thing before you start. All three of these agents can read, write and delete files on your computer and run commands. That is the whole point of them, and it is also the risk. Start them in a folder that holds one project, keep your work in version control or backed up, and read what they propose before you approve it. None of this guide asks you to turn off the approval prompts.