Source: Ruben Hassid (@rubenhassid) — Feb 20, 2026

Why Claude Over ChatGPT

As of February 2026, Claude is the single most important AI tool for knowledge work. Not perfect at everything, but what it does well (writing, thinking, analyzing, building, working with files), nothing else comes close.

Claude Is Six Tools in One

Ranked from most to least important:

1. Cowork — Desktop app that works on your actual files

1. Model — Choose the right model (Opus 4.6 + Extended Thinking)

1. Excel — AI living inside your spreadsheets

1. Plugins — Pre-built skill packs for specific job functions

1. Artifacts — Interactive outputs you can use, not just read

1. Projects — Persistent context folders that remember uploaded files

1. Claude Cowork (Most Important)

What it is: A desktop app that lives on your computer — reads your files, creates documents, builds spreadsheets, writes code, and asks clarifying questions instead of guessing.

Setup:

• Go to claude.com/download, download the app

• Requires Pro account ($20/month, or $17/month annual)

• Open app → click Cowork tab → select a folder from your computer

Key Prompt Pattern:

I want to [YOUR TASK] so that [WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE].

First, read the uploaded files completely before responding.

DO NOT start executing yet. Instead, ask me clarifying questions (use AskUserQuestion) so we can refine the approach together step by step.

Only begin work once we've aligned.

Mindset Shift from ChatGPT:

• ChatGPT trained you to write better/longer prompts → forget that

• With Cowork, the game is text files, not prompts

• Create .md or .txt files with your writing style, brand rules, best examples, past work

• Drop them in a folder, point Claude to it

• The more context as files, the less prompting needed

• Output goes from "generic AI" to "this actually sounds like my work"

Best Practice:

1. Write high-quality .md files (like briefs for your team)

1. Start all prompts with: "Read this & then ask me questions to do [task]."

1. Be mindful of both quantity and quality of uploaded files — compounds over time

Context window: 1,000,000+ tokens — no hallucination issues in long conversations.

2. Use the Right Model

Model: Opus 4.6 (released Feb 5, 2026) — the smartest model available for writing, thinking, analyzing, planning, and reasoning.

Setup:

1. Open any Claude chat (claude.ai or Cowork)

1. Click the model selector dropdown at the bottom

1. Select Opus 4.6

1. Turn on Extended Thinking — forces Claude to think first (like an internal monologue before answering). Big difference.

Internet Access via Connectors:

• Go to Settings > Connectors

• Browse directory → click "Add"

• Supports: Slack, Google Drive, Notion, Figma, 50+ others

• Claude can search your Slack messages, pull from Google Docs, reference Notion pages mid-conversation

• Free on all plans

3. Claude in Excel

What it is: An AI that lives inside your spreadsheet — reads every tab, knows what each cell contains, unlike ChatGPT which flattens everything to text.

Setup (3 minutes):

1. Open Microsoft Excel (desktop or web, 2016+)

1. Go to Insert > Get Add-ins (Windows) or Tools > Add-ins (Mac)

1. Search "Claude by Anthropic" — look for official one with Claude logo

1. Click "Add" / "Get It Now"

1. Sign in with Claude account

1. Press Ctrl+Option+C (Mac) or find Claude icon in ribbon

1. Requires paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise)

Starter Prompts:

• "Give me a summary of each tab."

• "Explain what the formula in cell B12 does in plain English."

• "Find all #REF and #VALUE errors in this workbook."

• "Convert all dates to YYYY-MM-DD format."

• "Create a pivot summary of monthly revenue by product category."

Create Spreadsheets from Scratch (via Cowork):

Create a professional Excel spreadsheet (.xlsx) for: [PURPOSE]
Context: [WHO IS IT FOR / HOW WILL IT BE USED]
It should cover: [LIST WHAT YOU WANT TO TRACK OR CALCULATE]

Rules:
- Use Excel formulas (SUM, SUMIF, IF, etc.) — never hardcoded calculations
- Put editable assumptions in their own labeled cells
- Freeze top row, auto-fit columns
- [ANY EXTRAS: charts, dropdowns, conditional formatting, etc.]

Claude highlights every cell it touches — nothing changes without your approval.

4. Claude Plugins

What it is: 11 official pre-built skill packs (released Jan 2026) — Sales, Marketing, Legal, Finance, Data Analysis, Product Management, Customer Support, etc.

Setup:

1. Open Claude Cowork

1. Go to claude.com/plugins

1. Browse & pick one matching your work

1. Click install — activates automatically

1. Type / in chat to see available slash commands

Example (Marketing plugin):

/draft-content Write a LinkedIn post about [topic]. Use my uploaded voice profile. Target [audience]. Goal: [newsletter signups / awareness / engagement].

Example (Data plugin):

/build-dashboard Create an interactive dashboard from this CSV. Include filters by date and category. Show trends over time.

5. Claude Artifacts

What it is: Interactive outputs inside Claude — working calculators, charts, diagrams, planners — not just text responses.

No setup needed — works automatically in Cowork.

Example prompts:

• "Create an interactive HTML calculator that converts monthly expenses into annual projections."

• "Create a visual comparison chart of [Product A] vs [Product B]."

• "Build me a simple project tracker with columns for Task, Owner, Status, and Due Date."

• "Make an SVG diagram showing my team's reporting structure."

6. Claude Projects

What it is: A folder of chats where Claude remembers the files you upload.

Setup:

1. Go to claude.ai (Pro or Team plan)

1. Click "Projects" in left sidebar

1. Click "Create Project" → name it

1. Click "Add content" → upload key files (brand docs, writing samples, reference material)

Note: Author no longer uses Projects — prefers Cowork + markdown files with local folders instead.

Where Claude Falls Short

Your First 30 Minutes — Quick Start

Pro tip: Use Wispr Flow to talk instead of type when creating your .md files.