Compared honestly
Treechat vs ChatGPT
Most questions don't need a frontier model. Treechat answers them just as well on a fraction of the energy — and shows you the receipt. ChatGPT keeps the edge on the biggest tasks; we keep the footprint honest on everything else.
ChatGPT and Treechat are not trying to be the same thing. ChatGPT reaches for the largest models available. Treechat reaches for the smallest model that can answer well, then shows you what that answer cost.
Here is the comparison as we see it, including the part where they win.
| Dimension | Treechat | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Model approach | Small efficient models by default — around 90% less energy than frontier defaults | Frontier-scale models, the broadest capability available |
| Per-answer energy visibility | An energy receipt on every answer | Not shown |
| Published methodology | Published, including a live measured energy mix | No per-answer energy methodology |
| Renewable energy | 100% renewable, certified — at-source hydro for fallback capacity in Norway | No environmental commitment attached to each answer |
| Reforestation | Every paid member funds a real tree, every month | Not part of the product |
| Free tier | Free tier, no card needed | Free access exists — see their site for current terms |
| Best suited to | Everyday questions at a fraction of the footprint | Frontier-grade reasoning and the largest tasks |
What ChatGPT does well
ChatGPT is the most capable AI assistant available. Its frontier models handle work that smaller models simply cannot, and the feature set around them is enormous.
If your question genuinely needs that much model, use it. Most questions do not.
The honest caveat
If you're going to ask AI anyway, ask smaller.
Most questions do not need a frontier model — and for the ones that genuinely do, ChatGPT's biggest models still lead. Treechat right-sizes the model to the question, uses a fraction of the energy, and tells you what each answer cost.
Read how we measure →Questions, answered
The useful details.
For everyday questions — the overwhelming majority of what anyone asks an AI — you will not notice a difference, and Treechat's answers use around 90% less energy. For frontier-grade reasoning and the very largest tasks, ChatGPT's biggest models still lead. That trade is the whole point: right-sized answers instead of a frontier model for every question.
Every Treechat answer comes with an energy receipt, and our methodology page publishes the assumptions behind it alongside a live measured energy mix. ChatGPT does not show per-answer energy use.
Our infrastructure runs on 100% renewable energy, certified, with at-source hydro covering fallback capacity in Norway. We distinguish between at-source and certificate-based renewable energy rather than rounding both up to the same claim.
No — the free plan needs no card at all. You can start asking questions straight away. Paid membership adds higher limits and funds one newly planted tree every month you stay a member.
Use the smaller one when it will do. If you are going to ask AI anyway, ask smaller — the energy difference between a small model and a frontier model on a simple question is large, and invisible unless someone shows you.
Try it on your next question.
Free to use, no card needed. Every answer arrives with its energy receipt.
Try Treechat free