ChatGPT is a general assistant. LOLM is a coding/visual agent product with a jail, task state, and receipts. Use ChatGPT for ideas; use LOLM when the code must run.
| Need | ChatGPT | LOLM |
|---|---|---|
| Brainstorm / explain | Excellent | OK |
| Write code that must execute | Copy/paste risk | Sandbox run loop |
| Prove a game isn’t a blank canvas | No browser verify | Visual verify |
| Keep multi-day project criteria | Memory features | z_t task state |
| CLI in CI-style scripts | API glue | lolm code exit codes |
ChatGPT Plus is commonly ~$20/mo for general AI. LOLM Plus is $9 for agent quotas; Free works every day for evaluation. Not a token meter.
Only if your main need is receipted coding agents. Many people keep both.