Compare Two Options Objectively
Get a balanced, structured comparison instead of a biased recommendation.
Prompt
Compare {{option_a}} and {{option_b}} for the purpose of {{goal}}. Present the comparison as a table covering: cost, key strengths, key weaknesses, and who each option is better suited for. Do not recommend one over the other — just lay out the tradeoffs.Fill in these placeholders
- {{option_a}}
- {{option_b}}
- {{goal}}
How to use it
Be specific about your goal — "comparing for a small team's budget" gives a more useful answer than a vague comparison.
Example use case
Comparing two software subscriptions before a purchase decision.
Why this prompt works
Asking for a recommendation invites the model to pick a side and then assemble reasons for it. Asking for criteria and trade-offs first forces the structure of the comparison to exist before any conclusion does, which is the order a careful person would work in. Requiring the case for each option separately also stops the weaker choice being quietly strawmanned.
What good output looks like
Criteria that reflect your actual constraints, an honest case for each side, and clearly separated trade-offs rather than a winner declared in the first line. Vague balance is a failure too: if everything is 'it depends', ask it to commit to which factor matters most and why.
Common mistakes
- Signalling which option you prefer. Models are agreeable, and a hint in your phrasing usually comes back as agreement.
- Comparing options on generic criteria rather than the ones that matter to your situation.
- Treating the output as a decision. It is a structured view of the trade-offs; the decision needs facts about your circumstances the model does not have.
Variations worth trying
- Add 'what would have to be true for option B to be the right choice?' — this surfaces assumptions faster than a pros list.
- Ask it to name what it does not know about your situation that would change the answer.
- Ask for the strongest argument against the option you already favor, which is where the useful thinking usually is.
More prompts to try
Tools this works well in
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