ChatExports vs ChatShell Export

ChatShell is a local-first Chrome extension for exporting ChatGPT conversations to PDF, Markdown, DOCX and JSON. ChatExports is a browser-based converter that takes the official data export from nine AI platforms and turns it into Word, PDF and Markdown. Both keep your conversations on your device. The differences are scope, install model and how you pay.

The short version

ChatShell is a well-built single-platform extension with a monthly subscription. ChatExports covers nine platforms, installs nothing, and costs $25 once — but it needs the provider's export file rather than reading the live page.

ChatExports vs ChatShell Export, feature by feature

Feature	ChatExports	ChatShell Export
Platforms supported	Nine: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Poe, Grok, Copilot, NotebookLM, Google AI Studio.	ChatGPT only.
Install	Nothing to install. It is a website.	Chrome extension. Chrome Web Store only.
Price	$10 one-time for one platform, $25 one-time for all nine. No subscription.	Free tier, Standard $4/month, Pro $8/month. First month free on Standard, monthly only.
Free tier	None. Three-message preview before purchase.	3 PDFs/month and 5 other exports/month, watermarked.
Watermarks	Never. Output is clean at every price.	Free tier output is watermarked; removed on Standard and Pro.
Batch export	Included. Convert an entire account history in one pass.	Pro only, at $8/month. Batch output is a ZIP of the selected chats.
Where processing happens	Entirely in your browser tab. Nothing is uploaded.	Also local. PDF moved from the print flow to a bundled local engine in v1.0.0.13.
Output formats	Word (.docx), PDF, Markdown, ZIP.	PDF, Markdown, DOCX, JSON, HTML.
LaTeX and code fidelity	Code blocks and formatting preserved from the export JSON; no live-page rendering of maths.	Explicit LaTeX rendering and multiple PDF templates, read straight from the rendered page.
Works on mobile	Yes. Any modern mobile browser.	No. Desktop Chrome extension.
Works after the chat is deleted	Yes, the export file is a permanent copy.	No, it reads the live conversation.
Ongoing cost over 3 years	$25 total, all platforms.	$144 on Standard, $288 on Pro.

Choose ChatShell Export if

You only ever use ChatGPT, only on desktop Chrome, and you want a button on the page itself.
Your conversations are full of LaTeX maths and you want it rendered exactly as it appears on screen.
You want HTML or JSON output, or a choice of PDF templates.
You want to try something free before paying anything, and a watermark does not bother you.

Choose ChatExports if

You use more than one AI platform, or expect to switch.
You want your whole history archived, not conversations picked off one at a time.
You do not want an extension with access to your browsing.
You want to pay $25 once instead of $96/year for batch export.
You already have the export ZIP sitting in your downloads folder and just need it readable.

Frequently asked questions

Does ChatShell support Claude or Gemini?

No. As of our last check their site is entirely ChatGPT-focused, from the homepage headline through to the format links. ChatExports supports nine platforms.

Is ChatShell's free plan enough?

For three PDFs a month with a watermark, maybe. If you are archiving an account, you will hit the cap on the first day.

Do both keep data local?

Yes, and it is the fairest thing we can say about them. ChatShell processes locally with a bundled PDF engine, and ChatExports parses and renders everything inside your browser tab. Neither uploads your conversations.

What if I want per-message selection?

ChatShell selects messages on the live page. ChatExports works at the conversation level: search and filter by keyword, title or date, preview, then export the matches.