ChatGPT has two paid plans: ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month and ChatGPT Pro at $200 per month, plus a free tier with no cost
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 monthly and gives you access to GPT-4, faster response times, and priority during peak hours. You can use it on the web and through the mobile app. ChatGPT Pro, launched more recently, costs $200 per month and includes everything in Plus plus higher usage limits — you get 5 million tokens per month instead of the standard limits. The free tier lets you use ChatGPT with GPT-3.5 at no cost, though with slower speeds and no priority access.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, bills monthly subscriptions on a recurring basis. Your card is charged on the same day each month. You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings, and you will not be charged again after cancellation.
Key Takeaways
- ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month and includes GPT-4 access, faster responses, and priority during busy times.
- ChatGPT Pro costs $200 per month and is designed for heavy users who need much higher usage limits.
- The free version of ChatGPT uses GPT-3.5 and has no monthly cost, though responses are slower and you have no priority access.
- Subscriptions renew automatically each month on the same date, and you can cancel anytime through your account settings without penalty.
What ChatGPT Plus includes for $20 per month
ChatGPT Plus gives you access to GPT-4, OpenAI's most capable language model. GPT-4 handles more complex reasoning, longer documents, and nuanced requests better than GPT-3.5, which is available free. You also get faster response times — the model answers your questions more quickly than the free tier, which can lag during peak usage hours.
Plus subscribers get priority access during busy times. When ChatGPT is under heavy load, free users may experience slower service or temporary unavailability, while Plus users maintain normal speeds. You can use Plus on the web at openai.com and through the official ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android.
Plus also includes access to GPTs, which are customized versions of ChatGPT built for specific tasks. You can create your own GPT or use ones others have built, and Plus subscribers can browse the GPT Store. This feature is not available to free users.
What ChatGPT Pro includes for $200 per month
ChatGPT Pro is for users who hit usage limits on Plus or need the model for intensive work. The main difference is token limits — a token is roughly a word or small piece of text. Pro gives you 5 million tokens per month, which is substantially higher than Plus. If you regularly send very long documents, run many conversations, or use ChatGPT for production work, Pro prevents you from running out of quota mid-month.
Pro includes everything in Plus: GPT-4 access, faster speeds, priority during peak hours, and the ability to create and use GPTs. The trade-off is cost — at $200 monthly, Pro is ten times the price of Plus and is meant only for users whose work genuinely requires those higher limits.
How the free version works and its limits
The free tier of ChatGPT uses GPT-3.5 and costs nothing. You can have conversations, ask questions, and get written content without paying. Free users do not need to enter a credit card or create a paid account.
Free users experience slower response times, especially during peak hours (typically evenings in the US). You have no priority access, so if ChatGPT is under heavy load, your requests may be delayed or you may see a message that capacity is full. You cannot create or use GPTs, and you do not have access to GPT-4.
There are no monthly limits on the free tier — you can use it as much as you want within OpenAI's usage policies. However, OpenAI reserves the right to throttle or temporarily restrict free accounts that use the service excessively in short periods.
How billing works and when you are charged
When you subscribe to ChatGPT Plus or Pro, OpenAI charges your payment method on the date you sign up, then again on the same day each month. For example, if you subscribe on March 15, you are charged on March 15 and then on April 15, May 15, and so on. Your subscription renews automatically unless you cancel.
You can view your billing history and payment method in your account settings under "Billing." OpenAI accepts major credit cards and some regions support other payment methods. If a charge fails, OpenAI will attempt to charge again, and your access may be suspended if payment is not received.
Subscriptions are non-refundable once charged. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access until the end of your current billing period, but you are not refunded for the unused portion.
How to cancel or pause your subscription
To cancel ChatGPT Plus or Pro, log into your account at openai.com, go to your account settings, and select "Billing" or "Subscription." You will see an option to manage your subscription. Click "Cancel subscription" and confirm. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period, after which you revert to the free tier.
OpenAI does not offer a pause feature — you must cancel to stop recurring charges. If you want to resubscribe later, you can sign up again at any time. There is no penalty for canceling and restarting.
Comparing the three tiers side by side
| Feature | Free | ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) | ChatGPT Pro ($200/month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model access | GPT-3.5 | GPT-4 | GPT-4 |
| Response speed | Slower, especially during peak hours | Faster | Faster |
| Priority access during peak hours | No | Yes | Yes |
| Create and use GPTs | No | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly token limit | None (with fair use policy) | Standard limits | 5 million tokens |
| Cost | Free | $20/month | $200/month |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try ChatGPT Plus before paying?
No, there is no trial period. You must pay the $20 monthly fee to access Plus. However, you can use the free tier as long as you want to see if ChatGPT is useful for your needs before deciding to upgrade.
What happens if I cancel my subscription mid-month?
You keep access to ChatGPT Plus or Pro until the end of your current billing period. After that date, your account reverts to the free tier. You are not refunded for the unused portion of the month.
Is ChatGPT Plus worth $20 per month?
That depends on how you use ChatGPT. If you use it occasionally or for straightforward tasks, the free tier may be enough. If you regularly need GPT-4's better reasoning, faster responses, or the ability to create GPTs, Plus is worth the cost. Pro at $200 per month is only worth it if you hit usage limits on Plus.
Can I use the same subscription on multiple devices?
Yes. Your ChatGPT Plus or Pro subscription is tied to your account, not to a device. You can log in on your phone, computer, or tablet and use the same subscription on all of them.
Does ChatGPT offer discounts or annual billing?
OpenAI does not currently offer annual billing or discounts for longer commitments. All subscriptions are billed monthly at the stated price.