OpenAI launches $100 ChatGPT Pro plan as Codex usage surges 70% month-over-month

OpenAI Is Adding a $100-a-Month ChatGPT Subscription Because of Vibe Coding

Expertise Artificial intelligence, home energy, heating and cooling, home technology. Vibe coders who hit their ChatGPT usage limits too quickly on OpenAI's $20-a-month Plus plan no longer have to choose between waiting for a reset or splurging on a $200-a-month upgrade. The company on Thursday said it would introduce a new Pro plan, at $100 a month, that comes with higher limits in the increasingly popular Codex coding app. AI coding tools have exploded in popularity in the past several months, with Anthropic's Claude Code generating viral headlines at the end of 2025 and OpenAI's Codex seeing a boom in usage so far this year. OpenAI said Codex usage has risen more than 70% month-over-month. The problem is that having AI plan and write code for an app or tool uses a lot more tokens -- the basic unit of AI generation -- than just asking it to chat. Read more: OpenAI Plans to Combine Its AI Tools in a Desktop 'Superapp' OpenAI said in its announcement that the purpose of the new, cheaper Pro plan is to create a middle ground for those who want more time to code and create without paying 10 times the cost of the Plus plan. The new tier includes Codex usage limits five times higher than the Plus plan and access to all the other features of the existing $200-a-month Pro plan, including the ChatGPT Pro model. It also covers unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. The $200-a-month Pro plan includes usage limits 20 times higher than those of the Plus plan. Anthropic offers similar pricing for its Claude AI subscriptions. Claude Max 5x offers five times the capacity of the $20-a-month plan for $100 a month, and Claude Max 20x offers 20 times the capacity for $200 a month. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, last year alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

ChatGPT just got a 50% cheaper Pro plan to take on Anthropic's Claude

OpenAI is now directly competing with Anthropic, which also offers a $100 Claude plan. OpenAI has introduced a new $100-per-month ChatGPT plan, driven by the growing popularity of its coding tool, Codex. The update was confirmed by Sam Altman on X, saying, "It is very nice to see Codex getting so much love. We are launching a $100 ChatGPT Pro tier by very popular demand." The new ChatGPT pricing lineup now includes a free tier (with ads), an $8 Go plan (also with ads), the $20 Plus plan (ad-free), and the new $100 Pro tier. The $200 Pro plan is no longer listed on ChatGPT's pricing page, though OpenAI confirmed to TechCrunch that it's still available. According to OpenAI, both the $20 Plus plan and the new $100 ChatGPT Pro plan are optimized for coding tasks, but the new plan offers significantly more headroom for users, including 5x higher Codex usage limits compared to the Plus plan. OpenAI isn't being subtle about its goal here. The company says the new plan is meant to compete directly with Anthropic, which already offers a $100/month plan for its Claude AI. The company also claims its Codex tool delivers more coding capacity per dollar during heavy usage. Despite the higher price, the $100 plan still comes with usage limits. For a limited time (until May 31), OpenAI is offering even higher-than-normal Codex limits on this tier, but those will be reduced later. For users who need even more capacity, the $200 Pro plan offers 20x higher limits than the Plus plan.

OpenAI introduces $100/month Pro plan aimed at Codex users, here's what it includes - 9to5Mac

OpenAI is launching a revamped $100/month ChatGPT subscription aimed at Codex users. Here's how it compares to OpenAI's existing plans and what it includes. OpenAI introduced its Codex Mac app in February, giving developers new tools for agentic coding with artificial intelligence. The new ChatGPT Pro tier is especially designed for Codex users who have outgrown the $20/month ChatGPT Plus tier. ChatGPT Pro was previously only available for $200/month. OpenAI says the new version includes five times more Codex usage than Plus, access to all Pro features including exclusive models, and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. "To celebrate the launch, we're increasing Codex usage for a limited time through May 31st so that Pro $100 subscribers get up to 10x usage of ChatGPT Plus on Codex to build your most ambitious ideas," OpenAI says. While OpenAI has introduced a more affordable version of the ChatGPT Pro plan, the $200/month tier is still available for users with more needs. That means there are now two versions of ChatGPT Pro. Naming has never been a strength for the ChatGPT company. For clarity, OpenAI has an explainer with some helpful information. First, these are the two Pro tiers: "Both Pro plans include the same core capabilities," OpenAI says. "The main difference is usage allowance: Pro $100 unlocks 5x higher usage than Plus (and 10x Codex usage vs. Plus for a limited time), while Pro $200 unlocks 20x usage than Plus." You can learn more about the new ChatGPT Pro plan here and view all pricing here. Meanwhile, OpenAI has shared some Codex usage data. The company says Codex has more than 3 million weekly users. That's a 5x increase in three months with 70% month over month usage growth.

OpenAI Adds New $100/Month ChatGPT Subscription Tier for Heavier Codex Use

OpenAI today added a new subscription tier, which the company says is meant to support increasing Codex use. Codex is OpenAI's AI coding agent that's integrated into ChatGPT, and it competes with Anthropic's Claude Code. The new $100/month Pro tier provides 5x more Codex usage than the $20/month ChatGPT Plus plan. OpenAI says that it is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions. ChatGPT also has a $200 Pro tier with a 20x higher usage allowance, and the $100/month plan is a new middle-tier option. Both the $100 and $200 plans share the "Pro" name. Pro subscribers will have access to all Pro features, including the Pro model and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. To celebrate the launch of the new plan, OpenAI is increasing Codex usage for a limited time. Through May 31, customers who subscribe to the $100/month Pro plan will get up to 10x usage of ChatGPT Plus on Codex. In addition to introducing the new plan, OpenAI is "rebalancing" Codex usage in Plus to support more sessions throughout the week, instead of longer sessions in a single day. OpenAI says the ChatGPT Plus plan is the best offer for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, while the more expensive $100/month plan is a "more accessible" upgrade path for heavier daily use. With the $100 plan, OpenAI has pricing tiers similar to Anthropic. Anthropic has a $20/month Pro plan, a Max 5x plan for $100/month, and a Max 20x plan for $200/month.

ChatGPT's hidden backup model just got smarter -- as OpenAI adds a cheaper Pro option

OpenAI just quietly upgraded the fallback AI many ChatGPT users hit after rate limits, while also introducing a new $100 Pro tier * ChatGPT's hidden backup model just got smarter and it's a stealth upgrade that happens in the background * OpenAI also announced a new $100 Pro plan, shaking up who gets access to its best tools * The changes show OpenAI is making ChatGPT more tiered and more complex behind the scenes OpenAI just made two big changes to ChatGPT, but only one of them is obvious. The big news is that there's now a new $100 Pro plan that comes in cheaper than its $200 Pro option, but gives you more access to Codex, OpenAI's programming tool, than a Plus user would get. The second change is introducing a new ChatGPT's fallback model, for when you've hit your rate limits on ChatGPT-5.3 Instant. The new model is called ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini, and you can't select it in the model picker, since it's what you default to when you've hit your rate limits. Taken together, the new changes show OpenAI is reshaping both the free-flow experience of using ChatGPT and the way it packages higher-end access. The hidden upgrade you won't notice GPT-5 Instant Mini replaces ChatGPT-5.3 Instant as the fallback model you get after you've hit your GPT-5.3 Instant limits, which will depend on what plan you're on. Before the new release, you were defaulting to ChatGPT-5 mini. OpenAI claims that ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini outperforms GPT-5 Instant Mini across a range of different use cases. "Compared with GPT-5 Instant Mini, GPT-5.3 Instant Mini feels more natural in conversation, with stronger writing and contextual awareness throughout chat", OpenAI said in the release notes for ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini. The change is happening behind the scenes, but even if this only affects the "overflow" experience, it shows that this is where a lot of regular users end up. It's the Pro users who will be less likely to be affected, since they have much higher usage rates. The new $100 Pro tier At the same time, OpenAI is introducing a new $100/month Pro tier (£89 in the UK, AU price to be determined) aimed at longer, high-intensity Codex sessions. It includes unlimited access to GPT-5.4, access to GPT-5.4 Pro, and temporary up to 10x mode Codex usage than the Plus tier. What's confusing is that the $200/month Pro plan still exists, so now there are two plans for ChatGPT called "Pro". It's easiest to think of the $100/month plan as a middle tier between Plus and the more expensive Pro option. OpenAI describes the $100/month Pro plan as having 5x more usage than the Plus tier, while the $200/month plan has 20x more usage. Aside from that, everything between the two plans seems the same. What changes for Plus users There is also one small change for $20/month Plus users. The temporary Codex promotion on Plus is ending, so OpenAI is rebalancing Plus usage to support more sessions across the week, rather than for longer, high-intensity sessions on a single day. This is effectively OpenAI redefining what Plus is for: lighter, steadier everyday use rather than heavy-duty bursts. At the same time, it's introducing a new middle tier in the hope that those people using ChatGPT Plus for coding will upgrade. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

OpenAI introduces ChatGPT Pro $100 tier with 5X usage limits for Codex compared to Plus

OpenAI is making moves to try and court more developers and vibe coders (those who build software using AI models and natural language) away from rivals like Anthropic. Today, the firm arguably most synonymous with the generative AI boom announced it will begin offering a new, more mid-range subscription tier -- a $100 ChatGPT Pro plan -- which joins its free, Go ($8 monthly), Plus ($20 monthly) and existing Pro ($200 monthly) plans for individuals using ChatGPT and related OpenAI products. OpenAI also currently offers Edu, Business ($25 per user monthly, formerly known as Team) and Enterprise (variably priced) plans for organizations in said sectors. So why introduce a new $100 ChatGPT Pro plan, then? The big selling point from OpenAI is that the new plan offers five times greater usage limits on Codex, the company's agentic vibe coding application/harness (the name is shared by both, as well as a lineup of coding-specific language gmodels), than the existing, $20 monthly Plus plan, which seems fair given the math ($20x5=$100). As OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman wrote in a post on X: "It is very nice to see Codex getting so much love. We are launching a $100 ChatGPT Pro tier by very popular demand." However, alongside this, OpenAI's official company account on X noted that "we're rebalancing Codex usage in [ChatGPT] Plus to support more sessions throughout the week, rather than longer sessions in a single day." That sounds a lot like OpenAI is also simultaneously reducing how much ChatGPT Plus users can use its Codex harness and application per day. So, what are the current limits on the $20 Plus plan? The new Pro plan gives you 5X greater than...what? Turns out, this is trickier than you'd think to calculate, because it actually varies depending on which underlying AI model you are using to power the Codex application or harness, and whether you are working on code stored in the cloud or locally on your machine or servers. OpenAI's Developer website notes that for individual users, usage is categorized by "Local Messages" (tasks run on the user's machine) and "Cloud Tasks" (tasks run on OpenAI's infrastructure), both of which share a five-hour rolling window. Currently, it actually shows the $100 Pro plan gives you 10X the amount of messages as the $20 Plus plan (see below)! And as OpenAI's Help documentation states: "The number of Codex messages you can send within these limits varies based on the size and complexity of your coding tasks, and where you execute tasks. Small scripts or simple functions may only consume a fraction of your allowance, while larger codebases, long running tasks, or extended sessions that require Codex to hold more context will use significantly more per message." OpenAI's sudden move toward the $100 price point and expanded agentic capacity comes amid the unprecedented financial ascent of its chief rival, Anthropic. Just days ago, Anthropic revealed its annualized run-rate revenue (ARR) has topped $30 billion, surpassing OpenAI's last reported ARR of approximately $24-$25 billion. This growth has been fueled by the massive adoption of Claude Code and Claude Cowork, products that have set the benchmark for enterprise-grade autonomous coding. The competitive friction intensified on April 4, 2026, when Anthropic officially blocked Claude subscriptions from being used to provide the intelligence for third-party agentic AI harnesses like OpenClaw. To be clear, Anthropic Claude models themselves can still be used with OpenClaw, users just must now pay for access to Claude models through Anthropic's application programming interface (API) or extra usage credits, rather than as part of the monthly Claude subscription tiers (which some have likened to an "all-you-can eat" buffet, making the economics challenging for Anthropic when power users and third-party harnesses like OpenClaw consume more than the $20 or $200 monthly user spend on the plans in tokens). OpenClaw's creator, Peter Steinberger, was notably hired by OpenAI in February 2026 to lead their personal agent strategy, and has, since joining, actively spoken out against Anthropic's limitations -- advising that OpenAI's Codex and models generally don't have the same restrictions as Anthropic is now imposing. By hiring Steinberger and subsequently launching a Pro tier that provides the high-volume capacity Anthropic recently restricted, OpenAI is effectively courting the displaced OpenClaw community to reclaim the professional developer market.

ChatGPT just got a $100 plan, and it's not for everyone

Just when it felt like ChatGPT pricing couldn't get any more confusing, OpenAI has added yet another tier to the mix, and this one sits right in the middle with a neat $100/month price tag. And no, this isn't just a random new plan. It's very clearly aimed at a specific kind of user... the kind who's already pushing ChatGPT way harder than most people. OpenAI's new $100 plan is built for heavy users OpenAI has introduced a new $100/month ChatGPT Pro tier, positioned between the $20 Plus plan and the existing $200 Pro plan. The focus here is pretty clear: Codex users and power users who need more than what Plus offers, but don't want to go all the way up to $200. This new tier brings significantly higher usage limits: around 5x more than Plus, and even temporarily up to 10x more Codex usage. And there's a good reason for that push. OpenAI says Codex now has over 3 million weekly users, growing 5x in just three months with around 70% month-on-month growth. That kind of surge makes it pretty clear why the company is carving out a dedicated pricing tier for these heavy workflows. Recommended Videos On top of that, the plan includes access to more advanced models, deeper research tools, and expanded capabilities for agent-style tasks. In short, this isn't meant for casual users, but for people treating ChatGPT like a serious work tool. Not just a new plan, but a pricing shift This move signals a clear shift toward usage-based pricing, where heavier AI use comes at a higher cost. Given how expensive advanced workloads are, a one-size-fits-all plan was never going to last. But it also changes the vibe. What started as a tool for everyone is slowly becoming tiered by affordability. And if $100 is now the middle ground, AI is starting to look a lot like a premium subscription ladder.

OpenAI launches new $100-a-month Pro plan for ChatGPT

OpenAI has introduced a new Pro plan priced at $100 per month for ChatGPT users, providing higher usage limits compared to the $20 monthly Plus plan. This new offering targets users who require more coding time through OpenAI's popular Codex application without the higher expense associated with the $200 monthly Pro plan. The Pro plan features Codex usage limits that are five times greater than those of the Plus plan. It also grants access to all functionalities available in the current $200-a-month Pro tier, which has usage limits 20 times higher than the Plus plan, including unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. OpenAI noted that Codex usage has surged by over 70% month-over-month, reflecting the growing demand for AI coding tools. This new tier is designed to create a more balanced pricing strategy for users who find that coding requires significantly more tokens than standard chat requests. Anthropic provides similar subscription pricing for its Claude AI services, with the Claude Max 5x priced at $100 per month for five times the capacity of the $20 plan, and the Claude Max 20x at $200 for 20 times that capacity.

The gap between ChatGPT Plus and Pro just got a lot smaller - Phandroid

For a while, OpenAI's pricing lineup had a pretty obvious problem. You could pay $20 a month for Plus or jump all the way to $200 for Pro, with nothing in between. The new ChatGPT $100 plan changes that. OpenAI announced the new tier on Thursday, pitching it as a middle option for developers who've outgrown Plus but can't justify the full $200 Pro. The focus is squarely on Codex, OpenAI's AI coding tool built into ChatGPT. According to OpenAI, the $100 plan gives you five times more Codex usage than Plus. Through May 31st, that bumps up to 10x as a launch promotion. You also get access to all Pro features, including the Pro model and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models. It's worth noting that OpenAI is also tweaking how Plus handles Codex at the same time. According to the company, it's "rebalancing" Codex usage in Plus to spread sessions across the week rather than concentrating them in a single day. That sounds like a daily cap getting a little tighter for Plus subscribers. OpenAI framed this as a positive adjustment, but the timing is hard to miss. The $200 Pro plan isn't going anywhere, and still offers 20x the Codex usage of Plus for the most demanding workflows. That leaves the new ChatGPT $100 plan sitting neatly in the middle. OpenAI was direct about the competitive motivation. According to a spokesperson quoted by TechCrunch, the new tier is a direct challenge to Anthropic's Claude, which has offered a $100 option for a while. Codex has also been growing fast. OpenAI says it now has over 3 million weekly users, up 5x in three months. For casual ChatGPT users who mostly use it for writing or general questions, Plus is still the move. The ChatGPT $100 plan is built for people who are already hitting Codex limits regularly.

OpenAI rolls out new ChatGPT Pro plan with Codex, Deep Research support

OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Pro plans for users who depend on AI to handle complex and high-stakes tasks. The plans are designed to provide higher usage limits along with access to advanced tools for research, coding, and content workflows. ChatGPT Pro is offered in two tiers with the same core capabilities but different usage limits. Both plans provide access to GPT-5 and legacy models with an unlimited usage model, subject to platform policies. The plans are structured for users who require extended access for frequent or intensive usage. ChatGPT Pro includes unlimited access to GPT-5 and legacy models, subject to OpenAI's Terms of Use. Restricted activities include automated data extraction, account sharing, and reselling access. Safeguards are in place to detect misuse, and temporary limits may be applied if required. Users can upgrade from the Pricing page or Settings → My Plan, with changes applied immediately. Key points: The company also noted that some users in Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, and Egypt may not see the $100 Pro plan on iPhone due to a temporary display issue. In such cases, the plan may still be available through Apple subscription settings.

OpenAI launches $100 ChatGPT Pro tier for power developers

The group is accelerating its push into programming assistants with a new premium offering. This move comes amid intensifying competition with Anthropic. OpenAI has announced the launch of a ChatGPT Pro subscription priced at $100 per month, targeting users with intensive programming requirements. This new tier provides five times the usage capacity of the $20 Plus plan, specifically for long and complex coding sessions using the Codex tool. This initiative is part of a broader pricing segmentation strategy, as OpenAI now offers several subscription levels ranging from a free tier to advanced plans reaching $200 per month. The objective is to better capture value in a high-growth market where AI coding assistants are becoming essential tools for developers. Facing increased competition, notably from Anthropic with Claude Code, OpenAI is seeking to consolidate its market position. Codex already boasts several million weekly users, while programming assistants are emerging as one of the most dynamic segments in artificial intelligence, with use cases ranging from code generation to the automation of complex tasks.

OpenAI introduces new Pro tier for ChatGPT, targets heavy Codex users: All details

CEO Sam Altman says Codex has crossed 3 million weekly users, driving demand for higher limits OpenAI has officially announced its new mid-tier subscription plan for ChatGPT, specifically for users who rely heavily on its coding assistant, Codex. The new Pro tier costs $100 per month (around Rs 10,699 in India) and is made to offer higher usage limits compared to the existing Plus Plan. This comes when OpenAI aims to double down on Codex amid rising competition from Anthropic and its Claude Code platform. As per the company, the new tier offers up to five times more Codex usage compared to the $20 per month Plus plan that is suitable for developers handling longer and demanding coding sessions. However, it is positioned below OpenAI's premium $200 per month Pro subscription, which offers the highest usage limits. "We're introducing a new $100/month Pro tier. This new tier offers 5x more Codex usage than Plus and is best for longer, high-effort Codex sessions. In ChatGPT, this new Pro tier still offers access to all Pro features, including the exclusive Pro model and unlimited access to Instant and Thinking models," the company wrote in its official announcement on X. As per the reports, Codex has seen a surge in adoption, with CEO Sam Altman revealing that the tool has reached over three million weekly active users. OpenAI has also been adjusting usage limits in recent weeks to accommodate growing demand, showing the company's increased focus on developer-centric AI tools. The AI giant has also tweaked the usage limit for the Plus tier, which means a better balance toward more frequent sessions over extended usage periods. The company also said restructuring is intended to better distribute resources as more users adopt Codex. In the meantime, Anthropic is going to introduce the Mythos model but is holding the launch due to cybersecurity concerns. OpenAI is also working on a rival model called Spud, which was confirmed by OpenAI President Greg Brockman.