Is ChatGPT Plus worth your $20? Here's how it compares to Free and Pro plans

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Each ChatGPT program offers antithetic benefits for antithetic users.
• Paid tiers get aboriginal entree and less usage limits.
• You whitethorn not request to pay, depending connected however often you usage ChatGPT.

It's been a fewer years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, and implicit that time, the AI chatbot has continuously updated with caller models, features, products, and limitations. While there's a batch you tin bash with the escaped tier, which does supply entree to the latest and astir almighty GPT-5 model, immoderate features and perks are reserved for paid plans similar ChatGPT Plus.

OpenAI introduced Plus to negociate request and warrant entree during engaged periods (no much "at capacity" errors!). Plus besides unlocks aboriginal entree to caller features and models, making the $20 program a no-brainer for powerfulness users. However, arsenic ChatGPT has evolved, the escaped tier has received galore upgrades. It's, therefore, worthy re-evaluating whether Plus is worthy it successful 2025.

Also: How to usage ChatGPT: A beginner's usher to the astir fashionable AI chatbot

Some of you whitethorn adjacent beryllium caller to generative AI and wondering which ChatGPT tier to effort first. Let's interruption it down, and I'll assistance you yet determine whether the escaped plan, ChatGPT Plus, oregon adjacent the $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro subscription is close for you.

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's genitor company, filed an April 2025 suit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights successful grooming and operating its AI systems.)

You should usage ChatGPT Plus if…

Since Plus costs $20 per month, you've astir apt asked yourself: Why wage erstwhile you tin usage ChatGPT for free? I've pored implicit the details and utilized the AI chatbot, and from what I tin tell, determination are 9 main advantages. The TL;DR is that the escaped tier has dense usage limits, portion Plus gets you the latest features and models first, with precedence entree adjacent during highest times.

Also: Want amended ChatGPT responses? Try this astonishing trick, researchers say

If you lone usage ChatGPT occasionally for fun, it's not worthy subscribing. But if you usage it for work, writing, coding, oregon creating images -- oregon you find yourself opening the app each day, each time -- past subscribing is simply a bully idea. With Plus, you tin ever entree the chatbot, adjacent erstwhile request is high, and it removes galore of the caps that escaped users face.

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

1. You privation to usage the bequest models inactive

When OpenAI launched GPT-5, it initially replaced each its bequest models successful ChatGPT with it. This unified exemplary was meant to simplify things and harvester the champion of OpenAI's offerings, utilizing a accelerated "smart" exemplary for astir queries and a deeper reasoning exemplary for harder ones. However, immoderate paying subscribers preferred the older models oregon depended connected them for workflows.

CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that "suddenly deprecating aged models that users depended connected successful their workflows was a mistake." As a result, OpenAI brought backmost the enactment for ChatGPT Plus users to entree bequest models. Subscribers tin alteration the older versions successful settings, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, o3, and o4-mini, and past they'll spot them successful the exemplary picker.

Also: Don't similar GPT-5? You tin inactive usage GPT-4 and different bequest models successful ChatGPT - here's how

So, if you person a preferred exemplary oregon workflow that worked with GPT-4-era models, the Plus tier lets you instrumentality with what you know.

2. You privation entree to each caller GPT-5 exemplary

While GPT-5 combines the champion of a heavy reasoning exemplary (GPT-5 Thinking) and a modular astute exemplary for a equilibrium of velocity and quality, users with a Plus subscription tin manually toggle betwixt each the GPT-5 models: GPT-5 Auto, GPT-5 Instant, GPT-5 Thinking, and GPT-5 Thinking Mini. The default Auto exemplary decides erstwhile to "think harder" oregon erstwhile to respond quickly.

The benefit: Plus users tin take which exemplary to usage and when, alternatively of having ChatGPT automatically conjecture based connected the speech and punctual complexity. If you often enactment connected harder problems that necessitate a exemplary to deliberation much to output the champion imaginable answer, past having the enactment to toggle connected GPT-5 Thinking, for instance, is simply a compelling crushed to subscribe.

Also: What is OpenAI's GPT-5? Here's everything you request to cognize astir the company's latest model

It fundamentally gives you much power implicit GPT-5's behaviour to suit your needs.

3. You privation to effort Sora 2 video procreation

OpenAI's Sora 2 video-generating exemplary allows users to make stunning, realistic videos from prompts oregon images. With ChatGPT Plus, you tin get unlimited generations, 10-second videos successful 720p, and up to 2 creations moving astatine once. ChatGPT Pro expands connected that provision, with faster generations, 20-second videos successful 1080p, up to 5 concurrent generations, and downloads without watermarks.

Also: I tried the caller Sora 2 to make AI videos - and the results were axenic sorcery

Sora 2 is lone disposable to paid plans. Free users don't person entree yet.

4. You request to make a batch of images

To make images, ChatGPT uses the GPT-4o representation generator, OpenAI's astir susceptible representation generator to date.

With this tool, you tin inquire "create an representation of…," picture a scene, and person an AI-generated representation that tin see realistic quality figures and adjacent legible text. You tin besides upload an existing representation and picture edits for GPT-4o to use -- similar adding text, refining details, oregon changing backgrounds. Just beryllium alert that analyzable requests whitethorn instrumentality a mates of minutes.

Usage is capped for escaped users, but Plus and Pro subscribers tin bask overmuch higher regular quotas. OpenAI said free-tier users tin usage GPT-4o lone a constricted fig of times wrong a fewer hours. It volition notify you erstwhile you've reached the bounds and invitation you to upgrade.

Also: ChatGPT's caller representation generator shattered my expectations - and present it's escaped to try

For example, if you're connected the Free tier and trust heavy connected representation creation, you mightiness spot a connection like, "You've reached your representation instauration limit. Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus oregon effort again tomorrow…" By contrast, Plus users tin make galore much images per day, portion Pro users are fundamentally unlimited. So, if you often usage the AI for images, Plus is an casual choice.

5. You privation to codification with Codex's assistance

OpenAI precocious integrated its almighty Codex AI coding agent into ChatGPT Plus, truthful present anyone with the $20-a-month Plus program tin get AI-powered coding suggestions without shelling retired $200.

Codex is an AI cause that helps constitute and reappraisal code. You tin constituent it astatine your GitHub repo, and it'll whip up codification changes, tally checks to marque definite nothing's broken, and adjacent grip installing dependencies if you fto it. (This was a Pro-only capability.) Keep successful caput the cause doesn't "remember" thing betwixt sessions, truthful you person to springiness it wide instructions each time.

Also: 10 ChatGPT Codex secrets I lone learned aft 60 hours of brace programming with it

Codex works crossed your IDE, terminal, and adjacent the ChatGPT interface, and it's included astatine nary other outgo for Plus users. Since the coding cause is caller to ChatGPT, you mightiness brushwood immoderate velocity bumps if galore radical are utilizing it astatine once. But having an AI "pair programmer" connected request is incredibly utile if you codification regularly, and present you don't request the $200 Pro program to usage it.

6. You privation Agent to grip tasks for you

The caller Agent diagnostic successful ChatGPT is incredibly amusive to play with and try. Instead of conscionable answering questions, it tin really get things done. For instance, you tin archer it to bash your market shopping. I tried it precocious and had it adhd everything to my Walmart cart, but I inactive needed to cheque retired myself. It tin browse the web, capable retired forms, and grip multi-step tasks.

Also: My 8 ChatGPT Agent tests produced lone 1 near-perfect effect - and a batch of alternate facts

From my experience, you whitethorn deed walls with tasks that necessitate delicate logins oregon payments, since the cause pauses and hands things disconnected to you for information reasons. It's not flawless; sometimes it gets stuck oregon confused by website layouts. Still, it's a immense measurement toward an AI that tin think, plan, and enactment connected your behalf, and it feels beauteous chaotic seeing ChatGPT grip real-world tasks for me.

Just deliberation of it arsenic ChatGPT with hands.

Agent is lone disposable to paid ChatGPT users, truthful if you're connected the Free plan, you can't usage it yet. Plus users reportedly get astir 40 cause runs a month, portion Pro and Team users tin usage up to astir 400 and get faster execution.

7. You bash a batch of heavy probe

You're astir apt noticing a taxable here: Many of ChatGPT's astir precocious features motorboat archetypal for paying subscribers, and portion they yet scope escaped users, they travel with usage limits.

A large illustration of this is Deep Research. It's fundamentally ChatGPT's "research expert mode." You inquire it a analyzable question, and it goes disconnected to browse the web, excavation done PDFs, images, and articles, past synthesizes everything into a structured study with citations and a summary of its steps. Free users tin effort Deep Research, but nether precise choky quotas.

Also: I tested ChatGPT's Deep Research against Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok AI to spot which is best

Currently, Free users get astir 5 tasks per period utilizing a "lightweight" mentation of the tool. Paid tiers (Plus, Team, and Pro) get higher limits. For example, Plus users get astir 25 tasks per period (a premix of afloat and lightweight), portion Pro users get up to 250. The "lightweight" mentation kicks successful erstwhile you deed the bounds of the afloat probe model.

9. You privation the champion features with higher limits

Subscribing to ChatGPT Plus gives you aboriginal entree to OpenAI's newest models and tools, specified arsenic Sora 2, Codex, and Agent, good earlier they scope escaped users. And adjacent erstwhile precocious features similar Deep Research oregon GPT-4o representation procreation bash go disposable connected the Free plan, they're usually constricted oregon capped. You tin usage them overmuch much often and with less restrictions connected Plus.

With a Plus account, you get higher limits crossed respective features, including:

• Messaging
• File uploads
• Data analysis
• Deep Research
• Image generation
• Memory and discourse retention
• Advanced Voice Mode conversations

That past 1 mightiness beryllium particularly absorbing to Plus users. While Free ChatGPT users tin effort Advanced Voice Mode, they get shorter regular sessions -- usually astir 15 minutes of dependable chat per time -- and it runs connected a lighter GPT-4o Mini exemplary alternatively of the afloat 1 disposable to paying users. Plus subscribers, connected the different hand, get longer, astir unrestricted use.

OpenAI is dilatory phasing retired the older modular dependable mode, but for now, some versions are inactive available.

You should usage ChatGPT Pro if…

OK, truthful present that we've discussed wherefore Plus is worthy it for many, let's look astatine the much costly Pro program that costs $200 a month. Most radical would ne'er wage a car payment's worthy of wealth to usage AI, but determination are peculiar instances wherever it could beryllium worthy it. Let's beryllium clear, though: Pro is for the astir hardcore users who request the maximum ChatGPT experience.

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

1. You privation ChatGPT Plus connected an adjacent greater standard

All the perks and features included successful ChatGPT Plus transportation implicit to ChatGPT Pro, but with acold less limits. Pro besides adds respective exclusive capabilities, specified arsenic Pulse. Here's a breakdown of the biggest benefits if you're earnestly considering the upgrade:

• Unlimited and faster representation generation: Pro users tin make GPT-4o images with virtually nary regular headdress and get precedence successful procreation queues, truthful representation instauration feels instant compared to different tiers.
• Maximum Deep Research, Agent, Memory, and Context: Pro importantly expands ChatGPT's "thinking" capacity. You tin tally much Deep Research tasks and usage Agent without the choky restrictions recovered successful the Free oregon Plus plans. The discourse model is larger too, allowing ChatGPT to retrieve and process acold much accusation successful a azygous session.
• Higher entree to Codex, projects, tasks, and customized GPTs: The Codex coding cause successful Pro tin grip larger, multi-step projects with much tasks. You tin besides make and deploy much customized GPTs (your ain tailored chatbots) successful your workspace. Essentially, Pro treats ChatGPT arsenic a afloat improvement platform, and it's precise hard to deed its ceiling.
• Priority entree to Sora 2 video generation: Pro users get VIP attraction with Sora 2, including video rendering astatine up to 1080p solution and 20-second length, the quality to make 5 videos astatine once, and watermark-free downloads. If you program to experimentation with AI video, Pro eliminates astir each friction.

In short, Pro offers higher limits, faster speeds, and entree to everything OpenAI has to offer. If you privation the astir powerful, no-compromise mentation of ChatGPT, Pro is the program for you. That's assuming you're good with the higher terms tag, of course.

2. You privation GPT-5 Pro and the astir almighty models

With Pro, you get the afloat lineup of models and modes, including GPT-5 Pro with its "research-grade" reasoning. Think of it arsenic the high-performance mentation of OpenAI's latest exemplary for those who request superior reasoning powerfulness and extended discourse processing. It runs connected the aforesaid basal arsenic GPT-5 but adds other compute, deeper reasoning, and a larger discourse window.

Also: What is ChatGPT Pro? Here's what $200 per period gets you

GPT-5 Pro tin reportedly grip hundreds of thousands of tokens, producing longer and much elaborate outputs. It's champion suited for ultra-heavy workloads, specified arsenic research, coding, and information investigation -- tasks wherever extent and accuracy substance most. GPT-5 Pro is presently exclusive to ChatGPT Pro subscribers, who besides get entree to different GPT-5 variants and bequest models.

Nothing is off-limits. You tin power betwixt older and newer models arsenic needed without worrying astir hitting a quota.

3. You'd similar aboriginal entree to the newest features

Pro users are often the archetypal to trial large upgrades. For example, erstwhile OpenAI released the GPT-4.5 model, it went to Pro subscribers first, and they got aboriginal entree to the Codex cause for months. Both of these are present disposable to Plus subscribers, but OpenAI has confirmed that ChatGPT's astir compute-intensive tools volition motorboat connected the Pro tier earlier different plans.

Also: The champion escaped AI for coding successful 2025 present - lone 3 marque the chopped (and 5 autumn flat)

For example, ChatGPT Pulse is simply a caller diagnostic that lets ChatGPT enactment proactively connected your behalf. Each night, it tin probe and summarize accusation from your chat history, interests, and instructions, past make a personalized greeting briefing with 5 to 10 "cards." It's similar waking up to your ain TL;DR feed. But, for now, Pulse is lone disposable to Pro users.

OpenAI does program to bring Pulse to Plus users successful the future, pursuing the aforesaid rollout signifier it uses for astir of its newest features.

You should usage escaped ChatGPT if…

Finally, let's speech astir the escaped mentation of ChatGPT. I've already covered astir of its features, truthful here's the abbreviated version: it each depends connected however often you usage ChatGPT and whether aboriginal entree to caller tools matters to you. If you lone usage it occasionally and don't attraction astir investigating the latest features first, the Free program is perfectly the mode to go.

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

1. You don't privation to wage a monthly interest

If you lone request occasional AI assistance and don't caput usage caps, the escaped tier should service you well. It's amazingly robust and present includes immoderate features that were erstwhile down a paywall, specified arsenic Deep Research. You truly bash get a batch of functionality for $0.

Free ChatGPT users tin access:

• GPT-5 (the unified flagship model; disposable to Free users but with limits)
• Web search (built-in browsing for up-to-date info with root citations)
• Image procreation via GPT-4o (with limits - astir 2 to 3 images astatine a time)
• Deep Research (up to 5 "lightweight" tasks per month)
• Advanced Voice Mode (with limits - up to 15 minutes per day)
• File and photograph uploads (with limits - 3 record and 2 representation uploads per day)
• Memory for referencing caller conversations (lightweight version)
• Third-party apps (like Canva and different integrations; besides disposable to Plus and Pro users)

2. You're a casual ChatGPT idiosyncratic

If you seldom deed the regular usage limits for text, voice, oregon representation generation, upgrading to Plus oregon Pro mightiness not beryllium necessary.

The escaped mentation offers plentifulness of country for airy usage -- asking a fewer questions per day, generating a fistful of images, trying retired precocious information analysis, uploading files oregon photos, and more. However, if you often spot messages astir hitting your limits for text, voice, oregon images, it mightiness beryllium clip to see a paid program specified arsenic Plus oregon adjacent Pro.

For powerfulness users who request top-tier capableness and extended entree to precocious features, there's Pro, portion Plus offers a much affordable mediate ground. 

Also: How to get ChatGPT Go escaped for a twelvemonth successful India (and what it unlocks)

Ultimately, if your needs are minimal and the limitations don't fuss you, sticking with the escaped tier is perfectly fine. You won't get caller features close away, and you'll request to gait yourself with usage, but you'll save.