What is ChatGPT Plus and should you get it?

If you’ve ever used the AI chatbot ChatGPT, you’ll know that accessing it requires an account. This open access has been in place for several months now, allowing just about anyone to access one of the world’s most human-sounding chatbot for free. But if you’re an avid user of the chatbot, there’s also a ChatGPT Plus tier that you can now subscribe to.

So should you sign up for ChatGPT Plus? What benefits does it offer on top of the regular ChatGPT experience? We’ll answer these questions and more below.

What is ChatGPT Plus?

If you already use ChatGPT, don’t worry — nothing has changed. You can continue using the existing, free version for the foreseeable future. However, OpenAI has also launched an optional paid tier with extra features, aptly named ChatGPT Plus.

ChatGPT Plus grants you six core advantages over the free experience, namely:

• Consistent access to ChatGPT: As a paying user, you will be able to access the chatbot even during periods of high demand.
• GPT-4 access: OpenAI recently announced a new, more capable language model titled GPT-4. It’s an optional feature that’s only available if your account has a ChatGPT Plus subscription.
• Plugins beta access: With ChatGPT plugins, you can enhance the chatbot’s ability to perform various tasks like finding flight tickets in real-time to completing math calculations.
• Turbo mode: ChatGPT Plus lets you use a speed-optimized language model dubbed Turbo. It’s unclear if switching from regular to turbo mode affects the quality of responses, but the feature is currently in alpha (early access). That said, you can easily switch between them if you’re an active subscriber.
• Priority access to new features: ChatGPT has received nearly a dozen updates since its release, meaning it’s constantly improving. With the subscription, you’ll be able to test new features and enhancements before general release. For example, Code Interpreter is a new experimental feature that lets the chatbot read and interact with files you upload.
• Higher limits: OpenAI hasn’t publicly disclosed this as a feature, but many subscribers have reported higher hourly limits.
• Custom GPTs: ChatGPT Plus subscribers can create their own custom GPT chatbots that can respond in a specific, designed manner.

It’s unclear which updates will become exclusively available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers at first, but we’ve seen some useful features added post-launch. Conversation history, for example, lets you recall past discussion threads and resume from where you left off. We expect OpenAI to announce new features to keep up with ChatGPT alternatives, but nobody can predict how quickly they will release.

How much does ChatGPT Plus cost? Should you subscribe?

Regardless of where you live, ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month. You may also have to pay sales tax or VAT on top of that amount, depending on local regulations.

At this time, OpenAI does not offer tiered or regional pricing so everyone pays the same amount. However, the company said it is actively exploring alternative plans, including lower-cost options. However, we do not have any more details at this time.

As for whether you should subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, that depends on your usage of the chatbot. If you rely on ChatGPT for writing code or brainstorming ideas, you may benefit from priority access and consistent uptime.

On the other hand, early access to new features may not factor into your decision since it’s not essential to your usage of the chatbot. Likewise, the free version already works reasonably fast and doesn’t impose many restrictions. That said, subscribing to the Plus tier does allow OpenAI to continue providing free access to the general public.

How to sign up for ChatGPT Plus

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for ChatGPT Plus:

1. Open the ChatGPT website
2. Log into your account.
3. Look for the Upgrade to Plus button towards the bottom left of your screen. If you’re on mobile, you’ll need to expand the hamburger menu first.
4. Click Upgrade plan.
5. Enter your credit card information and click Subscribe.

That’s it — your card will be charged $20 each month and you can cancel at any time.

FAQs