OpenAI Launches Paid Version of ChatGPT

For ChatGPT fans who want faster access to the popular chatbot, there is now a paid version: ChatGPT Plus.

OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed AI company that created ChatGPT, will be charging $20 a month for the service. Subscribers will gain access to faster responses and have priority in using new features. Subscribers also will get priority access to ChatGPT during peak times when many free users are unable to use the chatbot due to immense demand.

OpenAI created a waitlist for those interested in the subscription plan.

ChatGPT Plus, however, is only currently available in the U.S., though OpenAI said plans to expand access and support to additional countries and regions soon.

The subscription offering will enable OpenAI to “help support free access availability to as many people as possible,” according to the company's blog.

OpenAI said it is exploring options for lower-cost plans, business plans and data packs for more availability.

The concept of a paid-for ChatGPT has been on the cards since mid-January, with OpenAI president Greg Brockman claiming last month that a “professional” version of the chatbot tool would offer increased levels of performance.

Upon announcing ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI said it plans to “refine and expand” its conversational AI agent. Its next focus will see the launch of the ChatGPT API. A waitlist is open for the API.

The launch of ChatGPT Plus poses another potentially lucrative milestone for OpenAI as the company is forecasting $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Microsoft reportedly invested another $10 billion in OpenAI recently, with ChatGPT set to be integrated into Microsoft’s search engine Bing, as well as Office products including Outlook and Word, and the cloud service Azure via the Azure OpenAI Service.