OpenAI Revolutionizes ChatGPT with $100 Monthly Pro Subscription

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Key Takeaways

1OpenAI introduces a $100 per month Pro subscription for ChatGPT, targeting heavy developers.

2The use of OpenAI's Codex has surged by 70% monthly, reflecting the enthusiasm for AI coding.

3Anthropic offers similar packages with Claude AI, aligning its pricing with OpenAI's.

💡Why it matters — These new subscriptions address the growing demand for high-performance AI solutions for developers, while balancing cost and capability.

A New Plan for Intensive Developers

Developers, often referred to as Vibe coders, who quickly find themselves limited by the $20 per month ChatGPT Plus plan, now have a more affordable alternative to the $200 plan. OpenAI has announced a new Pro subscription at $100 per month, designed to offer enhanced capabilities in the increasingly popular coding application Codex.

The Rise of AI Coding Tools

AI-based coding tools have seen a surge in popularity recently. In 2025, Claude Code from Anthropic made waves, while the use of OpenAI's Codex has increased by over 70% each month this year. This growth reflects the rising interest in AI-driven coding automation.

Token Consumption: A Challenge for Users

Generating code with AI consumes significantly more tokens than simple conversational interactions. Tokens represent the basic unit used by AI systems to generate content. This increased consumption poses a challenge for developers looking to maximize their use of these tools.

A Compromise Between Cost and Capability

OpenAI explained that the goal of the new $100 Pro plan is to provide a middle-ground solution for those who need more coding time without paying the steep price of the $200 plan. This new tier offers Codex usage limits five times higher than those of the Plus plan, while including all the features of the existing Pro plan. Additionally, it provides unlimited access to the Instant and Thinking models, allowing for more flexible and extensive use.

Comparison with Anthropic's Offerings

OpenAI's $200 per month Pro plan offers usage limits 20 times higher than the Plus plan. Meanwhile, Anthropic offers similar pricing for its Claude AI subscriptions. For example, Claude Max 5x allows for five times the capacity of the $20 plan for $100 per month, and Claude Max 20x offers 20 times the capacity for $200.

Legal Context

It is worth noting that Ziff Davis, the parent company of CNET, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI last year. The complaint alleges that OpenAI infringed on Ziff Davis's copyright during the training and operation of its AI systems.