Everything the OpenAI subscription includes

AI remains the most popular topic in the technology world in 2024, and the company that everybody keeps talking about is OpenAI. When the company launched ChatGPT, it did so with free access, a move designed to bring a large number of users to test the generative text AI. And it worked, bringing in 100 million regular users in just the first two months. But, now that the program is no longer in its infancy and capable of handling even more tasks, OpenAI added a paid subscription called ChatGPT Plus.

While a free tier remains, subscribers to ChatGPT Plus gain access to GPT-4, the most advanced version of the AI. The subscription also includes plug-ins, which introduce capabilities like generating images through DALL-E or accessing current data from Bing.

ChatGPT Plus also allows subscribers to browse or create their own GPTs using the ChatGPT AI chatbot. Although the basic service is still accessible for free, it is rate-limited and denies access to some of the more cutting-edge features the company has developed. For that, you’ll need a ChatGPT Plus subscription plan. Here’s everything you need to know about paying for ChatGPT.

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What is ChatGPT Plus?

ChatGPT is an AI-powered large language model chatbot developed by San Francisco-based research lab OpenAI. It launched in November 2022. Designed to respond to user prompts and questions with human-like responses, it can write essays, solve math problems, and even do fun things like tell jokes. The chatbot uses machine learning and language processing to understand and respond to you in real time.

Because it’s free and easy to use, ChatGPT has exploded in popularity since launching, with over 180 million users currently registered.

ChatGPT was originally launched to the public as a research preview, so the company could learn more about the AI’s strengths and weaknesses. Since it proved to be wildly popular, OpenAI announced on Feb.1 that a subscription tier, ChatGPT Plus, was the next step in its evolution. This offers current and new users faster response times, usability during periods of high demand, and access to features like AI image generation.

Here’s the official feature list from OpenAI:

• Unlimited messages, interactions, and history
• Access on Web, iOS, and Android
• Access to GPT-4, our most capable model
• Browse, create, and use GPTs
• Access to additional tools like DALL·E, Browsing, Advanced Data Analysis and more

What can you do with ChatGPT Plus?

Let’s dive deeper into some of the more advanced features unlocked by subscribing to ChatGPT Plus.

ChatGPT

Create your own AI with ChatGPT Plus

One of the most interesting things you can do with your ChatGPT Plus subscription is to generate a custom AI chat model based on your needs. In the Plus interface, you can browse public custom AIs other users have built as well as make your own. The process is simple: You describe in natural language to the AI what you are attempting to create, then tweak its responses by uploading additional documents to use as a knowledge base. It’s really intuitive and fun to experiment with.

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Access the Internet

Right now, the free ChatGPT 3.5 is limited by the data that it was built on. One of the coolest advanced features in Plus is the ability to turn on the system’s internet access. In ChatGPT 4, you can access real-time information instead. This is a game-changer, as outdated data sources can often result in other AIs giving flawed responses. The real-time data sourcing is still a work in progress, but it’s extremely impressive.

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Add plugins

Instead of being satisfied with the base ChatGPT model, Plus allows you to activate a variety of plugins to expand the tool’s capabilities. Some of the most interesting are Wolfram Alpha, which gives it access to the popular “answer engine,” massively upgrading ChatGPT’s mathematical abilities; Vox Script, which captures YouTube audio as data; and Code Interpreter, which understands multiple programming languages and explains what code does in natural language.

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Make art, see pictures and more

The Upload feature in ChatGPT Plus lets you feed images in to the system and, using a reversal of DALL-E’s image generation, describe them in text. You can do the same with audio files, videos and more. And with DALL-E 3, you can produce visual artwork and other assets based on text prompts. It transforms the chatbot from a helpful but limited novelty into an all-purpose creative companion.

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How much does ChatGPT Plus cost?

ChatGPT Plus is currently priced at $20 per user per month. That’s not too bad, considering we’d previously heard rumors of a monthly fee of $42 for the paid offering. Companies and organizations can also opt for Team subscriptions, which are $25 per user per month and include higher message caps, an admin dashboard, and the ability to exclude your team’s data from public AI model training. For big spenders, ChatGPT Enterprise allows for even more usage and flexibility.

Standard ChatGPT is still free

OpenAI has announced that it plans to continue providing free access to the standard ChatGPT 3.5 service. It said paid users will “help support free access availability to as many people as possible.” The free version does have unspecified usage limitations, which can include a restricted number of queries per hour or day, as well as the inability to use it during periods of heavy demand.

Should you subscribe to ChatGPT Plus?

ChatGPT’s free initial access accelerated its growth, making it the fastest-growing AI platform when it generated more than 100 million users in its initial two months. That also makes ChatGPT one of the more recognizable names in generative AI. But it’s not the only one – and with the best features locked under a subscription, it’s worth considering other options.

One of the biggest competitors is Google’s Gemini, formerly known as Bard. Gemini is similarly designed to generate text, including conversations or even code. Where ChatGPT can only use text and photo prompts, Gemini can also use video and sound as input. The biggest perks of Gemini come from the fact that it’s part of the Google family. It’s capable of using Google search to access the latest information. Users can use the Google Assistant integration with Hey Google voice prompts. Gemini can also spit out answers that include a Google Map. Google also says that integration with Gmail and Google Docs will be coming to the platform soon, though it hasn’t arrived yet. Gemini’s paid subscription is similarly priced, but includes a two-month free trial that ChatGPT does not. ChatGPT, however, has a longer history which means more plug-ins and a tendency to do a bit better at some types of content.

Another competing name that’s often thrown in the ring with ChatGPT is Microsoft Copilot. However, Microsoft’s chatbot is actually powered by GPT-4, which means that, while the user interface is different, both use the same training data. Because Microsoft Copilot is free, it is one of the few ways you can access the more advanced GPT-4 without paying for a subscription. Copilot, notably, is designed more for chats. It’s limited to 10 sessions every 24 hours using the free version. The user interface is quite a bit different from ChatGPT – in includes the option to choose your conversational style and results can sometimes include images.

More ChatGPT Plus FAQs

Q. How do you sign up for ChatGPT Plus?

ChatGPT Plus is available now. In November 2023, OpenAI temporarily paused new signups after a surge of demand, but lifted the pause on Dec. 14. At that time, they added a temporary restriction in the number of GPT4 messages it could process per hour. It is important to note that OpenAI can revoke your ChatGPT access for violations of their terms of service, and you will not receive a refund for your subscription.

To sign up for ChatGPT Plus, follow these steps:

For existing ChatGPT users

1. Log in: Access OpenAI’s website and log into your existing account.
2. Select ChatGPT Plus plan: In your account dashboard, find the option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus.
3. Payment details: Enter your payment information for the subscription.
4. Confirm and upgrade: Review the subscription details and confirm the upgrade to activate ChatGPT Plus.

For new users

1. Visit OpenAI website: Go to OpenAI’s official website and find the ChatGPT section.
2. Create an account: Sign up for a new account with your email address and a password.
3. Choose ChatGPT Plus: After creating your account, select the ChatGPT Plus subscription option.
4. Enter payment information: Provide your credit card or preferred digital payment method.
5. Confirm subscription: Review all the details and confirm your subscription to ChatGPT Plus.
6. Start using the service: Once your subscription is active, you can begin using ChatGPT Plus.

Q. Where can you find ChatGPT Plus’ best features?

If you’re already subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, simply log in to OpenAI’s official website. Access enhanced features such as expedited response times and priority access to new capabilities. This premium experience offers a more efficient and advanced interaction with ChatGPT.

If you’re interested in specific AI tools, including image generation or the online features, OpenAI provides the flexibility to switch between various versions or models of ChatGPT. You can easily select your preferred version through the user interface. While ChatGPT-4 is recommended for its advanced capabilities and sophisticated responses, options are available to choose less advanced versions based on your specific needs.