ChatGPT vs. ChatGPT Plus: Is a paid subscription still worth it?

When GPT-4 was OpenAI’s most powerful large language model (LLM) for artificial intelligence (AI), it was a no-brainer for many users to pay $20 per month to access it with a subscription to ChatGPT Plus. However, since OpenAI announced the availability of GPT-4o, the decision has become a bit more complicated.

Also: How to use ChatGPT to write your resume

In May 2024, OpenAI introduced an Omnimodel that makes GPT-4-level intelligence accessible to everyone. Free users can also access features previously reserved for paid subscribers, including the GPT Store for custom GPT bots, the Memory feature to add continuity to their conversations, uploading photos and documents to discuss with ChatGPT, web browsing, and advanced data analysis. Recently, OpenAI launched GPT-4o mini, which gives free users access to ChatGPT’s image generation feature.

As a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, I’ll explain below when ChatGPT is enough and when you might want to opt for Plus.

You should use ChatGPT Plus if…

1. You want to try the advanced language mode

After teasing the feature at its May event, OpenAI finally made an alpha version of Advanced Voice Mode available to a select group of ChatGPT Plus users in late July. While the alpha version is still preliminary and doesn’t yet include all the bells and whistles OpenAI teased in May, the voice assistant can still be interrupted by a user and respond to emotions in their tone of voice.

Also: OpenAI’s inexpensive mini model GPT-4o can now be optimized more cheaply

Now, Plus subscribers will gradually have the Enhanced Voice Mode feature added to their accounts. Plus users will receive an email when OpenAI adds this feature to their accounts. Enhanced Voice Mode is one of the newest and most impressive features OpenAI has added to ChatGPT Plus, so if you’ve been waiting for a reason to pay the $20 monthly fee, trying this feature out could be the right reason.

2. You want to use GPT-4o more often than most

Because GPT-4o now offers free users many of the same features that were previously only available with a Plus subscription, the reasons to pay a monthly fee have diminished, but not completely disappeared. Free ChatGPT users are limited in the number of messages they can send using GPT-4o, depending on usage and demand.

Also: Microsoft Copilot vs. Copilot Pro: Is the subscription fee worth it?

ChatGPT used to switch to GPT-3.5 when free users reached their limit; now it switches to GPT-4o mini (which is faster and smarter than GPT-3.5). Although OpenAI does not specify the GPT-4o limit for free users, ChatGPT Plus subscribers have up to five times the capacity of the free tier and can send up to 80 messages every three hours using GPT-4o. This capacity means that free users should have a limit of up to 15-16 prompts every three hours. ChatGPT Plus users will still have access to GPT-4 if they exceed their GPT-4o limit.

While we expect OpenAI to increase the limits on GPT-4o for both free and paid users, if you plan to use GPT-4o for more than 15 messages every three hours, you’re better off with a ChatGPT Plus subscription.

3. You want to generate multiple images

GPT-4o is multimodal and can analyze text, images and speech. For example, GPT-4o can take a picture of your fridge contents and provide you with recipes using the identified ingredients. Free ChatGPT users can also upload documents for GPT-4o to analyze and produce conclusions or summaries.

However, OpenAI reserves most of its image generation features for ChatGPT Plus subscribers. While free users can create images, they are subject to a limit. When I created two images using a free account, I was presented with the popup (above) that said, “You have reached your image creation limit. Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus or try again tomorrow after 4:27 PM (24 hours later).”

Also: How to use DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT

GPT-4o in the free ChatGPT tier recently gained access to DALL-E, OpenAI’s image generation model. This means that when you ask the AI ​​to generate images for you, you can use a limited number of prompts to create images. While free users can technically access GPTs using GPT-4o, they cannot effectively use the DALL-E GPT through the GPT Store. When asked to generate an image, the DALL-E GPT responds that it cannot, and a popup appears prompting free users to join ChatGPT Plus to generate images.

4. You want a tool to create charts and tables

ChatGPT’s improved data analysis feature allows users to create interactive charts and tables from data sets. The upgrade also allows users to upload files directly from Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, and also gives them the ability to search for files on their local device. These new features are only available in GPT-4o for ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Enterprise users.

Also: How to use ChatGPT to create charts and tables with advanced data analysis

These features allow you to upload a complete research study to ChatGPT and ask it to create a table with certain parameters (always check that the information entered by ChatGPT is correct). You can then click on a cell and ask ChatGPT a question about it or ask it to create a pie chart. The pie chart, which would also be interactive, can be customized and downloaded for use in presentations and documents.

5. You just can’t wait

Aside from interactive charting, ChatGPT Plus users will continue to get early access to new features that OpenAI has introduced, including the new ChatGPT desktop app for macOS, which is now available. This early access includes the new enhanced speech mode and other new features. OpenAI will also be releasing a Windows app version later this year.

Also: How to Subscribe to ChatGPT Plus (and Why You Should)

OpenAI launched GPT-4o this spring for free users of ChatGPT Plus, Team and ChatGPT, and later expanded to Enterprise users. Since then, it has launched GPT-4o mini, which is available to free and paying users.

You should use the free ChatGPT if…

1. You don’t want to pay a monthly fee

With the launch of GPT-4o for free users, ChatGPT users no longer need a Plus subscription to access most of the features that originally attracted subscribers.

Also: The ChatGPT desktop app is more useful than I expected – here’s why and how to try it out

Users of the free version of ChatGPT can access the multimodal GPT-4o with GPT-4 level intelligence, get answers from the web, generate images, use advanced data analytics, upload files and photos to discuss with the chatbot, access custom GPTs in the GPT Store, and get more helpful experiences with Memory – all of which were previously benefits of ChatGPT Plus.

2. You are a casual ChatGPT user

There is no need to upgrade to a ChatGPT Plus membership if you are a casual ChatGPT user who does not reach the GPT-4o and image generation usage limits. Plus users have a message limit that is five times higher than free users of GPT-4o, with Team and Enterprise users getting even higher limits.

If you are a free user who does not use ChatGPT often and stays within the usage limit, you would not benefit much from a ChatGPT Plus subscription now.

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I expect that over time OpenAI will change the subscription benefits or price and GPT-4o and GPT-4o mini will become more popular.