OpenAI is currently developing a new subscription level for ChatGPT that will sit between its existing mid-level plans and its enterprise pricing model. The web app code, which developer Tibor Blaho found, shows that the proposed plan, ChatGPT Pro Lite, will have a monthly subscription fee of approximately $100.
The subscription needs official confirmation from the company, while the internal references indicate that development has begun, but it needs to be confirmed. The company intends to address a persistent user complaint, which exists because users must pay much more to upgrade from the Plus plan to the Pro tier.
A Missing Middle in the Subscription Ladder
OpenAI currently provides multiple pricing options that range from no-cost access and affordable basic plans to professional enterprise solutions. The main problem with the service arises from the pricing difference between Plus, which costs 20 dollars per month, and Pro, which costs 200 dollars per month. For most professionals, Plus becomes a limitation when users exceed their usage restrictions, while Pro costs too much for anyone who does not use ChatGPT as their primary work tool.
The Pro Lite plan would establish itself as a midpoint solution that targets freelancers, researchers, and developers who need AI capabilities while requiring an affordable cost-to-performance evaluation.
The expected positioning is simple:
- More capable than Plus
- Less powerful than Pro
- Priced to make advanced AI access practical rather than premium-exclusive
Expected Features and Capabilities
However, there is no official feature list. In the code, we see some changes that might be interpreted as improvements based on the Plus package.
Potential upgrades include:
- Three to five times higher usage quota for deep reasoning models
- Improved suitability for coding workflows, including Codex-related usage
- Higher limits intended for professional workloads
The Pro Lite version functions as a separate product because it does not act as a diminished version of the Pro version. The Pro Lite product functions as a separate productivity level, which enables users to perform tasks throughout the day instead of using it for brief testing periods.
Part of a Larger Product Strategy
The timing matches a major trend that is changing how AI assistants develop. OpenAI has developed its systems to offer more agent-based features that enable ongoing background operations that complete multiple complex tasks. The system needs much greater processing power to handle its advanced functions compared to regular chat-based interactions.
The mid-tier subscription will serve as the starting point for users who need to perform more demanding tasks. The system will identify casual users and power users separately while maintaining a pricing structure that falls between personal and business user levels, which will change how AI tools expand according to user demand.
Business and Competitive Pressures
The rumored plan demonstrates the increasing competition that exists within the AI industry. OpenAI faces pressure to improve its pricing model and make its platform more accessible because competing platforms have been expanding their market share. The introduction of a mid-range tier would enable professional users to maintain their current system while accessing equivalent functions that competitors provide at lower prices.
The company must manage its extensive operational expenses while dealing with this situation. The company spends more on computing power because its advanced AI model infrastructure requires billions of revenue resources to operate. The establishment of a new pricing tier will enable better cost distribution among various user groups according to their needs.
No Official Announcement Yet
The existence of ChatGPT Pro Lite remains unverified at this moment. Official releases have usually followed similar discoveries from previous times after only brief intervals. The plan will likely be revealed to the public before the current time frame finishes if the existing pattern continues.
Conclusion
The reported 100-dollar ChatGPT Pro Lite subscription service functions as a natural progression for artificial intelligence subscription prices. OpenAI enables serious individual users to access advanced capabilities by creating a pricing structure that exists between casual and enterprise usage without requiring users to pay for corporate-level expenses. The new tier would establish a new system that enables users to increase their AI usage because it transforms the way people use AI from being an occasional helper to becoming a necessary daily work instrument.