OpenAI Reopens $200 Pro Subscription With Halved Usage Starting September 30, 2026

In early September 2026, OpenAI paused new sign-ups for its $200-per-month Pro subscription plan for ChatGPT. The move was attributed to high demand and strain on the company's infrastructure, which left many prospective users unable to join.

The Pro plan had been popular with power users, offering higher usage limits and enhanced performance compared to the free tier. However, as demand grew, OpenAI was forced to temporarily halt new subscriptions to maintain service quality for existing users.

On September 29, 2026, OpenAI announced at its annual DevDay event in San Francisco that the Pro subscription would reopen for new customers starting September 30. The announcement was part of a broader slate of more than 20 product updates and new features unveiled at the event.

The company revealed that while the Pro plan would retain its $200 monthly price, the included token allocation for subscribers would be cut in half compared to the previous offering. This change means users will have less included usage each month for the same price, which may affect heavy users.

Alongside the Pro plan update, OpenAI introduced a new $500-per-month subscription tier, which offers faster speeds and expanded capabilities, targeting teams and business customers. Shared workspaces, meeting note-taker tools, and integration with platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams were also announced.

OpenAI representatives suggested that, over time, some users may find it more economical to pay for API access directly rather than relying on subscription plans, especially as usage patterns evolve.

As of now, OpenAI is set to resume sales of the $200 Pro subscription on September 30, 2026, but with reduced token limits. The new $500 plan and other team-focused features are also launching, giving users more options but at a higher price point.

Most details about the changes have been confirmed across multiple outlets, and the company has not announced any further adjustments to the Pro plan at this time.

Prospective and current Pro subscribers will be watching closely to see how the reduced token limits impact their workflows and whether the new $500 plan offers enough value to justify the higher cost. It remains to be seen if further adjustments will follow as user feedback comes in after the relaunch.