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ZDNET Highlights
- OpenAI has just made ChatGPT Go available in the US.
- The lightweight version of ChatGPT’s subscription costs $8 per month.
- In addition to the free version, OpenAI now offers three paid tiers.
After testing lightweight subscriptions for four months in India, OpenAI has just released ChatGPT Go in the US. Subscription-Based Chat This lightweight version of GPT Plus includes everything you get with the free version, plus extra features, like unlimited chat with GPT-5.2 Instant. Users can now find the option to sign up for Go when upgrading their ChatGPT plan.
(Disclosure: ZDNET’s parent company Ziff Davis filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in the training and operation of its AI systems.)
Compared to the free version of ChatGPT, the Go edition includes unlimited chat access to GPT-5.2 Instant, the ability to create more images and upload more files, longer memory with a larger context window, access to additional features, and expanded access to advanced data analysis. Additional features that ChatGPT Go users can access include projects, tasks, and custom GPTs.
Also: Is ChatGPT Plus Worth Your $20? I compared it to the free and pro plans, and this is my advice
Consistent with its methodology, OpenAI does not specify how higher the usage limit is for Go compared to the free tier. The company said usage limits for core chat and tools are high, but they may vary depending on system conditions and are subject to abuse protection measures.
The addition of ChatGPT Go means there are now three payment tiers for AI chatbots. All are billed monthly, with the Go tier priced at $8, the Plus tier priced at $20, and the Pro tier priced at $200.
| tier | monthly price | Sample |
| chatgpt | Free | gpt 5.2 |
| go chatgpt | $8 | GPT 5.2 Instant |
| chatgpt plus | $20 | GPT 5.2 thinking, legacy, codecs |
| chatgpt pro | $200 | GPT 5.2 Pro |
Simply put, while the free version of ChatGPT is built to handle everyday tasks, the upgrade to ChatGPT Go will give users the ability to use the chatbot for a longer period of time, including generating more images, although Sora will not have access. ChatGPIT Plus, on the other hand, is better suited to handle more complex requests, gives users access to Sora and legacy models, and is best for those who use the chatbot daily and need to use it for a long period of time.
The $200 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription is designed by OpenAI to “help AI power users push the boundaries of advanced intelligence.” This tier includes access to GPT-5.2 Pro, maximum memory and references, and early previews of the latest features.
If you want to check out ChatGPT Go, you can log in to your OpenAI account on the ChatGPT website and click on your profile icon. Once there, select the upgrade plan and select Try Go to get started.
