Highlights
- OpenAI may introduce a ChatGPT Pro Lite plan at $100/month, spotted in the web app’s code.
- The plan could bridge the gap between Plus ($20) and Pro ($200), offering 3–5x more deep reasoning quota than Plus.
- The move comes amid financial strain and rising competition with OpenAI facing heavy losses and seeking $100B funding.
OpenAI could soon introduce a new mid-tier ChatGPT Pro Lite Subscription Plan at $100 per month. The potential plan was discovered in the frontend code of the ChatGPT web app by developer Tibor Blaho. Here are more details.
ChatGPT Pro Lite May Fill the Pricing Gap
According to X post, Developer Blaho @btibor91 first spotted the mention of the “ChatGPT Pro Lite” plan in the ChatGPT web app code a couple of days ago. Now, the developer reveals that the new ChatGPT Pro Lite plan might cost $100 per month based on the description on the checkout page. It, however, appears to be a work in progress at the moment.
(Screenshot by @btibor91 on X)
The new ChatGPT Pro Lite plan costs $100 per month (the description on the checkout page is likely still a work in progress) https://t.co/TDH4Ql0gXb pic.twitter.com/Q1psZyJZDA
— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) February 21, 2026
Based on references found in the app’s code, ChatGPT Pro Lite may deliver three to five times the deep reasoning model usage quota compared to the Plus plan. At the same time, it would likely provide fewer features than the full Pro tier. The plan is also expected to better support Codex usage, making it appealing for developers.
Currently, OpenAI offers multiple plans for ChatGPT users including Free, Go ($8/month), Plus ($20/month), Pro ($200/month), as well as Team, Business, and Enterprise tiers.
However, many users have pointed out the steep jump between the $20 Plus plan and the $200 Pro subscription. This significant price difference has left power users such as freelancers, researchers, and developers without a practical subscription plan.
The proposed Pro Lite plan could address that concern by offering enhanced capabilities at a more accessible price point.
OpenAI Faces Financial and Competitive Pressure
The move comes during a challenging period for OpenAI. Despite generating $20 billion in revenue, the company is reportedly facing an annual loss of $14 billion, largely due to rising computing expenses. As a result, OpenAI is said to be seeking a substantial $100 billion funding lifeline to stabilise operations.
At the same time, competition in the AI space is intensifying. Gemini 3 has captured more than 20 percent of the market, driven in part by deep Android integration. Meanwhile, Claude 4 has surpassed OpenAI in enterprise spending.
User dissatisfaction has also surfaced following the abrupt retirement of the GPT-4o model, adding further turbulence to the company’s ecosystem.
If launched, ChatGPT Pro Lite could serve as a strategic offering to retain power users and attract new ones seeking advanced AI tools without committing to the $200 Pro plan.
As of now, OpenAI has not officially confirmed the new tier or announced a launch timeline.
FAQs
Q1. What is the ChatGPT Pro Lite plan and how much might it cost?
Answer. The Pro Lite plan is a potential mid-tier subscription discovered in the ChatGPT web app code. It may cost $100 per month, though OpenAI has not confirmed it yet.
Q2. How does Pro Lite differ from existing ChatGPT plans?
Answer. Pro Lite is expected to offer 3–5x more deep reasoning quota than the $20 Plus plan, fewer features than the $200 Pro tier, and stronger Codex support for developers.
Q3. Why is OpenAI considering this new subscription tier?
Answer. The Pro Lite plan could bridge the steep gap between Plus ($20) and Pro ($200), making advanced AI tools more accessible to freelancers, researchers, and developers, while helping OpenAI address financial strain and rising competition.
Also Read –
https://www.mymobileindia.com/openai-starts-testing-ads-in-chatgpt-for-free-and-go-users-in-the-us/