ChatGPT
OpenAI’s assistant for writing, research, coding and working with files, with GPT-6 rolling out in Chat. Choose a plan for the tools and reasoning you need, then confirm the account’s current access. GPT-4o is historical, not the default model described by this review.
Sources checked October 9, 2026 · No hands-on product test or comparative score.
Visit ChatGPTCurrent models and the Pro distinction
GPT-6 Sol powers eligible paid Chat accounts at Instant through Extra High; available effort levels vary by plan. GPT-6 Pro uses Astra. Older selectable GPT-5.6 options are not retired by this rollout. Current model guide.
The new interface can combine prose with interactive elements. It works in Chat on supported clients, not as an equivalent Work, Codex or API feature. For original prompts and troubleshooting, use our Intelligent UI guide.
Free/Go discrepancy: the October 7 release notes and UI help describe GPT-6 Luna, while model availability still describes GPT-5.6 Luna. Treat this as an unresolved documentation/rollout difference and check the actual account. We have not tested either plan’s rollout.
Useful tasks, and what to verify
Swipe wide tables horizontally on a phone.
| Task | Practical use | Check before relying on it |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and coding | Draft text, explain code and iterate on a clearly scoped problem. | Review claims and changes; run appropriate checks in the target environment. |
| Search and research | Use current web sources when the relevant search tool is available. | Open citations and check that they support the specific claim. |
| Files and data analysis | Work with supported uploads and calculations. | Check extracted rows, units, formulas and missing data against the original. |
| Image creation | Generate or edit images through the current image tools. | Check the account’s tool limits and the rights needed for your intended use. |
| Voice | Use the supported voice experience. | Do not expect Intelligent UI inside Voice. |
| Custom GPTs | Use existing task-specific GPTs; creation permissions have changed. | Read the current creation rules instead of assuming every paid personal account can publish a new GPT. |
Official feature comparison · Current GPT creation rules. We removed the former universal DALL-E 3 and “anyone can build a GPT” descriptions rather than attributing every tool to the new text model.
Editorial assessment: ChatGPT is useful when the work benefits from conversation plus several tools. It is a weaker fit for a workflow that demands deterministic calculations, guaranteed source accuracy or unattended execution without a separate review process.
Plans, prices and usage boundaries
Swipe wide tables horizontally on a phone.
| Plan | Published price / billing basis | Decision point |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Start with occasional use; tool allowances and rollout conditions still apply. |
| Go | Localized checkout price; no universal figure verified here. | Higher eligible tool allowances than Free. Go help |
| Plus | $20/month | Individual paid access; do not infer Chat Pro effort from Astra availability in Work/Codex. Plus help |
| Pro | 100: $100/month; 200: $200/month; 500: $500/month | Different usage allowances; not unlimited Pro-model use. Confirm your tier and current offer. Pro tiers |
| Business | Standard $25/user/month monthly or $20 annually; Premium $125 monthly or $100 annually | At least two paid seats; annual figures are per-month equivalents billed annually. Business FAQ |
| Enterprise | Contract / contact sales | Permissions, limits and commercial terms depend on the agreement. Pricing page |
Prices can vary by country, currency and billing channel; verify the checkout total and taxes. Team is the former name of Business. A self-serve plan is not an unlimited API bundle, and Enterprise must not be represented as a $0 offer. Plan name and separate API billing.
Buy for a demonstrated need: identify which tool or allowance blocks your work first. A higher-priced tier does not by itself validate an answer or remove every feature-specific limit. Model limits and reset notices in the account remain relevant.
Historical features and retired models
GPT-4o left ordinary ChatGPT selection on February 13, 2026, with its managed-workspace Custom GPT exception ending April 3. GPT-5.1 models were retired March 11. These ChatGPT retirements do not establish API retirement. Official retirement record.
OpenAI’s release history also records GPT-4.5 retirement on June 26 and o3 retirement on August 26, 2026, plus changes to canvas availability. Use current writing/code responses and supported tools rather than expecting every historical screenshot or tutorial to match today’s account. ChatGPT release history.
The earlier version of this page described GPT-4o, dated user counts, a Team offer and unrestricted Custom GPT creation as current. Those claims have been removed or qualified. This is a substantive factual update, not evidence that we benchmarked GPT-6.
Choose an alternative by the work
- Claude: compare document and Artifact workflows, particularly if you need a connected-data dashboard with query review.
- Gemini: investigate the Google-facing workflow you actually need; consumer chat and enterprise agent access are different decisions.
- Perplexity: consider a research-oriented workflow, while still verifying sources and final claims.
- Poe: evaluate a multi-model interface against the specific model access and billing you need.
These are task routes, not a new ranking or a claim of comparative speed or accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What is ChatGPT now?
ChatGPT is OpenAI’s assistant for conversation and supported tools. GPT-6 is rolling out in Chat; available models, reasoning levels and tools depend on the account, plan, client and workspace. It is no longer accurately described as a GPT-4o-only product.
Does a Pro subscription mean I must use Pro reasoning?
No. The subscription and the selected reasoning level are different. Use an available GPT-6 level from Instant through Extra High for Intelligent UI. Pro reasoning uses Astra and does not support Intelligent UI.
Can Free or Go users use GPT-6 Intelligent UI?
OpenAI’s rollout announcement and UI help include Free and Go, but its model-availability page still lists GPT-5.6 Luna for these plans. Check your account’s current access; this guide does not claim that rollout has reached every account.
Is GPT-4o still the main ChatGPT model?
No. OpenAI retired GPT-4o from ordinary ChatGPT use on February 13, 2026; the temporary managed-workspace Custom GPT exception ended April 3. ChatGPT retirement and API availability are separate.
Does a ChatGPT subscription pay for the API?
No. ChatGPT plans and OpenAI API usage have separate billing. Work and Codex also have their own eligibility and usage rules; a Chat feature does not establish matching API or Codex functionality.
Can I create a new Custom GPT on a personal plan?
The current GPT creation help says new creation and publishing are unavailable on personal accounts. Existing GPTs can still be used, and eligible existing GPTs edited. Business, Enterprise and Edu creation depends on workspace permissions.
Sources: Models, Intelligent UI, Retirements, GPT creation, API billing separation.
Your next step
Check the current model menu and one required feature on your account. Try a small, non-sensitive task and review the output before upgrading for a larger workflow. Use the Intelligent UI prompt and calculation checks if the desired result is an interactive explanation rather than just a text answer.
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