OpenAI appears to be preparing a premium ChatGPT tier priced at roughly $500 per month, according to leaked code strings and screenshots circulating online. The rumored "Pro Max" plan would cost 25 times more than the standard $20 Plus subscription, positioning it as the company's most expensive consumer offering yet.
What the Leaks Reveal
References to the new tier reportedly surfaced in hidden code strings and interface screenshots spotted by researchers digging through ChatGPT's software. The naming echoes Apple's product hierarchy, suggesting OpenAI wants to signal a top-of-the-line experience above its existing $200-per-month Pro plan.
Unlike previous upgrades that mainly extended usage limits, the leaked details indicate the appeal of this plan centers on speed rather than volume. In other words, subscribers would pay a steep premium for the AI to complete tasks faster, not simply to run more queries.
The pitch isn't about doing more with ChatGPT — it's about doing it faster.
Who It Targets
A $500 monthly commitment clearly isn't aimed at casual users. The tier seems designed for professionals and power users whose workflows depend on rapid AI responses, where saved time can justify the outsized cost.
The move reflects a broader industry trend of segmenting AI services into tiers that squeeze more revenue from the heaviest users. As compute costs remain high, faster processing becomes a premium feature companies can charge a premium to deliver.
- Rumored price: around $500 per month
- That's roughly 25 times the $20 Plus plan
- Key selling point: faster performance, not higher limits
The Bigger Picture
OpenAI has not officially confirmed the plan, and leaked strings can change or disappear before any launch. Details remain unverified, so the final pricing and features could shift.
Still, the leak underscores how AI providers are experimenting with aggressive pricing at the high end. If the Pro Max tier ships as described, it would mark another step in turning premium AI performance into a luxury-priced product.