- Free includes more than text chat. Search, file analysis, image generation, voice and deep research have free access or limited allowances. Everyday text chats are unlimited subject to abuse safeguards.[1][2]
- Plus costs $20/month at the official USD price. Model and tool limits still apply, and API usage is billed separately. Payment does not guarantee correct answers or uninterrupted work.[3]
- Do not buy for retired benefits. Personal Plus accounts cannot currently create or publish new custom GPTs, and the Sora web and app experiences have shut down.[8][9]
- Subly handles RMB payment and activation. Pay with WeChat or Alipay for activation on your own account, with a full refund if subscription activation fails. Entitlements follow the Plus plan shown on that account.
What is the actual difference between ChatGPT Free and Plus?
Separate features you already have, allowances that increase, and features that are no longer offered. This comparison covers individual Free and Plus subscriptions; it does not attribute Pro or business entitlements to Plus.
| Item | ChatGPT Free | ChatGPT Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Official USD monthly fee | $0 | $20, billed monthly |
| Everyday text chats | Unlimited, subject to abuse safeguards | Also available; advanced models have separate limits |
| Models and reasoning | GPT-5.6 Luna in everyday Chat; Think availability varies by platform rollout | Broader advanced reasoning access; check the account model picker |
| Web search | Available | Available; search alone need not justify upgrading |
| Files, data analysis and images | Available with lower tool allowances | Expanded allowances, with tool limits |
| Deep research | Limited access | Expanded usage |
| Memory and context | Limited | Expanded |
| Projects | Available | Available, with larger file allowances |
| Scheduled tasks | Not included | Included, subject to current feature rules |
| Peak demand and response speed | Standard access | Priority access and faster replies, without a fixed speed guarantee |
A shared feature name does not mean a shared allowance. Equally, subscribing does not mean every question uses a different model. Connect the purchase to a specific entitlement you need, rather than assuming paid answers must be correct.
Memory is not exclusive to Plus and does not preserve every detail forever. Conversation context, cross-chat memory and file storage have different constraints; a single capacity figure cannot describe them all. See OpenAI’s memory documentation.[15]
If Free text chats are unlimited, why do files, images and voice still hit limits?
Unlimited everyday text does not mean unlimited tools. Uploads, image generation, analysis and voice have separate limits. A paused tool does not necessarily prevent ordinary chatting; check the affected tool, reset notice and signed-in account.[2]
The upload FAQ currently lists 3 file uploads per day for Free, warns that peak-demand limits may be lower, and notes that failed uploads can count. File size, upload frequency and storage are separate constraints that also apply to paid accounts. Read the upload rules.[4]
Projects are available on both plans. Current per-project limits are 5 files on Free and 25 on Plus. That is not the number of files you can upload simultaneously or a shared allowance for all conversations. Read the Projects limits.[5]
Voice depends on the mode. Current Live-in-Chat allowances are limited GPT-Live-1 mini access on Free and 3 hours of GPT-Live-1 per rolling 24 hours on Plus. Desktop voice has separate rules. Live does not support video or screen sharing; eligible mobile subscribers use Advanced for those capabilities. Read the voice rules.[6]
Does Plus let you create GPTs, use Sora or spend the fee on API calls?
Personal Plus accounts cannot currently create or publish new custom GPTs. The dedicated documentation includes Free, Go, Plus and Pro in that restriction. Existing GPTs remain usable; editing depends on permissions and plan requirements. “Custom GPTs” in a plan overview does not establish a right to create new ones. Read the GPT creation and editing rules.[8]
Do not purchase Plus for Sora video generation. Sora’s web and app experiences were discontinued on April 26, 2026. Benefits described in older guides are not a reliable basis for a new purchase. Read the Sora shutdown notice.[9]
The Plus fee is not API credit. OpenAI API calls have separate billing. If API access is all you need, do not buy Plus as a top-up. OpenAI API billing and subscriptions.[3]
Free also has limited Codex and ChatGPT Work access. Plus expands usage and supported surfaces. Work and Codex share usage, so they do not provide two independent allowances. Check official Work / Codex pricing.[10]
Canvas is not a permanent Plus purchase guarantee either. OpenAI removed it from GPT-5.5 Instant and Thinking, with legacy-model access tied to retirement schedules. Check the actual editing surface and model before paying specifically for that interface.[16]
When can students, developers and creators stay on Free?
| Your need | Stay on Free when | Consider Plus when |
|---|---|---|
| Studying and working with sources | Available models and file allowances cover the work | Project file capacity or a paid reasoning option is a specific requirement |
| Programming help | Chat or existing Codex allowances are sufficient | You need Plus Codex access and usage; API-only needs have separate billing |
| Writing and image work | Text work is comfortable and image use occasional | Repeated image revisions or file processing regularly hit tool limits |
A site that will not load, a rejected payment or the wrong signed-in account is a different problem from a plan limit. Identify which one you have before spending. For a broader budget decision, see Is ChatGPT Plus worth it?
In eligible regions, Free may show ads; Plus does not. The Free Ads-Free option reduces some allowances or features and is not a free equivalent of Plus.[17]
How much is Plus, and how do you calculate the final RMB price?
This formula applies to a USD-billed purchase. Localized pricing and Apple or Google store subscriptions may not follow a direct conversion from the USD sticker price. Use the relevant checkout total, rather than treating a reference exchange rate, card charge and activation-service quote as interchangeable.[11]
For Subly, compare the final RMB amount for the same subscription period. Confirm Plus, included service costs, any later payment requirements and renewal arrangements. Do not budget using an unverified coupon or assume a fixed RMB price will remain valid. Check Subly’s current Plus quote
For the cost breakdown, see Plus RMB budgeting and final-price checks. Compare the total, subscription period and refund terms together.
Is Plus paid through WeChat or Alipay the same plan as a direct purchase?
Check what was activated on your ChatGPT account. Subly is an overseas AI subscription activation service for mainland Chinese users. You pay in RMB with WeChat or Alipay, and Plus is activated on your own account instead of supplying a shared login. An account activated as Plus receives the entitlements OpenAI makes available to that account.
A mirror-site membership or time on a shared account is a different purchase. Access to a seller’s chat interface, or a replacement login supplied by a seller, does not establish that your own ChatGPT account has been upgraded. Verify the plan in your own account. Check managed-subscription safety
WeChat and Alipay are Subly payment methods. That does not establish that OpenAI checkout offers them for mainland China. Official regional payment methods and third-party activation are distinct purchase routes.[11]
Once Plus fits your needs and the account conditions apply, check the plan and RMB total at Subly. This avoids needing to buy an unfamiliar virtual card solely for payment. Follow the actual order instructions for account authorization and required information.
How do you verify that your own Free account became Plus?
- 1Record your account and current planConfirm your ChatGPT account email, sign-in method and Free status. Check for an existing web, Apple or Google subscription before buying again.
- 2Review the Subly order before payingAt app.sublynow.com, select ChatGPT Plus and confirm the period, RMB total, account information, renewal terms and refund conditions. Then pay with WeChat or Alipay.
- 3Verify Plus on the same accountAfter completing activation according to the order instructions, sign in to the original account and inspect the plan or billing settings and paid period. A seller screenshot or a model claiming to be Plus is not sufficient verification.
- 4Keep evidence and resolve mismatchesSave the order number, payment record and plan status. If it still shows Free, verify the account and sign-in method, then contact Subly with the order. Failed activation is covered by Subly’s full-refund commitment.
Apple’s Hide My Email can make an account harder to identify; native mobile purchases may need purchase restoration. If charged but still on Free, check the account and purchase channel before buying again. OpenAI lists the checks in its Plus help article.[3]
For the payment walkthrough, see subscribing with WeChat or Alipay. Use this entitlement comparison to verify what the purchase should deliver.
Can you return to Free after canceling Plus, and does cancellation mean a refund?
You can continue on Free after the paid period ends. Ordinary cancellation generally preserves paid access until that period ends and does not automatically refund previous charges. OpenAI advises canceling at least 24 hours before the next billing date. Verify cancellation through the original web, Apple or Google purchase channel.[13]
Subly’s full-refund commitment covers failed subscription activation. A successfully activated subscription that you later decide not to use is a different case: consult the order’s after-sales terms and renewal arrangements. You do not need to delete your account just to stop renewals. Canceling ChatGPT Plus and requesting refunds
What else do people ask about ChatGPT Free and Plus?
Can Free upload PDFs, create images and search the web?
Yes. Free includes these capabilities, with separate limits for uploads, analysis and image generation. Unlimited everyday text does not mean unlimited tools.[2][4]
Is Plus unlimited, and does upgrading reset a Free limit?
Plus still has model and tool limits. OpenAI says upgrading from Free resets usage rates, after which the paid plan’s rules apply. That is not a permanent unlimited allowance.[2][3]
Do I need a different account to upgrade?
No. Plus is a subscription on an account. Subly activates membership on your own account; verify the email and sign-in method before payment and the plan afterward. A shared login or mirror-site membership is not equivalent.
Do I need separate Plus subscriptions for my phone and computer?
No. Sign in to the same ChatGPT account on supported devices to use the subscription. If one device shows Free, check the account and purchase channel before paying again.[13]
Does paying for Plus automatically exclude my chats from training?
No. Check Data controls on both Free and Plus. Turning off Improve the model for everyone excludes new conversations from model training, although voluntarily submitting feedback can still allow the associated conversation to be used. Payment does not replace privacy settings.[14]
- [1] ChatGPT pricingPlan entitlements, memory, tasks and deep research
- [2] ChatGPT Free Tier FAQUnlimited everyday text, tool limits and resets after upgrading
- [3] What is ChatGPT Plus?$20 monthly fee, access, limits, separate API billing and missing-plan checks
- [4] File Uploads FAQDaily Free uploads and file, storage and rate constraints
- [5] Projects in ChatGPTAvailability and per-project file limits
- [6] ChatGPT VoiceLive allowances, rolling windows and video restrictions
- [7] Deep research in ChatGPTTask counters and plan or regional availability
- [8] Creating and editing GPTsPersonal-plan creation restrictions and existing-GPT access
- [9] Sora discontinuationSora web and app shutdown date
- [10] ChatGPT Learn pricingWork / Codex access and shared usage
- [11] Multi-currency billingRegional payment options and app-store billing
- [12] ChatGPT Supported CountriesSupported regions and unsupported-location access risks
- [13] Canceling your ChatGPT subscriptionCancellation, renewals, refund distinctions and use across devices
- [14] Data controls in ChatGPTTraining controls, chat history and the feedback exception
- [15] Memory in ChatGPTMemory sources, controls and retention limitations
- [16] OpenAI Model Release NotesCanvas changes for GPT-5.5 and legacy model retirement
- [17] Ads in ChatGPTEligible regions, ad-free paid plans and Free Ads-Free tradeoffs
- Subly service detailsRMB, WeChat / Alipay, activation on your own account and refunds for failed activation; current conditions are shown at checkout