OpenAI reportedly tests ChatGPT Pro. What we know about the paid version.

Training data, fine-tuning, API, and more.
 By 
Christianna Silva
 on 
OpenAI ChatGPT seen on mobile with AI Brain seen on screen. on 22 January 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.
ChatGPT is allegedly offering a $42 a month pro version. Would you pay? Credit: Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images

ChatGPT is free to use — but a pro version priced at $42 a month is reportedly being trialed.

Nearly 30 percent of professional workers have used ChatGPT at work, according to a new poll out of Fishbowl, a social network for professionals. We're using the AI chatbot to message people on dating apps; to write essays for school; create malware, and more. And users are doing all of that for free, thanks to the company potentially paying millions of dollars a month so we don't have to pay anything.

There's been a rumor swirling around that OpenAI, the company that owns ChatGPT, is working on a way to monetize its newest success. Just a few weeks ago, the company let users sign up for early access to "ChatGPT Professional," a version of the product that includes no blackout windows, meaning it is always available; faster responses from ChatGPT (which is helpful because it breaks down a lot); and as many messages as you want up to at least twice the regular daily limit.


You May Also Like

OpenAI sent out a waitlist for ChatGPT Professional earlier this month, asking potential users not only what they use ChatGPT for most but also how much money would be reasonable for the product.

"If you are selected, we’ll reach out to you to set up a payment process and a pilot," the waitlist read. "Please keep in mind that this is an early experimental program that is subject to change, and we are not making paid pro access generally available at this time."

But some users say they’ve been granted access to ChatGPT Professional at $42 a month. OpenAI hasn't confirmed that they've granted access to this tool yet, made any announcements about its launch, or confirmed the price point, and it did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable. 

What ChatGPT said about ChatGPT Pro

When Mashable asked ChatGPT about the $42 per month version, it said it was "not aware of a $42 per month paid version of ChatGPT." But, when asked what was different between its free version and the paid version, it said: 

ChatGPT and ChatGPT-professional are both based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. However, there are a few key differences between the two models.

  1. Training data: ChatGPT-professional is trained on a much larger and more diverse dataset, which allows it to generate more human-like text with a higher level of fluency and accuracy.

  2. Fine-tuning: ChatGPT-professional can be fine-tuned with a small amount of task-specific data to improve its performance on specific use cases.

  3. API: ChatGPT-professional is available as an API, which allows developers to easily integrate it into their applications and systems.

  4. Scale: ChatGPT-professional can handle a much higher volume of requests than ChatGPT, making it more suitable for large-scale production applications.

  5. Performance: ChatGPT-professional delivers better performance than ChatGPT in terms of generating more human-like text and providing better context understanding.

  6. Cost: ChatGPT-professional is a paid service, while ChatGPT is a free to use model.

In summary, ChatGPT-professional is a more advanced and powerful version of ChatGPT, designed for use in production environments, and with more advanced features, more data and better performance, but also comes with a cost.

When asked about the details of that cost, ChatGPT said it depends and that OpenAI doesn't "publicly disclose the prices for the ChatGPT-professional."

Update: This story incorrectly identified Fishbowl as a publication. It is a social network.

Mashable Image
Christianna Silva
Senior Culture Reporter

Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.

Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
OpenAI to finally bring ads to ChatGPT
Photo illustration of the chatgpt logo on a smartphone. The same logo can be seen faded in the background

OpenAI says it will change ChatGPT safety protocols in the wake of mass shooting
OpenAI logo

OpenAI reportedly testing ChatGPT ads soon
A thumb taps on a phone screen displaying a colorful OpenAI logo.

ChatGPT GPT-4o users are raging at OpenAI on Reddit right now
ChatGPT GPT-4o

OpenAI is delaying its 'adult mode' for ChatGPT
By Jack Dawes
ChatGPT Update Will Allow 'erotica' For Verified Adult Users

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!