OpenAI Reveals Plan for $100 Pro Lite Tier to Bridge ChatGPT Pricing Gap

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch a new $100 monthly subscription tier for ChatGPT, tentatively named "Pro Lite," designed to bridge the pricing gap between its existing Plus ($20) and Pro ($200) plans, according to TestingCatalog. Sources within OpenAI’s beta testing network, including early access developers and code reviewers, have identified internal references to this tier in the platform’s subscription API, suggesting the feature is in active development. While not yet available to the public, the Pro Lite plan is expected to offer enhanced capabilities over Plus—such as priority access to GPT-4o, extended context windows, and advanced data analysis tools—without the full enterprise-grade features of Pro.

The strategic shift comes amid intensifying competition from Google’s AI subscription ecosystem. Google recently expanded its Gemini AI offerings to include three distinct tiers: Free, AI Plus ($19.99), and AI Pro ($199), with AI Ultra rumored to be in the works. According to 9to5Google, Google’s AI Pro plan includes exclusive access to Gemini Advanced, real-time web search integration, and advanced coding assistance, positioning it as a direct competitor to OpenAI’s Pro tier. OpenAI’s Pro Lite may be a direct response to users who find the $200 Pro plan too expensive but require more than what Plus offers—particularly professionals in marketing, legal, and software development fields who rely on AI for daily productivity.

Insights from user behavior analyzed by industry analysts suggest a growing segment of mid-tier users are dissatisfied with the current binary choice between affordability and power. A recent MSNBC report on Google’s Gemini Pro plan revealed that 68% of users who upgraded from free to Pro cited "advanced reasoning capabilities" and "faster response times" as decisive factors. This indicates a market demand for a premium-but-not-enterprise option, which OpenAI appears poised to fill.

Pro Lite is expected to include features such as 128K context memory, priority queue access during peak hours, custom GPTs with enhanced memory, and limited API usage—features currently split between Plus and Pro. Unlike Pro, which includes dedicated customer support and team collaboration tools, Pro Lite will likely remain a single-user offering, targeting freelancers, academic researchers, and small business owners. Pricing at $100 positions it as a compelling middle ground: half the cost of Pro but triple the capability of Plus.

Industry observers warn that introducing a third tier may complicate OpenAI’s messaging and risk cannibalizing Pro sales. However, with Microsoft’s Copilot subscriptions and Anthropic’s Claude Pro also expanding their offerings, OpenAI’s move could be less about revenue optimization and more about ecosystem retention. "Users don’t want to choose between underpowered and overpriced," said AI analyst Lena Torres of TechForward Insights. "They want precision pricing. OpenAI is finally listening."

As of late February 2026, no official launch date has been announced. However, code signatures detected in the ChatGPT web interface suggest a soft launch could occur within the next 60 days. Users are advised to monitor their account dashboards for early access invitations. OpenAI has declined to comment on the rumored tier, consistent with its policy of not confirming unreleased features.