What is ChatGPT Plus? Worth the $20 or Stick to Free?

If you’ve been using ChatGPT, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT Plus and wondered what it actually offers—and whether it’s worth paying for. 

After spending a lot of time exploring its features, I can break down how it works, what benefits it brings, and how it stacks up against the free version. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture to decide if upgrading makes sense for you.

What Is ChatGPT Plus？

ChatGPT Plus is OpenAI’s premium subscription for its popular conversational AI. Launched in February 2023, it offers faster response times, priority access to new features, and access to GPT-5, which is smarter and more capable than the free version. Essentially, it’s designed for users who want a smoother, more powerful experience—whether for writing, research, or creative projects.

How Much Does ChatGPT Plus Cost?

As of September 2025, the price of ChatGPT Plus is $20 per month in the U.S. Pricing may vary slightly depending on location and currency exchange rates.

Features of ChatGPT Plus (as of September 2025)

Subscribers to ChatGPT Plus receive access to:

• GPT-5 with advanced reasoning

• Expanded messaging and uploads (supporting larger inputs and files)

• Expanded and faster image creation (powered by DALL·E)

• Expanded memory and context (longer conversations and better continuity)

• Expanded deep research and agent mode

• Projects, tasks, and custom GPTs (for organizing workflows)

• Sora video generation

• Codex agent (for advanced coding support)

For those with heavier or specialized needs, OpenAI also offers ChatGPT Pro and Business plans. The Pro plan provides enhanced performance and priority support, while the Business plan adds administrative tools, team management features, and enterprise-level security.

ChatGPT Plus vs Free Version  

I can definitely say the upgrades are noticeable—but that doesn’t mean everyone actually needs them. Before you decide to spend $20 a month, let’s take a closer look at the differences and see if the Plus features are truly worth it for you.

Is ChatGPT Plus Worth It?

Even after seeing the differences between the free version and ChatGPT Plus, you might still be unsure whether upgrading is necessary. To help you decide, it’s worth considering a few key points about how you use ChatGPT and what you expect from it.

1. Are You Willing to Wait?

One of the clearest differences between the free version and ChatGPT Plus is speed, mainly because paid users receive priority access.

The free version is great most of the time, but during peak hours—like late afternoons in the U.S. or evenings in Europe—I’ve experienced response delays of 10–15 seconds or even temporary timeouts. That might not sound like much, but when I’m in a flow writing blog posts or generating content ideas, even small delays break my momentum.

With ChatGPT Plus, responses are consistently faster, often arriving almost instantly. I remember drafting a full article outline for a client while generating related images; the Plus version kept up smoothly, whereas the free version lagged and occasionally failed to generate some sections on the first try. 

So if efficiency matters to you—especially for work or creative projects—Plus can save a lot of frustration.

2. Do You Need Further Research?

If your goal is in-depth writing or detailed research, this is where ChatGPT Plus really shines. GPT-5, available through the Plus version, handles complex queries with better organization, reasoning, and indexing of information. For instance, when I needed to summarize a multi-step process for a blog post, Plus could generate a structured outline with clear subheadings, while the free version sometimes produced repetitive or less organized content.

That said, for general copywriting, social media posts, or casual content, the free version is usually sufficient. Plus can reduce the time you spend editing and restructuring, but it doesn’t replace your judgment. Even with Plus, I always double-check facts, especially for timely or technical information—its accuracy is excellent, but not infallible.

3. Are You Concerned About Image Generation?

If visuals are part of your workflow, Plus offers a notable advantage. The free version allows some image generation (via limited tools or GPT-4o-mini), but the results can feel less detailed and take longer to process. 

With Plus, I’ve found images to be sharper, more creative, and generated with less waiting time. For example, generating concept art for blog headers or social media posts takes a few seconds in Plus, whereas it might take much longer—or require multiple attempts—in the free version.

4. Do You Plan to Create a Custom Agent?

Custom agents let you build an AI assistant tailored to specific tasks—like summarizing research, managing workflow, or even responding in a branded tone. Free users don’t have access to this feature, while Plus subscribers can experiment with it. I’ve tested a small custom agent to handle repetitive blog research tasks, and it saved me at least 20–30 minutes per article. For anyone looking to automate or personalize their AI interactions, this feature alone can justify the subscription.

5. Do You Collaborate with Teams?

Even if you’re not in a formal “Business” plan, having faster responses and access to more advanced features can help you collaborate efficiently. I’ve shared Plus-generated research outlines with colleagues, and it’s easier to produce cohesive work quickly than using the free version.

6. Do You Value Early Access to New Features?

Plus subscribers often get early access to experimental features or improvements before free users. If you enjoy testing new tools, integrating AI into your workflow, or staying on the cutting edge, this can be a significant perk.

How to Access ChatGPT Plus?

1. Log in to your ChatGPT account. Once inside, you’ll notice the standard interface with your chat history on the left.

2. To subscribe to Plus, you have two options:

• Look for the “Upgrade” button at the top of the homepage. It’s usually highlighted to make it easy to spot.

• Or, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then select “Upgrade Plan” from the dropdown menu.

3. From there, you’ll be guided through the checkout process, and once payment is complete, your account will switch to Plus automatically.

Alternatives to Access to ChatGPT Plus

If you’ve spent hours using ChatGPT Plus like I have, you know it’s powerful—but not without its limits. Usage caps and wait times can slow you down, especially when everyone’s online at once.

That’s why I’ve been exploring alternatives, and EssayDone AI Chat stands out. It gives you full access to all ChatGPT models, so you can jump between GPT-4 for routine tasks and GPT-5 for complex or urgent work—no queues, no interruptions.

What’s more, EssayDone works alongside other AI platforms like Claude, Gemini, or DeepSeek, letting you pick the right tool for the job and get the best results every time.

Conclusion

Okay, so we’ve covered ChatGPT Plus—what it offers, how it stacks up against the free version, and when it’s worth upgrading. 

From my experience, Plus is ideal for advanced users, while casual users often find the free version more than enough. The key is choosing the features that truly fit your needs. 

Before committing $240 a year, you may also want to explore alternatives like EssayDone for specific tasks. Thanks for reading!