ChatGPT Pricing 2026: Plus $20/mo, Pro $200, Pro Lite $100 & GPT-5.3-Codex API
Choosing the right ChatGPT pricing plan in February 2026 can mean the difference between overspending by hundreds of dollars monthly or missing critical features your workflow needs. With OpenAI’s newest GPT-5.3-Codex (released February 5, 2026) and subscription tiers ranging from free to $200/month, picking the wrong plan costs you either money or productivity.
ChatGPT and other AI assistants cannot record your meetings, transcribe your videos, or analyze your screen content because they lack access to your device’s microphone and camera. For that, you need a dedicated tool like ScreenApp’s meeting recorder that captures and transcribes everything automatically.
We tested all ChatGPT pricing tiers across January-February 2026 - spending $320 on Plus, Pro, and API costs over 30 days. This hands-on testing revealed dramatic capacity differences, especially after OpenAI’s February 2026 model releases including GPT-5.3-Codex and the upcoming Pro Lite tier.
This guide provides definitive ChatGPT pricing as of February 25, 2026, covering all subscription tiers, the new Codex desktop app, and complete API cost breakdowns. By the end, you’ll know exactly which plan fits your needs and budget.
How Much Does ChatGPT Cost? (February 2026)
ChatGPT costs range from $0 (Free) to $200/month (Pro) for individuals, with a new Pro Lite tier at $100/month discovered in app code on February 21, 2026. Team plans start at $25/user/month.
Current Subscription Pricing (February 2026):
- Free Plan: $0 - Limited messages/day, GPT-4o access, basic features
- ChatGPT Go: $8/month - Mid-tier with ads (testing in US, February 2026)
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month - GPT-5.2 access, Codex, DALL-E, Advanced Voice
- ChatGPT Pro Lite: $100/month - Coming soon, bridges Plus and Pro gap
- ChatGPT Pro: $200/month - Unlimited access, o3 pro mode, highest priority
- Team Plan: $25/user/month (annual) or $30/user/month (monthly)
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing - SSO, unlimited usage, dedicated support
ChatGPT API Pricing (Pay-Per-Use, February 2026):
- GPT-5.2: $1.75/$14.00 per million tokens (input/output) - Current flagship
- GPT-5.2 pro: $21.00/$168.00 per million tokens - Maximum precision
- GPT-5.1-Codex: $1.25/$10.00 per million tokens - Coding specialist
- GPT-5 mini: $0.25/$2.00 per million tokens - Fast and economical
- GPT-5 nano: $0.05/$0.40 per million tokens - Cheapest option
- GPT-4.1: $2.00/$8.00 per million tokens - 1M context window
- o3: $2.00/$8.00 per million tokens - Reasoning model
- o3 pro: $20.00/$80.00 per million tokens - Advanced reasoning
- o4-mini: $1.10/$4.40 per million tokens - Fast reasoning
Batch API Discount: 50% off all models for non-urgent workloads processed over 24 hours.
What’s New: GPT-5.3-Codex (February 2026)
On February 5, 2026, OpenAI released GPT-5.3-Codex, their most capable agentic coding model. On February 9, it became generally available for all GitHub Copilot tiers. Then on February 13, OpenAI launched GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark, a smaller version generating over 1,000 tokens per second on Cerebras hardware.
GPT-5.3-Codex Key Features:
- Self-improving: The model was instrumental in creating itself - the Codex team used early versions to debug its own training
- Agentic coding: Moves beyond writing code to using code as a tool to operate computers end-to-end
- 25% faster than GPT-5.2-Codex
- Desktop app: Launched February 2, 2026 for macOS with Windows coming soon
- GitHub Copilot integration: Powers the latest Copilot features
Codex Pricing (February 2026): For ChatGPT Plus/Pro subscribers, Codex access is included at no extra cost. API pricing:
- codex-mini-latest: $1.50/$6.00 per million tokens
- GPT-5.1-Codex: $1.25/$10.00 per million tokens
- GPT-5.1-Codex-mini: $0.25/$2.00 per million tokens
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is OpenAI’s flagship conversational AI assistant, launched in November 2022 and continuously updated with increasingly powerful models. The current lineup includes GPT-5.2 for general use and GPT-5.3-Codex for coding and agentic tasks.
Core Strengths (February 2026):
- GPT-5.2 Intelligence: State-of-the-art reasoning and creative writing
- GPT-5.3-Codex: Agentic coding that can operate your computer
- 400K Context Window: Handle massive documents and codebases
- DALL-E Integration: Generate and edit images directly in chat
- Sora 2 Video: Generate videos from text (Plus/Pro)
- Advanced Voice: Real-time voice conversations with natural speech
- Codex Desktop App: Native macOS app for coding agents
- Custom GPTs: Create specialized assistants for specific tasks
For businesses needing meeting documentation, ChatGPT works well for summarizing transcripts, but you first need a tool like ScreenApp’s audio transcription to capture the content.
February 2026 Updates:
- February 2: OpenAI launched the Codex macOS desktop app
- February 5: GPT-5.3-Codex released alongside Claude Opus 4.6
- February 9: GPT-5.3-Codex GA for GitHub Copilot
- February 13: GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark launched (1,000+ tokens/second)
- February 15: OpenAI hired Peter Steinberger (OpenClaw creator) for multi-agent AI
- February 21: Pro Lite tier ($100/month) discovered in app code
ChatGPT Models Explained (February 2026)
OpenAI now offers multiple model families optimized for different use cases.
Model Performance Comparison (February 2026)
| Model | GPT-5 nano | GPT-5 mini | GPT-5.2 | GPT-5.3-Codex | o3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Simple tasks | Quick tasks | General use | Coding/agentic | Reasoning |
| API Input | $0.05/M | $0.25/M | $1.75/M | $1.25/M | $2.00/M |
| API Output | $0.40/M | $2.00/M | $14.00/M | $10.00/M | $8.00/M |
| Context | 400K | 400K | 400K | 400K | 200K |
| Speed | Fastest | Very fast | Fast | Fast | Slower |
Reasoning Models (o-series)
| Model | o4-mini | o3 | o3 pro | o1 pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Fast reasoning | Standard reasoning | Complex analysis | Maximum capability |
| API Input | $1.10/M | $2.00/M | $20.00/M | $150.00/M |
| API Output | $4.40/M | $8.00/M | $80.00/M | $600.00/M |
| Context | 200K | 200K | 200K | 200K |
Our February 2026 Testing Insights:
GPT-5.3-Codex is a game-changer for developers. It doesn’t just write code - it operates your computer to complete tasks end-to-end. The recursive self-improvement capability (it helped debug its own training) signals a new era in AI development.
GPT-5.2 remains excellent for general tasks. At $1.75/$14.00 per million tokens, it handles writing, analysis, and most workflows efficiently.
GPT-5 nano at $0.05/$0.40 is remarkably cheap. For high-volume simple tasks, it’s 35x cheaper than GPT-5.2 while maintaining good quality.
ChatGPT Plans: Complete 2026 Pricing Breakdown
Free Plan: Getting Started
Cost: $0
February 2026 Features:
- Access to GPT-4o (not GPT-5.2 or 5.3-Codex)
- Limited messages per day (varies by demand)
- Basic web browsing
- Limited image generation
- Voice conversations (limited)
- No Codex access
- No Advanced Voice mode
Usage Limits: Free users face significant restrictions during peak hours. Our testing showed limits of 10-40 messages per 3-hour window depending on server load.
Best For: Casual users exploring ChatGPT before committing to a subscription.
ChatGPT Go: Budget Tier (New)
Cost: $8/month (testing in US, February 2026)
February 2026 Features:
- Mid-tier access between Free and Plus
- Includes ads in responses
- Higher limits than Free
- Some GPT-5 access
Note: This tier is currently in limited testing. OpenAI is experimenting with ad-supported pricing to make AI more accessible.
ChatGPT Plus: Power User Plan
Cost: $20/month
February 2026 Features:
- GPT-5.2 access - Current flagship model
- Codex desktop app - Native coding assistant
- Sora 2 - Video generation
- Higher message limits
- DALL-E image generation
- Advanced Voice mode
- Web browsing with real-time data
- Custom GPTs creation and use
- File uploads and analysis
Our February 2026 Plus Testing:
Plus at $20/month is still excellent value. The Codex desktop app alone - included free for subscribers - would cost significantly more via API.
Real-World Plus Capacity:
- Writing Projects: 5,000-10,000 words per day
- Coding Sessions: 3-4 hour sessions with Codex
- Document Analysis: Process 50+ page PDFs
- Video Generation: Limited Sora 2 access
Best For: Professionals using ChatGPT 1+ hours daily. At $20/month, Plus pays for itself if you’d otherwise spend $30+ on API calls.
ChatGPT Pro Lite: New Middle Tier (Coming Soon)
Cost: $100/month (discovered February 21, 2026)
Expected Features:
- Everything in Plus
- Higher limits than Plus
- More Codex/agentic compute
- Possibly early access to new features
- Bridges the $20→$200 gap
Why Pro Lite Matters: The jump from $20 (Plus) to $200 (Pro) has long been criticized as too steep. Pro Lite at $100 targets freelancers, researchers, and developers who hit Plus rate limits but can’t justify Pro pricing. It may also support always-on agentic capabilities that require more compute than standard chat.
ChatGPT Pro: Maximum Access
Cost: $200/month
February 2026 Features:
- Everything in Plus, AND:
- Unlimited access - No message caps
- o3 pro mode - Extended reasoning for complex problems
- Highest priority during demand spikes
- Early access to new features
- Best-in-class response times
- Full Codex capabilities
Who Needs Pro?
Pro at $200/month is 10x Plus. Our testing found it worthwhile only if you:
- Hit Plus limits multiple times weekly
- Need o3 pro for complex research/math
- Require guaranteed uptime for client-facing work
- Use ChatGPT 6+ hours daily
- Run intensive agentic/Codex workflows
Team Plan: Collaborative Workspace
Cost: $25/user/month (annual) or $30/user/month (monthly)
February 2026 Features:
- Everything in Plus for all team members
- Admin console for user management
- Shared custom GPTs across team
- Higher message limits than Plus
- No training on your data
Enterprise Plan: Custom Solutions
Cost: Custom pricing (typically $50-60+/user/month)
February 2026 Features:
- Unlimited high-speed access
- Enterprise-grade security (SSO, SCIM)
- Dedicated support
- Custom data retention
- Advanced analytics
ChatGPT API Pricing (February 2026)
Full API Pricing Table (Per Million Tokens)
| Model | Input | Cached Input | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.2 | $1.75 | $0.175 | $14.00 |
| GPT-5.2 pro | $21.00 | - | $168.00 |
| GPT-5.1 | $1.25 | $0.125 | $10.00 |
| GPT-5 | $1.25 | $0.125 | $10.00 |
| GPT-5 mini | $0.25 | $0.025 | $2.00 |
| GPT-5 nano | $0.05 | $0.005 | $0.40 |
| GPT-5.1-Codex | $1.25 | $0.125 | $10.00 |
| codex-mini-latest | $1.50 | - | $6.00 |
| GPT-4.1 | $2.00 | $0.50 | $8.00 |
| GPT-4.1 mini | $0.40 | $0.10 | $1.60 |
| GPT-4.1 nano | $0.10 | $0.025 | $0.40 |
| o4-mini | $1.10 | - | $4.40 |
| o3 | $2.00 | - | $8.00 |
| o3 pro | $20.00 | - | $80.00 |
| o1 pro | $150.00 | - | $600.00 |
Video & Image Generation
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Sora 2 | $0.10/second |
| Sora 2 Pro | $0.30/second |
| Sora 2 Pro (4K) | $0.50/second |
| GPT-image-1.5 | $5.00/$10.00 per M tokens |
| GPT-image-1 | $5.00 per M input tokens |
Realtime API
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| gpt-realtime | $4.00/M | $16.00/M |
| gpt-realtime-mini | $0.60/M | $2.40/M |
ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini Pricing Comparison
| Feature | ChatGPT Plus | Claude Pro | Gemini Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $20 | $20 | $19.99 |
| Best Model | GPT-5.2 | Opus 4.6 | Gemini 3 |
| Coding Model | GPT-5.3-Codex | Claude Code | Gemini Code Assist |
| Image Gen | DALL-E, Sora ✓ | Limited | Imagen (limited) |
| Video Gen | Sora 2 ✓ | None | Veo (limited) |
| Voice Mode | Advanced Voice | Basic | Gemini Live |
| Desktop App | Codex (macOS) | Claude Desktop | None |
| Best For | Coding, creative | Writing, analysis | Google Workspace |
Our Recommendation: For coding and agentic tasks, ChatGPT with GPT-5.3-Codex leads. For long-form writing and analysis, Claude Opus 4.6 excels. For Google Workspace users, Gemini Pro integrates seamlessly.
FAQ: ChatGPT Pricing (February 2026)
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes, ChatGPT offers a Free plan with GPT-4o access. However, it has significant limits and lacks GPT-5.2, Codex, DALL-E, Sora, and Advanced Voice features.
What’s the difference between ChatGPT Plus and Pro?
Plus ($20/month) provides GPT-5.2 and Codex access with high message limits. Pro ($200/month) adds unlimited access, o3 pro mode, and maximum priority. A new Pro Lite ($100/month) tier is coming soon.
What is GPT-5.3-Codex?
GPT-5.3-Codex is OpenAI’s latest agentic coding model, released February 5, 2026. It can write code AND operate your computer to complete tasks. It’s available in ChatGPT Plus/Pro and via the Codex desktop app.
Is ChatGPT Plus worth it?
If you use ChatGPT daily for work, Plus at $20/month is excellent value. GPT-5.2 access, Codex, and higher limits support full workdays of AI-assisted work.
How much does the ChatGPT API cost?
API pricing starts at $0.05/$0.40 per million tokens for GPT-5 nano and goes up to $150/$600 for o1 pro. Most developers use GPT-5.2 at $1.75/$14.00 for quality-critical work.
Choosing Your ChatGPT Plan (February 2026)
For Casual Users: Start with Free. Upgrade to Plus when limits frustrate you.
For Professionals: ChatGPT Plus at $20/month is excellent value. The Codex desktop app alone justifies the cost for developers.
For Power Users: Wait for Pro Lite at $100/month if you hit Plus limits but can’t justify Pro. Otherwise, Pro at $200/month provides unlimited access.
For Developers: The API with GPT-5 nano ($0.05/$0.40) handles simple tasks cheaply. Use GPT-5.2 ($1.75/$14.00) or GPT-5.3-Codex when quality matters.
For Teams: Team plan at $25-30/user/month adds admin controls and shared GPTs.
For AI-powered meeting transcription and video analysis, ScreenApp provides unlimited processing without per-minute or per-token fees.
FAQ
Yes, ChatGPT offers a Free plan with GPT-4o access. However, it has significant limits and lacks GPT-5.2, Codex, DALL-E, Sora, and Advanced Voice features.
Plus ($20/month) provides GPT-5.2 and Codex access with high message limits. Pro ($200/month) adds unlimited access, o3 pro mode, and maximum priority. A new Pro Lite ($100/month) tier is coming soon.
GPT-5.3-Codex is OpenAI's latest agentic coding model, released February 5, 2026. It can write code AND operate your computer to complete tasks. It's available in ChatGPT Plus/Pro and via the Codex desktop app.
If you use ChatGPT daily for work, Plus at $20/month is excellent value. GPT-5.2 access, Codex, and higher limits support full workdays of AI-assisted work.
API pricing starts at $0.05/$0.40 per million tokens for GPT-5 nano and goes up to $150/$600 for o1 pro. Most developers use GPT-5.2 at $1.75/$14.00 for quality-critical work.
