Summary
- Recent findings in ChatGPT's website code and shared screenshots reveal a potential "Pro Max" subscription tier priced at $500 per month.
- This plan seems to focus on enhancing processing speed for OpenAI's "Work" and "Codex" tools rather than increasing usage limits, with some suggesting Cerebras may be behind this boost.
- OpenAI has yet to officially announce the Pro Max plan, but its DevDay event, where new pricing options are often revealed, is set for September 29.
OpenAI is reportedly testing a new subscription tier for ChatGPT, dubbed Pro Max, which would carry a monthly fee of $500. This is significantly higher than the $20 ChatGPT Plus plan and more than double the $200 Pro tier that was introduced in December 2024.
The changes were first noticed by independent researcher Tibor Blaho, who discovered them in hidden logs.
OpenAI is preparing a new higher-tier ChatGPT Pro plan pic.twitter.com/EqRpODLqVs
— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) September 24, 2026
Leak tracker TestingCatalog confirmed the existence of the new tier, although the price was initially unknown. A subsequent user shared a screenshot revealing the $500 monthly fee.
500 usd. pic.twitter.com/jPJS6i7kEh
— mobile dev (@mobiledev123494) September 24, 2026
Another prominent leaker, Chetaslua, shared a screenshot showing the Pro Max tier within ChatGPT's interface. Initially speculating a price as high as $2,000, they later confirmed the $500 figure. It remains unclear whether the interface shown is a leak or a mockup, but it aligns with the ongoing rumors.
🚨 ChatGPT Pro Max $500
> only line that changes on Max : "Fastest Work and Codex"
but the Cerebras part doesn't make sense
> Cerebras' own pitch = 21x faster at 1/3 the cost of B200 https://t.co/RQilrTT58x pic.twitter.com/mcVw81xvHV
— Chetaslua (@chetaslua) September 25, 2026
With OpenAI's DevDay conference approaching on September 29, TestingCatalog anticipates more details about the Pro Max plan will be revealed shortly.
Additionally, a Reddit thread on r/ChatGPT has independently confirmed the $500 pricing, with code identifiers for "chatgptpromax" matching those found by leakers.
What does the $500 subscription offer? Unlike the Pro plan, it does not provide additional chats. According to Chetaslua, the primary enhancement is increased speed for two of OpenAI's tools: Work, which facilitates complex research and writing tasks, and Codex, responsible for writing and debugging software code across extended periods.
Myriad: Which company IPOs next? Click to make your prediction.However, Chetaslua raised concerns regarding the pricing strategy. The Pro Max plan is expected to utilize Cerebras as its inference provider—a company known for its large-scale processors designed to enhance data processing speed, surpassing the capabilities of smaller Nvidia chips. Inference refers to the moment an AI model generates responses, distinct from its training phase.
Cerebras claims its technology is 21 times quicker than Nvidia's B200 chips while being a third of the cost, prompting questions about why the Pro Max plan would carry a $300 premium over the existing Pro plan if it relies on cheaper, faster hardware.
Additional benefits reportedly include enhanced memory allocation and 100GB of file storage, as per screenshots examined by various outlets following the leaks.
OpenAI has yet to publicly comment on the Pro Max plan, and nothing is confirmed until the company releases an official statement. However, the timing is notable, as DevDay is just days away, and the event has historically been a platform for announcing new pricing structures.
At $500 per month, this new tier would significantly exceed the pricing of competitors. For context, Anthropic’s top-tier Claude Max plan ranges from $100 to $200 monthly, and Google recently reduced its AI Ultra plan from $250 to $100 a month in May.