OpenAI is reportedly preparing a mid-tier subscription called Pro Lite priced at about $100 per month, positioned between the Plus ($20) and Pro ($200) plans.

Pro Lite would offer significantly higher usage limits—estimates range from three to five times more access—and could include better support for Codex, marking a genuine upgrade rather than a stripped-down Pro.

The plan aims to fill a pricing gap for power users who hit Plus limits but do not need full Pro access, potentially including Codex usage for paying customers.

The plan has been spotted in the front-end ChatGPT web app code, but OpenAI has not officially confirmed its existence or details.

The move comes amid OpenAI’s challenging year, with high compute costs and a projected annual loss, prompting exploration of new revenue streams.

No official release date or feature list has been announced; industry observers expect announcements possibly soon, and the tier could pressure competitors who don’t offer a mid-tier at this price.

The timing follows a hiring move to develop personal agents, suggesting potential always-on, agent-based features that would require higher compute costs.

Competition is intensifying as rivals gain ground, with market dynamics including enterprise spending shifts and user backlash over related product retirements adding pressure.

Industry context shows OpenAI seeking to preserve accessibility while expanding tiered options to compete with Claude Max and other mid-tier offerings.

The existence of Pro Lite was highlighted by a Vienna-based engineer known for exposing unreleased OpenAI features ahead of launch.

Related tech developments, like a possible ChatGPT-powered smart speaker with a camera, are noted but ancillary to Pro Lite.

While there is no official date or feature list yet, past leaks suggest a fast-iteration pattern that could bring Pro Lite to light soon.