OpenAI looks to take on Anthropic with $100 per month ChatGPT Pro subscriptions

On Wednesday, OpenAI revealed a new Pro tier for its ChatGPT offering, designed to enhance the capabilities of Codex, the AI-driven coding assistant. This move aims to directly compete with Anthropic's widely-adopted Claude Code. The newly introduced Pro subscription, priced at $100 per month, significantly increases Codex's usage limits, providing five times more access compared to the existing $20 Plus plan. OpenAI emphasized that while the Plus plan remains ideal for regular daily engagement with Codex, the Pro tier is tailored for users requiring extensive, high-effort coding sessions. With the launch of this Pro tier, OpenAI now offers five subscription options for individual users: Free, Go, Plus, and two levels of Pro, including a previously established $200/month tier. In contrast, Anthropic's Claude Code, released to the public in May 2025, features a similar tier structure with four pricing levels, including a $100/month Max 5x plan and a $200/month Max 20x plan, both offering enhanced limits for usage. Codex, which automates software development tasks and bug fixes, has witnessed a remarkable rise in popularity. As reported by CNBC, the tool's revenue run rate surpassed $2.5 billion in February, marking a growth of over 100% since early 2026. OpenAI initially launched Codex in April and began widespread availability in October. CEO Sam Altman recently shared on X that Codex has reached three million weekly users, with plans to reset usage limits at every million-user milestone until the platform achieves a target of 10 million. In a bid to expand its user base amidst the increasing demand for AI coding solutions, OpenAI launched a standalone Codex app for Apple computers in February, further solidifying its presence in the evolving tech landscape.