OpenAI launches $100/month ChatGPT Pro tier to compete with Anthropic's Claude Code
OpenAI announced a $100 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription tier offering five times more Codex usage than its existing $20 Plus plan. The move directly challenges Anthropic's Claude Code, which generated over $2.5 billion in run-rate revenue in February with 100%+ growth since the start of 2026. Codex now has three million weekly active users.
OpenAI Launches $100/Month ChatGPT Pro to Challenge Anthropic's Claude Code
OpenAI introduced a new $100 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription tier on Wednesday, expanding its coding assistant pricing structure to directly compete with Anthropic's high-tier Claude Code offerings.
Key Details
The new Pro tier provides five times more Codex usage than the existing $20/month Plus plan and is positioned for "longer, high-effort Codex sessions." This marks OpenAI's second Pro tier—the company previously offered a $200/month Pro level—bringing total personal subscription tiers to five: Free, Go, Plus, and two Pro levels.
OpenAI's announcement came via X, with the company stating: "The Plus plan will continue to be the best offer at $20 for steady, day-to-day usage of Codex, and the new $100 Pro tier offers a more accessible upgrade path for heavier daily use."
Anthropic's Competitive Position
Anthropus launched Claude Code publicly in May 2025 and has established a four-tier subscription model. Its highest tiers—Max 5x at $100/month and Max 20x at $200/month—offer elevated Claude Code usage limits compared to its Pro subscription.
The competitive pressure is substantial: Claude Code generated $2.5 billion in run-rate revenue in February 2026, representing growth exceeding 100% since the beginning of 2026. The tool automates tasks and bug fixes for software developers and has become a primary battleground for AI coding assistant adoption.
OpenAI's Codex Momentum
OpenAI launched Codex in April 2025 and made it widely available in October. According to CEO Sam Altman, the tool reached three million weekly active users as of Tuesday. The company stated it would reset usage limits every million users until reaching 10 million.
In February 2026, OpenAI launched a standalone Codex app for Apple computers, signaling aggressive expansion efforts in the consumer AI coding space.
What This Means
OpenAI's new tier pricing ($100/month) directly mirrors Anthropic's Max 5x tier, indicating a deliberate move to capture price-sensitive developers willing to pay for significant usage increases. This mirrors traditional SaaS pricing strategies where companies offer tiered access rather than functionality differentiation. The move acknowledges that Anthropic's first-mover advantage with Claude Code has created substantial revenue momentum, forcing OpenAI to restructure its pricing to compete on usage quotas rather than innovation velocity. Both companies are now locked in a developer-focused subscription war where monthly limits and usage resets will likely become the primary competitive lever for the foreseeable future.
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