ChatGPT remains the default starting point for most people discovering conversational AI, and that reputation is largely earned. The Plus plan at $20/mo hits a real sweet spot: you get access to GPT-5.5, Sora for video, Codex for coding, and ten Deep Research runs per month. For most professionals, that covers the overwhelming majority of real workloads without hitting hard caps.
Where it starts to show cracks: the free tier has deteriorated. US users now see ads, and the five-hour message window makes it impractical for sustained work. The $200/mo Pro tier is genuinely powerful but priced for people who use AI as their primary work tool all day. If you fall between free and Pro, Plus is the right call and has held at $20 for three years.