{"slug": "chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand", "title": "ChatGPT Pro $200 Subscriptions On Pause After ‘Unprecedented’ Astra Demand", "summary": "OpenAI has temporarily paused new subscriptions to its $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan, citing system strain from \"unprecedented\" demand for the GPT-6 Astra model launched Sept. 3. Thibault Sottiaux, OpenAI's head of core product and platform, announced the pause on X, saying the Pro plan puts the most strain on OpenAI's systems and that the company is taking \"the smallest step that allows us to continue giving the broadest access possible.\" Plus and Go subscriptions remain open, existing Pro subscribers keep normal service, and OpenAI has not given a timeline for restoring Pro availability.", "body_md": "You can’t set up a new subscription to ChatGPT Pro right now, even if you're willing to spend the $200 a month required for access. OpenAI has temporarily paused subscriptions to its top personal plan, citing system strain following the launch of its new [GPT-6 Astra model](/ai/119690/gpt-6-astra-is-here-what-you-need-to-know-about-chatgpts-new-model).\n\nThibault Sottiaux, head of core product and platform at OpenAI, took to X to announce the pause. He said, “To make sure our current users have an incredible experience and continued access to Astra, we are going to pause subscriptions to our $200 Pro plan. These put the most strain on our systems and we wanted to take the smallest step that allows us to continue giving the broadest access possible.”\n\nChatGPT’s other monthly plans, including the more limited Plus and the lower-cost Go, will continue to accept new subscriptions. If you’re desperate to try Astra, you can use it through a Plus subscription, but it won't allow for as much usage as a Pro sub.\n\nThis came a day after Sottiaux [warned](https://x.com/thsottiaux/status/2097559315150426222?s=20) that demand for Astra may require it to change its systems to handle what he called “unprecedented” demand. On Sept. 9, Sottiaux said, “We're pulling all the levers possible to sustain the demand, but I've not seen anything like it until now and we went through very steep growth before. Priority will always be to keep excellent service for existing users.”\n\nIf you have an existing Pro subscription, your service will continue as per normal. OpenAI says it's also working hard to add more capacity to help existing users.\n\nIt’s unclear how long it will take for availability on the Pro tier to return. OpenAI hasn’t shared a timeline or any further details around the demand, such as an increase in users.\n\nGPT-6 Astra was first launched on Sept. 3, with access to the model on Business, Enterprise, Plus, and Pro versions of the AI chatbot. OpenAI called it the “world’s most intelligent and aligned model,” citing its strength in browsing, computing, cybersecurity, software engineering, and more.\n\n*Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.*", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand", "canonical_source": "https://au.pcmag.com/ai/119854/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand", "published_at": "2026-09-11 09:37:40+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-11 10:01:41.537567+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "large-language-models", "ai-products", "generative-ai"], "entities": ["OpenAI", "ChatGPT Pro", "GPT-6 Astra", "Thibault Sottiaux", "ChatGPT Plus", "ChatGPT Go", "Ziff Davis", "PCMag"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/chatgpt-pro-200-subscriptions-on-pause-after-unprecedented-astra-demand.jsonld"}}