What ChatGPT is best at
- Everyday questions, life admin and voice conversations
- People who want one app that does a bit of everything
- Image generation and quick creative work built into chat
Where it isn’t the answer
Long-form writing that must not sound AI-generated - Claude usually reads more human.
Plans & pricing
The story so far
- Nov 2022ChatGPT launches on GPT-3.5 - the fastest-growing app in history
- Mar 2023GPT-4 arrives; the "it can reason now" moment
- May 2024GPT-4o makes voice and vision feel native
- 2025GPT-5 generation lands with unified reasoning
- Jan 16, 2026The $8/mo Go tier goes global, undercutting every rival
- Jul 9, 2026GPT-5.6 splits into three variants: Luna, Terra and Sol
- Sep 2026Luna becomes the free default with unlimited text chats and a Think button
- Sep 3, 2026GPT-6 Astra arrives: a new generation aimed at computer use, browsing and long professional work
Questions people actually ask
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes, and more so than before. Since August 2026 free accounts get unlimited text chats on GPT-5.6 Luna, ad-supported in the US. Go at $8/month and Plus at $20/month lift the limits and unlock the full lineup.
What is GPT-5.6 Luna vs Terra vs Sol?
OpenAI split the model into three variants in July 2026. Luna is the fast, cheap one and now the free default. Terra is the everyday balance. Sol is the deepest reasoner, and Plus and Pro users get a slider that sets how hard it thinks.
What is GPT-6 Astra?
OpenAI’s flagship, released September 3, 2026. It holds about a million tokens, and OpenAI positions it as state of the art on computer use, browsing, software engineering and professional work. It reaches Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise plans as well as the API.
What does the OpenAI API cost?
Per million input tokens: $0.20 on GPT-5.6 Luna, $2 on Terra, $4 on Sol (a promotional rate running at least to November 21, 2026) and $10 on GPT-6 Astra. Prompts past 272K tokens move to a higher long-context rate.
What is ChatGPT best at?
Being good at everything at once: everyday questions, voice, images, and the largest plugin and app ecosystem of any assistant.