(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
OpenAI's ChatGPT ushered in a new era of AI-powered chatbots that can answer questions, provide information, generate content, create code, and much more. The free version is skilled enough to respond to a host of questions and requests. It has also added new features over the years, including access to GPT-5, a lighter version of Deep Research, an option to organize your ChatGPT conversations into projects, and the ability to download custom GPTs from the GPT Store. Still, there are perks you can only get by becoming a paid subscriber.
For $20 per month, you get early access to new features and can try multiple modes from the GPT-5 model. Subscribers can also tap into legacy AI models, which many people prefer to the latest version. You even gain access to the Sora video generator. And though everyone has access to millions of custom GPTs from OpenAI’s GPT Store, only a Plus subscription allows you to create your own GPTs.
How to Get ChatGPT Plus
ChatGPT Plus is accessible from the ChatGPT website, desktop app, Chrome extension, and mobile app (iOS, Android). Assuming you already have a free account, click the Upgrade plan option at the bottom of the left sidebar, then click the Get Plus button. Enter your contact and payment information, then click Subscribe. Is ChatGPT worth the monthly subscription? You’ll have to decide that for yourself. But here are seven reasons why you might want to shell out the money.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)1. Access Different GPT-5 Modes
For free users, GPT-5 decides on its own how best to respond to your request, choosing a quick answer, longer and deeper thinking, or another variation. That has ticked off some people who would rather choose how the AI should respond. That choice has been reserved for paid subscribers. Using a ChatGPT Plus plan, you can select the ChatGPT 5 entry at the top and select among several options. Choose Auto to have ChatGPT decide how to answer your request. This is the AI's default setting. You can change it to Instant for quick answers right away, Thinking mini for quick thinking, and Thinking for longer thinking and better answers.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)2. Access Legacy AI Models
The free version of ChatGPT limits you to the new GPT-5 model. Though that sounds like a good thing, many have found the new model to be lacking and prefer the older versions. If you have a Plus account, you can easily turn to one of the older models to see how they handle your request. To do this, select ChatGPT 5 at the top, choose Legacy models, and then pick GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, o4-mini, or o3. You may want to try out each of them to see which one serves you best.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)3. Use Sora Video Generation
With the OpenAI’s Sora video generator, you can generate videos by describing what you want, uploading a still image, or even starting with a clip of your own. You’re also able to adjust the duration, speed, aspect ratio, and other attributes. And with a Storyboard option, you can create an entire video sequence by describing each action. Sounds cool, right? But Sora isn’t available for free users. To cook up your own videos, you’ll need a paid subscription. If you’re onboard, here’s how it works.
Click the Sora entry in the left sidebar. That takes you directly to the Sora website. Here, you can check out videos devised by other people. When you’re ready to generate your own, type your description at the prompt or upload an existing image or video. In response, Sora creates and displays the videos. You can then change it by revising the description, trimming or extending it, remixing it, or blending it with another video.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)4. Use the Full Deep Research
Many AIs offer a deep research mode in which they browse the web to find the information you seek and then compile all the data into a report for your review. ChatGPT provides two types of deep research—a lightweight version and a full version. The lightweight flavor is available to free and paid users, while the full version is available only to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. That’s an advantage because the full version typically delivers more in-depth and well-researched information.
To try this out at the ChatGPT website or app, select the plus icon and choose Deep Research. Type your query at the prompt and then submit it. The AI will then take to the web to research your topic, a process that could take some time. After ChatGPT has finished, it will display a detailed report for you to read and review.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)5. Use ChatGPT in Agent Mode
Agentic AI is a growing trend in which you can give the AI a specific task to complete with little or no involvement on your part. For example, you can ask the agent to set reminders, schedule appointments, send an email, create a spreadsheet, add a specific product to an online retailer’s shopping cart, or book a hotel reservation. ChatGPT Plus gives subscribers access to this kind of service.
To try it out, select the plus icon and choose Agent mode. At the prompt, type the task you want the AI to accomplish for you. If the task is doable and supported by the website involved in the activity, the agent should then be able to accomplish its mission, albeit with your consent at some point along the way. Take note that some tasks can be tricky to pull off, since they involve personal information, such as account credentials or financial data. Plus, many websites don’t yet support this type of interaction with a bot. Still, there’s potential here to save time with an AI agent.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)6. Create Your Own GPTs
OpenAI offers its own GPT Store stocked with millions of chatbots, or custom GPTs created by users. Anyone can access the store and use a custom GPT, but only Plus subscribers can create their own. To get started, you’ll need to set up a builder profile. Click your name at the top of the right sidebar in ChatGPT and go to Settings > Builder profile. Add your name or a website domain, depending on which you want to use for publishing your GPTs, and fill out any requested information.
Click your name at the top right and select My GPTs > Create a GPT > Create to have ChatGPT guide you through the process. You can also click the Configure button to manually set up the GPT. When you’re done, test it to make sure it works as intended. Click the Save button in the upper right to finalize changes. If you want to keep it private, select Only me or Anyone with a link. Want to publish the custom GPT to the GPT Store for everyone to use? Select the Everyone option instead.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)7. Access New Features
OpenAI periodically tries to beef up ChatGPT with new features designed to expand the AI’s capabilities. As a ChatGPT Plus subscriber, you typically get first dibs on any new and improved items. To see the latest features available, select your name at the bottom and choose Settings > Account to view the current benefits.
(Credit: PCMag / ChatGPT)