OpenAI announced it is removing limits on text-based chats for all ChatGPT users, including free subscribers, as the platform surpasses 1 billion weekly users for the first time.
The company said in a blog post that GPT-5.6 Luna will become the default model for Free and Go users, replacing GPT-5.5. The updated GPT-5.6 Sol model is also available to Plus and Pro users starting today, with the broader rollout for free users arriving this week.
Starting next week, free-tier users will gain access to unlimited text chats and a new Think button designed to help with more complex questions, subject to abuse guardrails. File uploads, image generation, and other tools will remain limited under the existing tier structure.
The move marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s monetization strategy. By removing the text chat cap for free users, the company appears to be prioritizing scale and user engagement over direct subscription revenue from its most basic tier. The 1 billion weekly user milestone underscores how central ChatGPT has become to daily internet usage.
GPT-5.6 represents the latest iteration in OpenAI’s rapid model release cadence. The Luna variant is a lighter, more efficient version optimized for the volume demands of free-tier usage, while Sol targets paying users who need higher intelligence levels for professional and creative tasks.
The announcement comes as OpenAI faces intensifying competition from Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude, both of which have made aggressive moves to attract developers and consumers. By making text chats unlimited for everyone, OpenAI raises the bar for rivals who still impose message caps on free tiers.
Analysts note the strategy mirrors tactics used by social media platforms in their early growth phases, where removing friction for free users drives adoption that can later be monetized through premium features, enterprise contracts, or hardware integration.
OpenAI’s subscription pricing remains unchanged: the Go plan costs $8 per month, Plus is $20, and Pro tiers range from $100 to $200. The free tier’s new unlimited text access is expected to increase pressure on competitors to match or exceed OpenAI’s generosity.
Sources: TechCrunch, OpenAI
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