OpenAI suspends $200 Pro signups as Astra surges

OpenAI has temporarily halted new sign-ups and upgrades to its $200-a-month ChatGPT Pro plan following a surge in demand for its newly released GPT-6 Astra model. The restriction, implemented on September 10, only affects the Pro $200 tier, also known as Pro 20X. Existing subscribers on this plan continue to have access, while the lower-priced Pro $100 option remains available for purchase or renewal.

OpenAI product leader Thibault Sottiaux explained that the company chose to limit the highest-usage tier due to the strain it places on its systems, aiming to provide the broadest possible access. Other paid plans, including Go and Plus, as well as API access, remain unaffected. OpenAI has not disclosed when it will resume new subscriptions to the $200 Pro tier, only stating that it is adding capacity as quickly as possible.

The pause comes after Sottiaux described the demand for Astra as "unprecedented" a day earlier, and the company has warned that new Pro subscriptions could be suspended if pressure continues. OpenAI describes Astra as its most capable broadly deployed model, with advanced features in computer use, browsing, software engineering, science, and professional work.

The model has also received stricter safeguards due to OpenAI classifying its cybersecurity capability as "Critical" under its Preparedness Framework. Astra was rolled out across various ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise accounts, as well as through OpenAI's API and major cloud platforms. OpenAI initially provided access to a limited set of organizations before expanding availability to paying ChatGPT users.

The $200 Pro pause does not impact existing subscribers, who can retain their Pro $200 access until their billing cycle ends.