OpenAI Expands o1 Model Access: New Limits for Free and Plus Users

Just days after the launch of its powerful o1 models, OpenAI has responded to the high demand of it's o1 models by expanding access limits. Here’s what both free and paid users can expect from the update.

Expanded Limits for Plus and Teams Users

Last week, OpenAI introduced the new o1 models, which quickly saw users reaching message limits. In response, OpenAI announced on Monday that it would increase the limits for both the o1-preview and o1-mini models. For ChatGPT Plus and Teams users, the limits for o1-mini have been increased sevenfold, jumping from 50 messages per week to 50 per day. The o1-preview limits also saw an increase, moving from 30 messages per week to 50 messages per week, though this model remains slightly more costly due to its capabilities.

These expanded limits are available to users with a ChatGPT Plus subscription, priced at $20 per month. For individuals who rely heavily on coding in their daily workflow, this higher access may justify the cost. ZDNET’s David Gewirtz tested the o1-preview model and reported impressive results, including generating detailed code solutions, such as writing a WordPress plugin and identifying bugs.

Benefits for Non-Coders and General Users

Even if you aren’t a coder or developer, the o1 models offer enhanced reasoning capabilities. These models process queries longer before generating responses, delivering more thorough answers to complex prompts. However, the o1-preview and o1-mini models lack internet browsing and media upload features, meaning GPT-4o remains a better option for most general use cases.

Access for Free Users

At launch, OpenAI announced plans to bring the o1-mini model to free users, though the exact timeline was unclear. Some users have already begun accessing o1-mini through the free version of ChatGPT. To check if you have access, head to the model selector toggle at the top, click on “Alpha Models,” and choose o1-mini. If it’s not available, it may not yet be rolled out to your account.

While the message limit for free users remains unspecified, it’s likely lower than that for Plus subscribers, making it more suitable for users looking to experiment rather than incorporate the model into daily workflows. However, the o1-mini model offers a great opportunity for free users to test out OpenAI’s latest capabilities at no cost.