OpenAI temporarily suspended new sign-ups and upgrades to ChatGPT's $200-per-month Pro 20x plan starting September 10. Users on the Free, Go, Plus, and $100-per-month Pro plans cannot migrate to this tier for the time being. However, the usage and automatic renewals for users already paying $200 per month will remain unchanged.

The background lies in the surge in demand for Astra. OpenAI's Tibo explained that demand is at an unprecedented level, stating that new sales of the $200 plan—which places the heaviest burden on the system—are being halted to protect access and service quality for existing users. He added that other subscription plans and the API remain available, and work to increase available capacity is currently underway.

For existing subscribers, the conditions following cancellation are crucial. Even if a user schedules a cancellation or a downgrade to a lower tier, they can continue using Pro 20x until their current billing cycle ends, and they can reverse the scheduled change before then. However, once the subscription actually terminates, they will not be able to re-subscribe until the sales suspension is lifted.

The '20x' does not refer to a model name, but rather a subscription tier that offers 20 times the usage of Plus. The $100-per-month Pro plan, which offers 5 times the usage of Plus, remains open for new sign-ups. OpenAI's official notice has not yet provided a resumption date for new sales of the $200 plan.