Proposal for an Intermediate Tier or Pay-Per-Use Option for Deep Research in ChatGPT

I’m a dedicated individual ChatGPT Plus user and a strong advocate for your technology. I use the platform for PERSONAL research, and do NOT abuse the system. The platform’s ability to generate deep, research-backed, citation-driven responses is unparalleled — BUT this capacity is heavily restricted at the Plus level.

Here’s the core issue:

Plus ($20/month) offers excellent general access, but significantly limits high-compute, long-context, or “Deep Research” requests.
Pro ($200/month) unlocks these features — but is simply not affordable for most individual users, including students, educators, and independent researchers.

:bullseye: What I’m Proposing:

1. Intermediate Tier (~$40/month)

  • Higher message caps
  • Extended access to “deep research” tasks (e.g., advanced web access, citations, fact-checking, reasoning)
  • Optional add-ons: advanced memory, etc.

2. A-La-Carte" or Per-Use “Deep Research Tokens”

  • Pay-as-you-go model for occasional high-compute or multi-source synthesis
  • Reasonable pricing (e.g., $5–10 for 10–15 intensive requests)

3. Additional Pro+ or Corporate Tier

  • Increase rates for enterprise users who can afford and justify it
  • Use additional revenue to support more accessible options for regular individuals

:white_check_mark: Why This Matters

  • I’m not a company or developer — just a committed user who values factual, high-quality responses.
  • I’m willing to pay more than $20/month, but cannot afford much more.
  • Many thoughtful users are being excluded from advanced capabilities simply due to cost.

OpenAI has built something world-changing. Now let’s make sure it’s accessible to more of the world — not just those who can afford $200/month.

THANK YOU for listening.

Sincerely,
A ChatGPT Plus Subscriber
Advocate for Equitable, Scalable Access