OpenAI Reinstates Strict Usage Limits for ChatGPT Plus

OpenAI has officially announced the return of a strict five-hour usage limit on Codex tools and ChatGPT Work environments for standard ChatGPT Plus subscribers. The new rules took effect on August 25, 2026, ending a six-week period of unlimited access that began on July 13. As a reminder, during the launch of the GPT-5.6 Sol model, the company temporarily removed the cap, allowing users to work with code with minimal restrictions.

Why OpenAI Is Reintroducing Limits

Thibault Sottio, engineering lead for Codex and ChatGPT, explained the decision with two reasons. First, the five-hour intervals help balance computational load on servers, preventing critical overloads. Second, the limit acts as a safeguard for regular users: previously, some would exhaust their entire weekly quota in a single session, losing access to the service for the remainder of the week.

Who Is Exempt From the Changes

The company has decided to shield its high-end clients from these restrictions. Subscribers to the premium Pro $100 (90 EUR, 4,125 UAH) and Pro $200 (180 EUR, 8,250 UAH) plans will be able to continue working without the 5-hour limits. Enterprise and Edu account holders will also see no changes, as their operations are governed by a separate credit-based model.

Quota Reset Schedule

To soften the transition, OpenAI performed a full reset of weekly limits for all affected accounts on August 25, 2026 (as of 00:00 Kyiv time, and the publication time of August 25, 2026). The next scheduled reset is set for September 1, 2026. Once the limit is reached, users must wait for the cycle to end or purchase additional credits.

Is ChatGPT Plus Still Worth It

The standard Plus plan has become less attractive for developers and users whose work requires constant interaction with Codex. If you rely heavily on code automation capabilities, the rigid 5-hour limit may become a critical factor, forcing you to consider upgrading to Pro-level plans.