Is ChatGPT Plus Actually Worth $20/Month in 2025? A Hands-On Review for AI Power Users

Twenty bucks a month isn’t a huge spend—but back then, it felt like a “nice to have,” not a need. I was using the free version for brainstorming, outlining blog content, and experimenting with prompts here and there. Useful, but not exactly mission critical.

Then I hit a wall.

High demand errors. Sluggish response times. Losing context halfway through longer conversations. It started slowing me down—especially when I needed to get content out or refine prompts for work. So I upgraded.

And yeah, that decision flipped everything.

The biggest perk? Full access to GPT-4.5.

Compared to GPT-4-o (the current free model), GPT-4.5 is sharper. It tracks long-form conversations more reliably, nails tone shifts better, and rarely needs re-prompting. According to OpenAI, it’s one of their most refined language models yet.

I’ve used it to:

• Break down dense research into plain-English blog summaries
• Iterate on prompt ideas for my Prompt Vault and toolkits
• Outline my thoughts before writing longer SOPs or tutorials
• Test and refine AI workflows before turning them into real-world processes

If you’ve ever lost a good idea mid-convo because the model “forgot,” this upgrade fixes that.

Before Plus, I’d try to log in during work hours and hit that dreaded “high demand” message. If you’ve got deadlines, you can’t afford that. As a Plus user, you skip the traffic jam.

I use ChatGPT while juggling multiple tabs and tasks—whether I’m writing, researching, or just brainstorming ideas. The speed bump you get with Plus feels like upgrading to fiber after dealing with dial-up. It’s just… smoother.

Vision tools. File uploads. Voice input. Live web browsing. If OpenAI’s testing something new, Plus users get first dibs. I used the file analysis feature last week to summarize a 38-page whitepaper in less than two minutes.

It wasn’t just accurate—it pulled out key takeaways, created follow-up questions, and even drafted a LinkedIn post. According to this write-up on early feature rollouts, Plus users typically get features 2–4 weeks ahead of the free tier.

This one deserves its own section.

Custom GPTs are like building your own mini-assistants. I’ve built three:

• One that writes and rewrites prompt formulas in my style
• One trained on productivity books that summarizes and formats SOPs
• One that acts as a critique partner for my newsletter content

They remember tone, style, and behavior. You can feed them PDFs, give them your rules, and turn them into repeatable tools.

If you’re curious how to build one, I wrote this full walkthrough: How to Build a Custom GPT That Actually Works

GPT-4.5 with browsing unlocked is ridiculous. I was testing AI calendar tools for a blog post and asked for pros/cons across five platforms. It pulled reviews, pricing breakdowns, Reddit feedback, and gave me a clean summary with links. Saved me hours.

OpenAI isn’t slowing down. The Sora video engine, plug-and-play API access, and deeper integrations are coming—and Plus users will always be first in line.

If you’re casually using ChatGPT for fun—don’t upgrade.

But if any of this sounds like you:

• You use AI to create content (blogs, scripts, outlines)
• You’re testing or building with prompts
• You manage a business, newsletter, or course
• You want to create reusable GPTs for workflows

…Then this is a no-brainer. Here’s how I personally use it each week:

• Drafting articles for GetPrompting
• Summarizing digital products before reviews
• Testing prompt variants for blog posts
• Writing workflows and SOPs for prompt packs

The time saved alone makes it worth it.

Ask yourself:

• Do I rely on ChatGPT weekly (or daily)?
• Do I hit the free plan’s limits or slowdowns?
• Am I building tools, content, or systems with AI?

If the answer is yes to any of those, ChatGPT Plus is going to pay for itself within a week.

Even just having a Custom GPT that writes email newsletters in your voice? That’s easily worth $20/month in my opinion.

I’ve been on Plus since the early days—and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t change how I work.

Not because it’s flashier. But because it gets out of the way. It helps me think faster, build smarter, and deliver better content with less friction.

Whether you’re drafting a tweet or structuring an entire course, GPT-4.5 just… works. And for creators, marketers, freelancers, and prompt builders? That edge adds up.

👉 I know this is a lot of information to take in but before you go be sure to grab the Free AI Prompting Starter Pack — it’s packed with ready-to-go prompt formulas, productivity prompts, and the Prompt Vault to help you organize your AI workflows.

Whether you stick to the free version or upgrade to Plus, the real win comes from learning to prompt with purpose.

Already on Plus? Don’t miss this: Top 5 Prompting Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To) — it’ll help you stop wasting time and start getting better results.

Talk soon,

Michael
Creator of GetPrompting.com