9.0 / 10
SCORE

ChatGPT Plus Review

Avantaje

• Quite precise
• Effective argument models that are great for study
• Much chats in words mode
• Long-term storage
• Strong graphic technology
• Document and photo study
• GPT design in a custom domain
• Pro of equipment for more market tasks

Contra

• You also hallucinate

ChatGPT has totally changed how I do my work. OpenAI, the inventor of ChatGPT, has released a slew of updates over the past year to improve the AI chatbot’s intelligence, making it more precise, and useful. As a columnist at CNET, I would never use ChatGPT itself to read for me. However, when it comes to researching, I frequently return to ChatGPT to help me locate resources and other pieces of information that would have necessitated days of Google searching or scrubbing through documents on Google Scholar. &nbsp,

And I’m looking forward to the release of GPT-4.5 Research Preview, which is basically a experimental version of the future GPT-4.5 design. While the release was a little weak, with supporters on Reddit complaining that it wasn’t too diverse from 4o, it seems that OpenAI has made changes. In my employ, I discovered that Google’s ability to search the web for rates, such as those from Google executives who were over a century old, was a significant timesaver and more effective than OpenIA’s “reasoning” models. It shows why OpenAI is charging$ 20/month for this company.

( Disclosure: In April, Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, sued OpenAI, alleging that it violated Ziff Davis ‘ copyrights when it trained and ran its AI systems. )

What does$ 20 a month get you?

A ChatGPT Plus membership provides more than just entry to a potent AI robot with stricter level restrictions. Paying for ChatGPT Plus means you’ll move into fewer breaks when traffic is great and gain access to advanced types like 4o and argument concepts such as o1 and o3. Voice talk with memory is available, which means you can make an AI app to engage with and it will recall your previous conversations. Image technology has higher price restrictions, so you can make several pictures without hitting a roof. The Deep Research work, which is intended for areas like financing, science, plan, and engineering, is also only occasionally used. &nbsp,

A Plus membership enables you to build custom GPTs, which are more individualized AI bots that can serve as subject matter experts on a particular task or topic. Of course, if you don’t want to make your own GPT, you may discover a wide selection made by the neighborhood– all available yet to completely users.

A ChatGPT Plus membership is definitely for your purchase if you are becoming more frustrated with Google Search, preferring to have answers quickly delivered to you, or are consistently exceeding rate limits. You won’t simply strike rate limits and may use ChatGPT’s function set to its fullest. Additionally, the advantage of having focus access and greater image generation is a significant plus. &nbsp,

How AI types are evaluated by CNET

Next time, when I did my workout of AI reviews for the release of CNET’s AI Atlas, I treated the AI’s like any other software solution we assessment: using rigorous tests and comparing the results. In the same way that AI benchmarking sites don’t provide a comprehensive picture, which is up for debate, I chose to use a more experiential approach for 2025. Instead of asking AI models the exact same questions and comparing results, I’m just going to report my experiences of&nbsp, living with them, day to day. &nbsp,

Privacy: Don’t upload stuff you wouldn’t want OpenAI to see

Your information won’t be kept private just because you’re paying for a ChatGPT Plus subscription, though. As with any online AI chatbot, any data uploaded can be used. &nbsp,

That’s why you shouldn’t upload sensitive information into ChatGPT or any other AI chatbot. No such things as tax returns, medical records, credit card numbers, login credentials, business records, client data, trade secrets, or any other identifying documents are required. More information can be found at OpenAI’s privacy policy page. &nbsp,

If you’re extra concerned about what data OpenAI might use, it’s possible to opt-out of model training. To do this, go to the ChatGPT settings, select “improve model for everyone,” and then click on Data Controls.

It’s also possible to use ChatGPT in an incognito-like mode via the Temporary Chats function. To activate this mode, click on a dotted-line chat icon in the top-right corner of a new conversation. In this mode, your chat data won’t be stored or used for training purposes. Additionally, it’s possible to delete chat history, which will be removed from OpenAI’s servers after 30 days. &nbsp,

However, some of your data will still be collected by OpenAI. This includes your name, date of birth or other details you shared when opening your account. Additionally, OpenAI will know your device information, such as your IP address and web browser.

ChatGPT Plus is my Google Search companion: Accurate enough, but still needs some fine-tuning

I still default to Google for a large portion of my online search queries. It’s when I’m feeling that Google won’t deliver me the fastest possible answer that I then pull up ChatGPT. For instance, if I’m looking up the most recent information on newspaper closures, that would be a quick Google search. If, instead, I’m trying to ascertain how many publications have closed in the United States since Google jumped on the scene in 1998, that’s a ChatGPT question. These are queries that are frequently more complex than simple keywords and require the analysis of numerous data points over the years. &nbsp,

I’m stepping away from Google and its less accurate AI overviews, so I’m hoping to receive good answers from ChatGPT. In my experience, I’ve found ChatGPT to be very accurate for my purposes, which is gathering and synthesizing information. However, it’s preferable to use ChatGPT as a resource and write your own essays in your own words if you’re a student. Because your professor will find out otherwise. &nbsp,

ChatGPT Plus, running on GPT-4.5 Research Preview, did a good job of compiling sources and putting together a report on Google’s impact on publishers. It also included a dead AP article as a link. Despite how quickly ChatGPT has been improving, it’s still on users to go through and verify the evidence.

Despite that jargon, ChatGPT’s information was reliable, despite the fact that I don’t like how frequently Wikipedia is referenced. As handy as Wikipedia is, you’d be met with scorn by most college professors for listing a volunteer online encyclopedia in your bibliography. &nbsp,

Oddly, when I asked follow-up questions to my initial query, ChatGPT didn’t list any sources.. In these cases, I had to go back to Google to look up relevant articles. At the very least, the information ChatGPT pulled up was correct. &nbsp,

Reasoning models are a game-changer for research

The most significant advantage over the free version is access to the advanced o1 and o3 reasoning models in terms of research. These models spend more time generating text, going back and recursively checking content to make sure information is accurate. These responses can take longer than a minute to produce, and they are better suited for research than quick search queries.

Using o3, I was able to pull together an in-depth timeline and generate a conclusion breaking down the relationship between online publishers and Google in the late 1990s, which led to the free online news model that dominates today. Although it took a minute to respond to any follow-up questions, the content was well worth the wait. ChatGPT’s o3 model explained the Robots Exclusion Protocol, the tools Google released to help it index sites and the concept of First Click Free.

I already knew the majority of this information, but o3 did a fantastic job of discovering all this complex details and history, including significant turning points. It also included sources. &nbsp,

For journalists, students and researchers, having access to o1 and o3 feels almost necessary. O1 and O3 can pull from deep within the internet, making research less of a chore because of Google’s current search paradigm, which frequently prioritizes recency over relevancy. But it’s important to read primary sources to gain a fuller understanding. &nbsp,

ChatGPT Plus image generation is great

I don’t frequently use ChatGPT for image generation because I frequently don’t need to as a writer. But I do play around with it on occasion, trying to mimic images from other” AI artists” I see on Instagram. These AI illustrators frequently conceal the prompts they use so that only their page can display their preferred style. Of course, this mindset is anathema to actual art, which is about sharing techniques and helping others so that the medium itself can evolve, but I digress. &nbsp,

Since I’m not a master in image prompt generation, I took a prompt that was openly available on the platform CivitAI to see how ChatGPT would fare. Above is the screenshot that user Frimm0 created on CivitAI.

Here’s what ChatGPT created when I gave it the same prompt.

A cute, adorable anthropomorphic eyeball monster with round bodies, a plump kiwi shape, fluffy fur, forest, sunlight, and soft natural light appears in ChatGPT with the same prompt. cute, big-eye, adorable, brightly colored, cheerful, anime influence, naughty face, laughing, happy, playful, cheerful, bright, vibrant, light-hearted, characters, digital, fantasy, illustration, manga-anime, portraits, whimsy, 3d-rendering, concept-art, digital, dreaminess, eeriness, photorealism, other-worldliness, realism, science-fiction, surreal, colorful

The ability to avoid rate limitations is ChatGPT Plus’s main benefit. On the free version of ChatGPT, you might end up waiting for more than an hour to generate a single image when servers are being overloaded. Additionally, one generated image might exceed your token limit, making you have to wait hours before beginning a new image creation process. &nbsp,

According to my knowledge, ChatGPT Plus only took two minutes to produce an image. Not only that, a ChatGPT Plus subscription gets you access to Sora, OpenAI’s other tool for image and video creation. It’s best to use Sora with a Plus subscription, even though free users have limited access to it.

ChatGPT Plus has better memory

ChatGPT Plus has a benefit over its free counterpart, including memory retention. This means that when you’re using ChatGPT, it can recall past conversations as it learns more about you to better tune answers. This is particularly useful in ChatGPT’s voice mode, where you can converse with it as you would in real life. On the free version, voice mode is in a limited trial and has no memory retention. However, OpenAI did offer some light memory retention options to free users in June.

For example, I’m currently building a PC at the CNET offices capable of running local AI models. I was able to access a separate ChatGPT chat and post questions about changes to the CPU and whether the current power supply would be sufficient. It’s handy in the sense that I didn’t need to go back to a previous chat window and could continue the conversation wherever. &nbsp,

For people turning to AI for more meaningful conversations, including therapy, memory retention is critical. Users who rely on ChatGPT on a daily basis for their emotional needs may still have the problem of memory running out, even though OpenAI expanded memory earlier this year. For people who’ve developed deeper emotional connections to their AI chatbots, memory resets can be difficult and frustrating.

Know that ChatGPT will eventually reset and need to be re-prompted with everything you want it to know if you need it to be an emotional support or even a friend. A ChatGPT Plus subscription can help you avoid that.

Shopping

OpenAI expanded ChatGPT’s shopping capabilities earlier this year, even granting those features to free users. I’ve found ChatGPT to be an invaluable tool when comparison shopping. Having to read through reviews, Reddit posts, and other websites can be a lot of information to juggle when I’m comparing different products.

Unrelated to the AI models-capable computer I mentioned earlier, I’ve recently been looking to upgrade my at-home gaming rig, which I built in 2021. I filled out ChatGPT with all of my specifications, and it gave me advice on what parts to upgrade. All the components ChatGPT recommended were sound, in my research.

ChatGPT suggested I replace my AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU with a Ryzen 7 5600X. Unfortunately, this CPU is out of production and can only be found as either new old stock or used. I inquired at ChatGPT where I could purchase one, and this is where things sort of went.

It directed me towards Newegg, saying it was on sale for$ 199. The link was dead, and it isn’t going to be sold for that much. It also recommended two sites I hadn’t heard of, both of which were selling the CPU for over$ 500. However, both links did work.

As for alternatives, ChatGPT recommended the slightly weaker 5700X3D, saying that the drop would be negligible for most games. Unfortunately, ChatGPT once again provided buying instructions for the 5800X3D, claiming it was accessible for$ 99 from Newegg. I did some digging.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, which ChatGPT was actually referring to, is different from anything else, at all. I’m not sure why ChatGPT was making this mistake but I can see someone who isn’t careful missing the “3D” distinction and accidentally buying it, thinking it was what they were looking for. &nbsp,

Overall, ChatGPT is still an incredibly powerful shopping tool. Please take note that OpenAI needs to fix errors when linking to the appropriate products. &nbsp,

Analyzing documents

Earlier this year, when judgement came down on the Google antitrust case, the court document itself was 115 pages long. The ideal use for AI is to sift through vast troves of legalese.

Unlike ChatGPT Free, which didn’t initially read the analysis and instead summarized a different case altogether, ChatGPT Plus did what I asked. It effectively sifted through the filing and organized the most significant pieces into bullet points. &nbsp,

I didn’t find any errors or hallucinations in my reading. Follow-up questions about the trial itself were well summarized and easy to understand. I don’t have any complaints. &nbsp,

Is ChatGPT Plus worthwhile?

What OpenAI delivers for$ 20 per month is an incredible value to people who rely on AI frequently. It automates the tedious tasks of parsing through troves of information in seconds, enabling you to find the answers you need, faster, for students, journalists, and researchers. In a world that’s increasingly turning to short-form video and other quick bits of content, ChatGPT essentially does that with any bit of information or human-created content ever published online. &nbsp,

Of course, reading a summary of something will never deliver the same cognitive value as reading an entire article or book, but that’s a different discussion.

And this is only the beginning of ChatGPT’s capabilities. Beyond just generating text, it can also analyze photos and other documents to be a powerful assistant in your pocket. For instance, I recently tried on jeans while taking a mirror selfie in the changing room and asking ChatGPT what it thought of the outfit. It directed me towards another pair at a smaller size that better matched my frame. This would require that I either drag a fashionable friend with me or grab an attendant. &nbsp,

There is also a sizable library of exclusive GPTs to explore, as well as a studio where you can create your own AI bots and coding assistants, all of which are unmentioned in this review.

If you find yourself hitting rate limits on the free version of ChatGPT, it’s time to upgrade. Making keyword searching in Google a quickly antiquated chore is ChatGPT Plus ‘ more developed models, including its slower but more verbose “reasoning” models, which are among the more advanced ones.