OpenAI Launches $100 Monthly Pro Tier to Scale Codex Access

OpenAI has expanded its subscription architecture with the launch of a $100-per-month Pro tier, specifically targeting heavy users of Codex, the company's AI-powered coding assistant. The new tier is positioned between the $20 Plus plan and the existing $200 Pro level. According to the company, the $100 plan provides five times the usage limits of the Plus tier, catering to developers engaged in longer, high-effort coding sessions. This strategic pricing shift is a direct response to Anthropic's Claude Code, which has seen significant adoption since its May 2025 public release. Anthropic currently offers a similar tiered structure, including Max levels at $100 and $200 per month that provide higher usage ceilings. The demand for AI coding tools is accelerating rapidly. Codex reported a run-rate revenue exceeding $2.5 billion in February, representing a growth rate of over 100% since the beginning of 2026. CEO Sam Altman recently noted that the tool currently supports three million weekly users, with a target of 10 million. To further penetrate the developer market, OpenAI previously released a standalone Codex application for macOS in February. The company continues to adjust usage limits dynamically as the user base scales toward its 10-million-user milestone, reflecting the intense competition for dominance in the AI-assisted software development space.