OpenAI is bringing back a five-hour usage limit for Codex and ChatGPT Work for Plus subscribers, after temporarily removing the shorter limit and relying only on a weekly usage cap.
Thibault “Tibo” Sottiaux, OpenAI’s engineering lead for Codex and ChatGPT, announced that the five-hour limit will return on August 25 for Plus users across both ChatGPT Work and Codex.
Once users reach either their five-hour or weekly usage limit, they will have to wait for the relevant limit to reset or purchase additional credits. OpenAI may also occasionally provide free resets, while some promotions and referral programs can allow users to earn banked resets.
The five-hour restriction had been temporarily removed over the past several weeks. During that period, Plus subscribers were subject only to the weekly cap. OpenAI also reset weekly limits early on several occasions to mark milestones, including the addition of another million active users across the now-unified platforms.
Sottiaux explained that the five-hour limit is being restored primarily to help manage computing demand while allowing OpenAI to maintain generous weekly usage allowances. He also said that Plus subscribers tend to include more casual and newer users who can unintentionally use their entire weekly allowance without realizing it, potentially creating a confusing experience.
The five-hour restriction will not apply to Pro $100 and Pro $200 subscribers for the coming months, according to Sottiaux.
OpenAI did not announce any changes for Enterprise or Edu accounts. Those plans currently operate under a separate credit-based usage system.
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The reinstated five-hour limit means ChatGPT Plus users who regularly rely on Codex or ChatGPT Work will once again need to manage their usage across both the shorter five-hour window and the broader weekly allowance.
