# ChatGPT Problems & Issues 2026 - Errors, Outages & Usage Limits

Source: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt
Last analyzed: 2026-10-21
Try or Bye score: 62/100

## Verdict: Try with caution

ChatGPT works for some teams, but users report recurring problems (score 62/100). Most reported issues: Frequent outages - 44 incidents in 90 days; Overfiltered safety responses frustrate users; GPT-5 quality feels like a downgrade. Not a good fit for: Privacy-conscious individuals; Users needing high reliability; Users frustrated by AI safety restrictions. Users most often switch to Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Perplexity.

## What it is

ChatGPT is OpenAI's conversational AI assistant for writing, coding, research, image generation and voice chat. It is the most widely used AI chatbot, with apps for web, desktop, iOS and Android. Plans run from Free and Go ($8/mo, ads in the US) to Plus ($20/mo) and three Pro tiers ($100, $200, $500/mo), plus Business and Enterprise.

## Common errors & fixes

### ChatGPT Network Error

'Network error' means your device couldn't keep a stable connection to OpenAI while the answer streamed. Check the status page, turn off VPNs and security extensions, switch networks, and start a new chat for long prompts.

1. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
2. **Turn off VPN, proxy and security extensions** — Disconnect any VPN or proxy Disable ad blockers, privacy and 'web protect' extensions for chatgpt.com Turn off secure DNS in browser settings if enabled Reload ChatGPT
3. **Switch networks** — Move from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or the reverse) Restart your router if other sites are also slow Retry the message
4. **Allow ChatGPT on work networks** — Ask IT to allow chatgpt.com and openai.com domains Ask them to allow WebSocket traffic on TCP 443 to ws.chatgpt.com
5. **Shorten the request or start a new chat** — Click Regenerate once If it fails again, open a new chat and paste a shorter prompt Split long tasks into smaller steps
6. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/network-error

### ChatGPT Something Went Wrong Error

'Something went wrong' (and 'Hmm...something seems to have gone wrong') is OpenAI's generic error: either a temporary server problem or something in your browser or network. Refresh or start a new chat, check status.openai.com, then clear cache and disable extensions.

1. **Refresh or start a new chat** — Reload the page or tap Retry Open a new chat and resend the message
2. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
3. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again
4. **Turn off VPN, proxy and security extensions** — Disconnect any VPN or proxy Disable ad blockers, privacy and 'web protect' extensions for chatgpt.com Turn off secure DNS in browser settings if enabled Reload ChatGPT
5. **Fix date/time and update the app (mobile)** — Set date and time to automatic in your phone settings Update the ChatGPT app from the App Store or Google Play Force-close and reopen the app
6. **Try another network** — Switch Wi-Fi/mobile data Retry the message

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/something-went-wrong

### ChatGPT Not Loading or Not Working

If chatgpt.com shows a blank page, spins forever or says 'There was a problem preparing your chat', it's usually an outage, a script blocker or extension, or stale cache. Check the status page, then try a private window with extensions off.

1. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
2. **Disable script blockers and extensions** — Turn off NoScript, uBlock or similar for chatgpt.com Disable other extensions one by one Reload the page
3. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again
4. **Update or reinstall the app** — Update the ChatGPT app (desktop or mobile) or your browser If it still won't load, uninstall and reinstall the app Sign in again
5. **Turn off VPN, proxy and security extensions** — Disconnect any VPN or proxy Disable ad blockers, privacy and 'web protect' extensions for chatgpt.com Turn off secure DNS in browser settings if enabled Reload ChatGPT

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/not-loading

### ChatGPT Too Many Requests Error

'Too many requests' (or 'Too many concurrent requests') is rate limiting, often during incidents or when several tabs or agent tasks run at once. It doesn't usually mean you've run out of messages: close extra tabs, stop background tasks and wait a few minutes.

1. **Close duplicate tabs and sessions** — Close every extra chatgpt.com tab Close the desktop or mobile app if you're also using the web Send one message at a time
2. **Stop background tasks** — Stop agent or Codex tasks you don't need Wait for running tasks to finish before starting new ones
3. **Wait, then retry** — Wait 5-10 minutes without retrying Check status.openai.com for elevated error rates Retry the message
4. **Contact support if it lasts for days** — Record a HAR file in your browser's developer tools while reproducing the error Send it to OpenAI support via help.openai.com

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/too-many-requests

### ChatGPT Conversation Not Found Error

'Conversation not found' means ChatGPT can't load that chat: it was deleted, belongs to another account or workspace, was a temporary chat, or the page loaded during a glitch. Confirm the account, reload, and search your history.

1. **Check the account and workspace** — Click your profile and confirm the email and workspace (personal vs Business) Switch workspace if the chat belongs to the other one
2. **Reload or restart the app** — Refresh the page On mobile, force-close and reopen the app Sign out and back in
3. **Search and check archived chats** — Use the search in the sidebar to find the chat by a keyword Open Settings > Data controls > Archived chats to see if it was archived
4. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again
5. **Continue in a new chat** — Copy what you need from the old chat if visible Start a new chat and paste the context in

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/conversation-not-found

### ChatGPT Error in Message Stream

'Error in message stream' means the answer's stream broke before it finished, usually server-side during an incident or on very long Thinking runs. Click Regenerate, then start a new chat, and split long tasks.

1. **Regenerate the answer** — Click Retry/Regenerate under the failed reply
2. **Start a new chat** — If it fails again in the same chat, open a new chat Paste a short summary of the context instead of the whole history
3. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
4. **Split long tasks or lower reasoning effort** — Ask for the output in parts Use a faster model or lower thinking effort for long jobs
5. **Change network** — Try mobile data instead of a work or school network Turn off VPN/proxy

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/error-in-message-stream

### ChatGPT Voice Mode Not Working

Voice mode failures ('Connection failed, tap to retry', no audio, cutting off) are usually a Voice incident, a missing microphone permission, or another voice session already open. Check status, end other voice chats and re-grant mic access.

1. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
2. **End other voice sessions** — Close voice conversations in other windows, tabs or devices - only one can run at a time Start voice mode again
3. **Re-check microphone permission** — iPhone: Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone > enable ChatGPT Android: Settings > Apps > ChatGPT > Permissions > Microphone > Allow Web/desktop: allow the microphone in browser or system privacy settings
4. **Use headphones** — Connect headphones to stop speaker audio cutting off the conversation Retry voice mode
5. **Update or reinstall the app** — Update ChatGPT from the App Store or Google Play Clear the app cache (Android) or reinstall Wait a few minutes before retrying if it keeps failing

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/voice-mode-not-working

### ChatGPT Chat History Missing or Disappeared

Missing chats are usually archived, in another account or workspace, moved into a Project, or hidden by a sidebar glitch. Deleted chats can't be recovered, so check Archived chats and search before assuming they're gone.

1. **Check archived chats** — Open Settings > Data controls > Archived chats Unarchive the chats you need
2. **Search instead of scrolling** — Use the sidebar search with a word from the chat Check your Projects for moved chats
3. **Open the chat by its link** — Find the chat URL in your browser history Open it directly - this often works even when the sidebar is empty
4. **Sign out, reload or switch device** — Confirm the right account/workspace Sign out and back in Check the web app if a desktop or mobile app shows only recent chats
5. **Export your data regularly** — Settings > Data controls > Export data Keep the export as a backup for important chats

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/chat-history-missing

### ChatGPT Stuck on Verify You Are Human

An endless Cloudflare 'Verify you are human' loop at chatgpt.com is usually caused by a VPN, a privacy extension blocking referrers or cookies, or stale browser data. Disable them, clear cookies, or try another browser.

1. **Turn off VPN, proxy and security extensions** — Disconnect any VPN or proxy Disable ad blockers, privacy and 'web protect' extensions for chatgpt.com Turn off secure DNS in browser settings if enabled Reload ChatGPT
2. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again
3. **Try another browser and update** — Update your browser to the latest version Try Chrome, Safari or Edge if one browser keeps looping Or use the official desktop/mobile app
4. **Wait and retry** — Wait 10-15 minutes Retry from a different network if possible

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/verify-human-loop

### ChatGPT Unusual Activity Detected From Your Device

'Unusual activity has been detected from your device' appears when your traffic looks automated, most often because you share a VPN or proxy IP with many users. Turn off the VPN, use a private window, and secure your account.

1. **Turn off VPN, proxy and security extensions** — Disconnect any VPN or proxy Disable ad blockers, privacy and 'web protect' extensions for chatgpt.com Turn off secure DNS in browser settings if enabled Reload ChatGPT
2. **Restart the browser or use a private window** — Close all browser windows Open a private window and sign in again
3. **Secure your account** — Change your password Turn on multi-factor authentication in Settings > Security Use 'Log out of all devices' Stop sharing the account
4. **Contact support if it continues** — If you use no VPN or automation and it persists, contact OpenAI through help.openai.com

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/unusual-activity

### ChatGPT Image Generation Not Working

When ChatGPT won't create images, check the status page first: image generation had several 2026 outages (July and September). Otherwise you may have hit the separate image limit, or the prompt or reference image is causing failures.

1. **Check OpenAI's status page first** — Open status.openai.com Look for an active incident on ChatGPT, Voice or Image Generation If there is one, wait for it to be marked resolved - nothing on your side will fix it
2. **Check your image allowance** — Image limits are separate from chat limits - Free and Go have low daily caps Wait for the limit to reset or upgrade if you hit it often
3. **Stop, regenerate or start a new chat** — Click Stop, then Regenerate If it still fails, start a new chat and resend the image request
4. **Simplify the prompt** — Ask for one style at a time Keep requested text in the image short Use a clear, uncropped reference image
5. **Clear cache and cookies or use a private window** — Open a private/incognito window and sign in to chatgpt.com If that works, clear cookies and site data for chatgpt.com and openai.com in your normal browser Sign in again

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/chatgpt/issues/image-generation-not-working

## Common problems

- **Frequent outages - 44 incidents in 90 days** (reliability): ChatGPT had 44 incidents in 90 days including 1 major outage with median duration of 1 hour 42 minutes. Major global outage in June 2025 lasted 15+ hours. February 2026 saw 28,000+ outage reports in one day. 99.3% uptime means ~5 hours downtime per month. Image generation broke in several 2026 incidents (July 7, July 21/27, September 8), and 'Error in message stream' spikes were acknowledged in OpenAI release notes in February 2026.
- **Overfiltered safety responses frustrate users** (usability): GPT-5.2 is criticized as 'overregulated, overfiltered, and frustrating.' Topics GPT-4 discussed thoughtfully now trigger refusals or heavily hedged responses. Users say it 'sounds like someone who just finished corporate compliance training and is scared to improvise.'
- **GPT-5 quality feels like a downgrade** (performance): Nearly 5,000 users complained on Reddit that GPT-5 'feels like a downgrade.' TechRadar reports users find it 'creatively and emotionally flat' and 'genuinely unpleasant to talk to.' OpenAI reversed course and brought back GPT-4o as an option after backlash.
- **Customer support is automated loops with no resolution** (support): Trustpilot reviews report support is 'non-existent unless it's simple' - all automated, going round in loops. Formal complaints mishandled by human agents then redirected to AI bots with generic replies. No human ever reviews cases, no refunds provided.
- **Conversations used for training by default** (security): By default on Free, Plus, and Pro plans, conversations are used to train OpenAI's models. Q4 2025 research shows 35% of employee ChatGPT inputs contain sensitive data. Data retained indefinitely for legal discovery (NYT lawsuit). Must manually opt out in Settings.
- **Slow and laggy responses especially on GPT-4/5** (performance): Many users complain responses are slow or laggy especially on advanced models. GPT-5.2 Pro mode extended reasoning takes 30-60 seconds, breaking conversational flow. Tasks genuinely take more time than before according to users.
- **ChatGPT Pro 200 limits cut in half for the same price** (pricing): After DevDay (Sep 29, 2026) Pro became three tiers: $100, $200 and $500. Pro 200 kept its $200 price but its usage dropped from 20x to 10x Plus and Pro-model chat messages from 200 to 100 per week from Oct 30, 2026; the old allowance now needs the $500 tier.
- **Free tier severely limited to 10 messages per 5 hours** (pricing): The Free plan allows roughly 10 messages on the flagship model every 5 hours before silently falling back to a mini model. Uploads, image generation and deep research are also tightly capped, pushing regular users to Go ($8) or Plus ($20).
- **Hallucinations still common requiring verification** (reliability): G2 reviews note ChatGPT can occasionally generate inaccurate information requiring verification for critical tasks. While hallucinations have improved, they remain a concern. Users cannot blindly trust outputs for important work.
- **Misunderstands instructions leading to unusable results** (usability): Trustpilot reviews report the tool often misunderstands instructions, leading to incorrect or unusable results. The system's tendency to ignore specific requests and provide inconsistent outputs frustrates paying customers.
- **Random refusals and lost chat histories** (reliability): Users report random refusals, lost chat histories, servers crashing mid-conversation, and answers that feel overly cautious or oddly incomplete. Reliability concerns are driving users to explore alternatives.
- **Ads in ChatGPT on Free and Go plans** (pricing): Since January 2026 OpenAI shows ads to logged-in US users on Free and the $8 Go plan. Free users can opt out only by accepting fewer daily messages, and earlier app 'suggestions' shown even to $200 Pro users triggered backlash before being turned off.
- **Coding ability feels downgraded since GPT-5** (performance): Developer forum threads report GPT-5 coding feels downgraded - scripts that used to work now fail, solutions are weaker and less consistent. Users describe it taking more time to complete coding tasks than before.
- **Memory and context issues within conversations** (usability): Users complain the model constantly repeats answers to previously asked questions, wasting time and tokens. Some report it can't hold onto basic facts already established within the same thread. Context handling frustrates users.
- **Bug upgrades users from Plus to Pro without consent** (pricing): Trustpilot reports a bug that keeps upgrading customers from Plus ($20) to Pro ($200) without consent. OpenAI won't acknowledge it or admit fault. Users find it nearly impossible to cancel subscriptions.

## What users like

- **Most versatile AI assistant available**: ChatGPT with GPT-4/5 handles virtually any task: writing, coding, analysis, image generation, and conversation. Vast training data and 700M+ weekly users prove its utility. G2 rates it 4.7/5 as the most dependable AI chatbot.
- **Excellent for creative writing and conversation**: ChatGPT leads in creative writing and versatile conversations with 95% coding correctness in comparisons. Natural conversational flow and creative capabilities outperform competitors for content creation and ideation.
- **Massive plugin and integration ecosystem**: The largest ecosystem of plugins, integrations, and third-party tools. GPTs custom models, API access, and enterprise features. More ready-made solutions than any competitor.
- **New Go plan at $8 offers good value**: The Go plan launched in January 2026 bridges Free and Plus at $8/month with unlimited GPT-5.2 Instant and ~20 image generations daily. Good option for users who don't need advanced features.
- **Multimodal capabilities - text, image, voice**: ChatGPT processes multimodal inputs including text, images, documents, and voice. Sora video generation (Plus/Pro), DALL-E image creation, and voice conversations provide versatility competitors lack.
- **Intuitive interface with low learning curve**: Simple chat interface makes getting started effortless. No technical knowledge required. Widely documented with extensive community guides and tutorials available.

## Pricing

- **Free**: $0 (free) — hidden costs: Ads shown to logged-in US users; opting out of ads means fewer free messages. Chats train models by default.
- **Go**: $8 (monthly) — hidden costs: Still shows ads in the US; chats train models by default; price varies by country
- **Plus**: $20 (monthly) — hidden costs: Weekly caps on Thinking and Codex usage; extra usage sold as credits; chats train models by default
- **Pro 100**: $100 (monthly) — hidden costs: Usage multiples are relative to Plus and OpenAI does not publish absolute limits
- **Pro 200**: $200 (monthly) — hidden costs: Same price as before but allowance cut from 20x to 10x Plus and Pro-model chat messages halved; existing subscribers got a one-time credit grant expiring Dec 31, 2026
- **Pro 500**: $500 (monthly) — hidden costs: Monthly billing only; Ultrafast burns through the allowance faster
- **Business (Standard seat)**: $25 (monthly) — hidden costs: Minimum 2 paid seats; Premium seats cost $125/user/month ($100 annually) for 5x Standard usage
- **Enterprise**: yearly — hidden costs: Custom pricing through sales; annual commitment

## Who should and shouldn't use it

- **Creative writers and content creators** — Good fit: ChatGPT leads in creative writing and versatile conversations. For ideation, copywriting, storytelling, and content creation, it outperforms alternatives. The natural conversational flow and creative flexibility are unmatched.
- **General users wanting versatile AI** — Good fit: With 700M+ weekly users and 4.7/5 G2 rating, ChatGPT is the most dependable all-purpose AI. It handles writing, analysis, coding, and conversation competently. The ecosystem and community support are unmatched.
- **Budget-conscious occasional users** — Depends: The Free tier's 10 messages/5 hours is nearly unusable. The new Go plan at $8 offers better value than Plus for basic use. But if you need minimal usage, consider Gemini's more generous free tier.
- **Developers needing reliable code assistance** — Depends: While ChatGPT offers 95% coding correctness, GPT-5 is reported to feel 'downgraded' for coding. Claude achieves 80.9% on SWE-bench vs GPT-5.2's ~70%. For mission-critical code, Claude may be more reliable.
- **Privacy-conscious individuals** — Avoid: Conversations train OpenAI models by default. 35% of employee inputs contain sensitive data. Data retained indefinitely for lawsuits. Must manually opt out. Enterprise plan required for data not used in training.
- **Users needing high reliability** — Avoid: 44 incidents in 90 days, June 2025 outage lasted 15+ hours, 28,000+ reports in single day. 99.3% uptime means ~5 hours monthly downtime. If consistent availability is critical, have backup alternatives ready.
- **Users frustrated by AI safety restrictions** — Avoid: GPT-5.2 is criticized as 'overregulated and overfiltered.' Topics GPT-4 discussed now trigger refusals. Users describe it as sounding like 'corporate compliance training.' Consider Claude or Gemini for less restrictive responses.
- **Enterprise teams with compliance needs** — Good fit: Enterprise plan offers data not used for training, SSO/SAML, Enterprise Key Management (late 2025), and dedicated support. For regulated industries, this tier provides necessary controls. Significant investment required.

## Alternatives

- **Anthropic Claude** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/anthropic-claude): Users switch for better reasoning and less safety filtering. Gain: 80.9% SWE-bench (vs GPT-5's ~70%), 200K token context for long documents, more natural writing tone. Trade-off: no image generation, smaller ecosystem.
- **Google Gemini** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/google-gemini): Users switch for free tier value and context window. Gain: 1M token context, free tier accepts huge files/videos, Google Workspace integration. Trade-off: privacy concerns, occasional hallucinations.
- **Perplexity** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/perplexity): Users switch for research with citations. Gain: every answer cites sources, better for fact-checking, real-time web search. Trade-off: not for creative writing or coding, billing issues reported.
- **Meta AI**: Users switch for ecosystem integration. Gain: built into Meta, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger - accessible and free. Trade-off: less capable, no paid tiers with advanced features.
- **Microsoft Copilot**: Enterprise users switch for Microsoft 365 integration. Gain: native Word/Excel/Outlook integration, included in many M365 licenses. Trade-off: less capable for creative tasks.

## FAQ

### Is ChatGPT Plus worth $20 per month?

For regular users, yes: Plus adds Thinking models, deep research, agent mode, Codex, projects and no ads for $20/month. If you only chat casually, Go ($8) may be enough; if you hit Plus caps daily, Pro starts at $100.

### Why is ChatGPT getting worse?

Users widely report GPT-5 quality regression. TechRadar documented thousands of Reddit complaints calling it 'a downgrade' and 'creatively flat.' GPT-5.2 is criticized as 'overregulated' with excessive safety filtering. Coding ability feels weaker. OpenAI brought back GPT-4o as an option after backlash. The feeling of quality decline is documented and widespread.

### Is ChatGPT safe for privacy?

No, unless you opt out or pay for Enterprise. By default, conversations train OpenAI's models. 35% of employee inputs contain sensitive data per Q4 2025 research. Data was ordered retained indefinitely for NYT lawsuit. Disable training in Settings > Data Controls, or use Enterprise tier where data isn't used for training.

### What is the best ChatGPT alternative?

Claude is best for reasoning and coding (80.9% SWE-bench vs GPT-5's ~70%). Gemini offers better free tier with 1M token context. Perplexity excels at research with citations. Microsoft Copilot for M365 integration. No single winner - ChatGPT leads creative writing but competitors excel in specific areas.

### How reliable is ChatGPT uptime?

ChatGPT reports 99.3% uptime, meaning ~5 hours monthly downtime. There were 44 incidents in 90 days (Q4 2025-Q1 2026). June 2025 saw a 15+ hour global outage. February 2026 had 28,000+ reports in one day. Have backup alternatives ready if you depend on consistent availability.

### Why does ChatGPT refuse to answer?

GPT-5.2 expanded safety filters dramatically. Topics that GPT-4 discussed thoughtfully now trigger refusals or heavily hedged responses. Users describe it as 'overregulated' and 'scared to improvise.' Try rephrasing, using different context, or switch to Claude or Gemini for less filtered responses.

### Is ChatGPT Pro worth $200?

Less than before. Since Oct 30, 2026 Pro 200 gives about 10x Plus usage (down from 20x) and 100 Pro-model chat messages per week. Pro 100 ($100) gives about 5x Plus and is enough for most heavy users; Pro 500 ($500) is for people who hit limits daily or need Ultrafast. Most people are fine on Plus.

### Can I cancel ChatGPT subscription?

Yes, but Trustpilot reviews report issues. Some users find it 'nearly impossible to cancel.' A bug reportedly upgrades users from Plus to Pro without consent. OpenAI support is described as 'automated loops with no resolution.' Document your cancellation attempt and monitor billing carefully.

### Is ChatGPT good for coding?

ChatGPT offers 95% coding correctness in comparisons but GPT-5 coding 'feels downgraded' according to developer forums. Claude achieves 80.9% on SWE-bench vs GPT-5.2's ~70%. For mission-critical code, Claude may be more reliable. ChatGPT still handles most coding tasks competently.

### What is ChatGPT Go plan?

ChatGPT Go costs about $8/month and sits between Free and Plus: more messages, uploads and image generations than Free, but no full advanced reasoning, deep research, Sora or agent mode. In the US it shows ads, like the Free plan.

### Does ChatGPT use my data for training?

Yes, by default on Free, Plus, and Pro plans. To opt out: Settings > Data Controls > disable 'Improve the model for everyone.' Enterprise plan doesn't use data for training by default. Stanford research found long data retention, training on children's data, and lack of transparency.

### Why does ChatGPT keep saying network error?

It means your device lost its connection to OpenAI's servers mid-reply, or the server stream broke. Check status.openai.com, turn off VPNs/proxies and security extensions, try another network, and on work networks ask IT to allow WebSocket traffic to ws.chatgpt.com. Long prompts and long chats fail more often, so try a new chat.

### Does ChatGPT have ads?

Yes, on Free and Go for logged-in US users since early 2026. Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise are ad-free. Free users can opt out of ads in exchange for fewer free messages.

### What is the difference between ChatGPT Pro 100, Pro 200 and Pro 500?

All three include the Pro models, deep research, Codex and memory. Pro 100 ($100) gives about 5x Plus usage, Pro 200 ($200) about 10x, and Pro 500 ($500) the highest allowance plus Ultrafast mode. Pro is billed monthly.

### Is ChatGPT down right now?

Check status.openai.com first - it lists incidents per component (chat, voice, image generation, login). If it is green but ChatGPT fails only for you, it's usually your network, VPN, extensions or browser cache; see our troubleshooting guides.

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Try or Bye aggregates problem patterns from user reviews, forums, and app stores. Methodology: https://www.tryorbye.com/methodology