OpenAI Projects 220 Million Paying ChatGPT Users by 2030

Artificial intelligence company OpenAI has projected that by 2030, around 220 million of ChatGPT’s weekly users will pay for subscriptions. This figure represents about 8.5% of an estimated 2.6 billion weekly users, positioning the chatbot among the largest subscription-based businesses worldwide.

Reports from Reuters and The Information revealed that as of July, approximately 35 million users—roughly 5% of ChatGPT’s weekly active base—were already subscribed to “Plus” or “Pro” plans, priced at $20 and $200 per month.

The company’s annualised revenue run rate is expected to reach about $20 billion by the end of this year, though losses continue to mount due to heavy spending on research, development, and operational costs. Earlier reports indicated that OpenAI generated about $4.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, a 16% increase compared to the previous year, while burning $2.5 billion in expenses.

Looking ahead, OpenAI expects about 20% of its revenue to come from new products, including shopping and advertising-driven features. Recently, it introduced a personal shopping assistant within ChatGPT, a move seen as a potential pathway to monetisation through ads or commission-based sales.