[pdc56]

Can someone validate I have this correct: I can use chatGPT through the browser (chat.openai.com) for free, but to use any of these clients, I need a paid subscription (after the initial $18 thing runs out).

Hmm... duh. Of course I just asked chatGPT this and got this reply, for anyone else wondering:

"Yes, you are correct that you can use ChatGPT through the browser for free by accessing the OpenAI GPT-3 Playground at chat.openai.com. However, if you want to use the API to integrate ChatGPT into your own software or application, you will need to sign up for a paid subscription after the initial $18 promotional credit runs out."

[WA]

You can use ChatGPT via chat.openai.com for free, but your rate might be limited and there are times with heavily load.

You can pay $20 per month for ChatGPT+ to use chat.openai.com with no restrictions (and access to GPT-4).

You can also pay as you go per token, if you either use the OpenAI playground or if you use your API token and put it in one of the front ends listed in this article. Gives you more customization options than chat.openai.com

The third party UIs are similar to chat.openai.com with more features such as search etc. and more comfortable to use than the OpenAI playground, but less restrictive that chat.openai.com

[0x008]

Also note if you pay by token for GPT3.5 it is (in my experience at least) a lot cheaper than the subscription ($0.64/day but also when you not use it) vs. ~0.20€/day but only if I use it. I use pay as you go and it comes around as a few $ per month versus the flat $20.

[scrollaway]

Don't ask ChatGPT about OpenAI-related stuff in particular, and current knowledge in general. It doesn't know much about it (as its training data is old) and it's only extrapolating based on your question; it's making shit up.

Other commenter already explained the actual state of things.

[0x008]

The API access is not a subscription, it’s pay as you go.