Artificial intelligence company OpenAI projects that ChatGPT could have about 220 million paying subscribers by 2030, according to a report by The Information. This estimate would position ChatGPT among the world’s largest subscription services.
The projection is based on an expected 2.6 billion weekly users of ChatGPT. OpenAI anticipates that roughly 8.5% of these users will pay for subscription plans, including “Plus” at $20 per month and “Pro” at $200 per month. As of July 2025, around 35 million users, or 5% of the weekly active base, were paying for these plans.
If achieved, the growth would mark a massive expansion from current subscription numbers. OpenAI’s revenue has been climbing rapidly, though the company is also facing mounting losses. Sources told Reuters that while the annualized revenue run rate is expected to reach $20 billion by year-end, operating costs remain significant.
Earlier reports indicated that OpenAI generated approximately $4.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, an increase of about 16% compared with total revenue in 2024. However, the company also spent $2.5 billion during the same period, largely on research and development for AI systems and maintaining ChatGPT operations.
OpenAI plans to diversify revenue streams with new products and features. About 20% of expected revenue will come from innovations such as shopping- and advertising-driven functions. This week, OpenAI launched a personal shopping assistant for ChatGPT, a feature that could lead to monetization via advertisements or commission-based sales.
The company’s strategy reflects a broader effort to grow ChatGPT beyond its core chatbot capabilities. By introducing practical tools and commerce-related features, OpenAI aims to attract more paying users while providing additional value to the platform’s existing audience.
With projections showing hundreds of millions of paying users in the next decade, OpenAI’s vision positions ChatGPT as a major player in global subscription services. Analysts note that sustaining this growth will require continuous innovation, user engagement, and the successful rollout of new features.
OpenAI has yet to comment publicly on the projection. Reuters could not independently verify the figures reported by The Information.
The forecast highlights the rapid expansion of AI adoption worldwide. As businesses and consumers increasingly rely on AI tools for everyday tasks, services like ChatGPT are poised to become central to both personal and professional use.
