GPT-6 in ChatGPT: release dates and Intelligent UI

What is GPT-6? Astra, Sol and Luna explained for ChatGPT users

GPT-6 is the name of OpenAI's new model generation, not a single model. GPT-6 Astra, the top model, came out on September 3, and the cheaper GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna followed on September 22. What arrived in ChatGPT on October 7 is a new version of Sol and Luna tuned for everyday chat.

GPT-6 Astra, Sol and Luna came first to paid plans and the API

The three September models reached paying ChatGPT customers, the API and Codex first. Astra rolled out over several days to Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise users and to the OpenAI API. OpenAI trained Sol and Luna with methods similar to Astra's and sells them as the faster, cheaper options.

A refreshed GPT-6.1 Sol followed on September 29. It is a model option for ChatGPT Work and Codex and doesn't appear among the Chat models.

October GPT-6 Sol and Luna replace GPT-5.6 in ChatGPT chat

The October 7 release swaps GPT-5.6 Sol and GPT-5.6 Luna in ChatGPT for the October versions of GPT-6 Sol and Luna. OpenAI's system card labels the new builds "October" and the ones still serving Codex and ChatGPT Work "September". If you used GPT-5.6 before, GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna: Specs and Pricing covers the generation being replaced.

GPT-6 release date in ChatGPT for free, Go, Plus and Pro plans

Paid plans start getting GPT-6 on October 7, 2026, and free and Go accounts follow on October 8. The rollout is gradual and worldwide, so if GPT-6 isn't in your model menu yet, it simply hasn't reached your account. On Enterprise, admins decide when members can use it, and the table below shows which model runs GPT-6 on each plan and which thinking levels you can pick.

GPT-6 in ChatGPT by plan

Based on OpenAI's announcement (October 7, 2026) and its help page (as of October 8, 2026).

Plan	Start date	Model behind GPT-6	Thinking levels
Free and Go	October 8	GPT-6 Luna	Instant, Think
Plus	October 7	GPT-6 Sol	Instant, Medium, High
Pro, Business, Enterprise	October 7	GPT-6 Sol, Astra for Pro	Instant to Extra High, Pro

ChatGPT Plus and Pro get GPT-6 Sol with different thinking levels

On paid plans, GPT-6 Sol handles every thinking level from Instant to Extra High. A thinking level sets how long ChatGPT reasons before it answers. Plus stops at High, while Pro, Business and Enterprise also get Extra High and Pro.

In the model menu, GPT-6 takes the place of Latest. If you had picked GPT-5.6 Sol by name, you stay on GPT-5.6. For what each plan costs and its free-tier limits, see GPT-5 in ChatGPT: Pricing, Free Tier, Models.

ChatGPT free and Go get GPT-6 Luna, though the help page differs

OpenAI's announcement says GPT-6 on free and Go plans runs on GPT-6 Luna. Its help page, checked on October 8, still names GPT-5.6 Luna as the default for those plans. We show both because the two official pages say different things; the earlier free-tier switch is covered in GPT-5.6 availability by plan: Sol, Terra and Luna.

GPT-6 Pro on Astra for ChatGPT Pro, Business and Enterprise

Choosing the Pro thinking level gives you GPT-6 Pro, which runs on GPT-6 Astra. It is available on three plans:

• Pro, at both $100 and $200 a month
• Business
• Enterprise, where workspace model permissions also apply

How Intelligent UI changes ChatGPT answers in GPT-6

Intelligent UI lets GPT-6 answer with text, visuals and controls you can use in the chat. An answer can include graphics, tappable buttons, forms, charts and small interactive tools. You don't need a special prompt: the model picks the format for each question and still replies in plain text when that works best.

Calculators, bill splitters and games built inside a ChatGPT chat

You can ask ChatGPT to build a small tool for the task in front of you, and it appears right in the conversation. OpenAI's examples are a calculator for how savings could grow, a bill splitter for dinner with friends, and a game you play in the chat. Everyday answers get visuals too, such as cooking times laid out next to a roast recipe or road-trip stops on a map.

Where Intelligent UI is unavailable and the setting to reduce it

Intelligent UI works on the web and in updated apps when GPT-6 is set to Instant through Extra High. It doesn't appear at the Pro level, which runs on Astra. The older ChatGPT desktop apps for macOS and Windows don't support it either, so use ChatGPT on the web instead.

There is no separate usage cap for it. If answers feel too busy, turn off Layout and visuals in Settings on the web to cut back the visual elements.

GPT-6 vs GPT-5.6: ChatGPT speed and OpenAI API pricing

GPT-6 can start writing its answer while it is still thinking, so replies can begin sooner than with GPT-5.6. OpenAI also says it is harder to talk GPT-6 out of its safety training, including with attacks spread over several turns.

GPT-6 Instant starts answering ChatGPT search questions 44% sooner

When a question calls for a web search, GPT-6 Instant begins its reply 44% earlier on average than GPT-5.6 Instant did. The figure comes from OpenAI's own internal evaluations. OpenAI adds that GPT-6 is better at deciding when to search and at finding sources that back up its answer.

OpenAI API pricing for GPT-6 Sol, Luna and Astra vs GPT-5.6

In the API, the interface developers use to call models from their own apps, Sol and Luna cost half of what GPT-5.6 did. Standard prices per 1 million tokens are below.

GPT-6 API pricing (standard, per 1 million tokens)

From OpenAI's announcements. GPT-5.6 prices in parentheses.

Model	Input	Output
GPT-6 Astra	$10	$50
GPT-6 Sol	$2 ($4)	$10 ($20)
GPT-6 Luna	$0.10 ($0.20)	$0.50 ($1.20)

Luna's output price fell from $1.20 to $0.50, which is more than half off. OpenAI measures its 50% cut against GPT-5.6's promotional pricing.

GPT-6 summary

GPT-6 is rolling out in the ChatGPT Chat tab from October 7 on paid plans and from October 8 on free and Go. Paid plans run it on GPT-6 Sol and free and Go on GPT-6 Luna, with nothing to switch on. If the new charts and buttons get in the way, turn off Layout and visuals in Settings on the web.