OpenAI has capped how many paid ChatGPT accounts one device can run at a time — and it’s hitting users who juggle multiple subscriptions to stretch value. The limit applies to ChatGPT Go, Plus, Pro 100, Pro 200, and Pro 500 plans. Free accounts, plus Business, Enterprise, and Edu tiers, are exempt.

So are payment cards: linking too many subscriptions to the same card now triggers a block on new sign-ups. When the device cap is hit, users see “Device limit reached”, and that account stops working on the device entirely. Logging out doesn’t reset the slot. OpenAI’s support page confirms it’s intentional, not a bug.

This isn’t about security theater. It’s about closing an arbitrage loophole: people using cheap flat-rate plans across rotating logins to bypass usage ceilings. Now, OpenAI wants them to buy extra credits or usage resets, options priced higher than adding another subscription. The shift lines up with its broader move to merge Chat and Work into a single revenue stream.

No rollout date was given, but the policy is live as of Friday, 1 November 2026. Users in the US and India, where ChatGPT Go starts at $20/month and ₹1,699/month, are affected equally. Next step? Watch for enforcement tightening on shared devices in offices, labs, and households.