Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- OpenAI’s new GPT-5 model initially replaced prior models at launch last week.
- Due to popular demand, OpenAI is giving users access to legacy models.
- GPT-4o is available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users (with more models for the latter).
The appeal of OpenAI’s highly anticipated GPT-5 model lies in its combination of a smart model for most queries and a deeper reasoning model for harder problems, and that it automatically chooses either based on the user’s prompt. Since it technically combined the best of OpenAI’s models, the company had it replace all of its legacy models in ChatGPT — and users were not happy.
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Also: I tested GPT-5’s coding skills, and it was so bad that I’m sticking with GPT-4o (for now)
Paid subscribers, including ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, previously had access to GPT-4o, multiple reasoning models, including o3, o4-mini, and o4-mini-high, and research previews of GPT-4.5 and GPT-4.1. ChatGPT Pro users had a couple of additional perks, such as o3 pro mode. As a result, when OpenAI removed access to these models as it rolled out GPT-5, many subscribers’ workflows were disturbed; some people even cancelled their subscriptions.
OpenAI noticed the feedback and implemented changes immediately. OpenAI Sam Altman said on X, “We will let Plus users choose to continue to use 4o. We will watch usage as we think about how long to offer legacy models for.” In a separate post, he added, “We for sure underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them, even if GPT-5 performs better in most ways.”
Users can now see legacy models, but activating the option requires some extra steps. Here’s how to get started.
How to access ChatGPT’s legacy models
What you’ll need: To access the legacy models, you’ll need to subscribe to one of ChatGPT’s premium tiers. ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month and includes other perks such as higher usage limits for many of OpenAI’s latest features. ChatGPT Pro is meant for super users and retails at $200 per month.
When you log into your ChatGPT account, you’ll see your subscription/account tier in the bottom left-hand corner, where your name is displayed. If it says “Free,” you’ll want to click on it and hit the “Upgrade plan option.”
Also: Is ChatGPT Plus really worth $20 when the free version offers so many premium features?
Once you do, you can opt to subscribe to one of the higher subscription tiers: either ChatGPT Plus for $20 per month or ChatGPT Pro for $200 per month. You’ll then see a chart comparing the plans and their perks, pictured above.
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Once you have a Plus or Pro account, by default, you will have the option to toggle between GPT-5, GPT-5 Thinking, and, if you are a Pro user, GPT-5 Pro. However, you also have the option to access legacy models as long as you toggle the setting on.
All you need to do is click on the bottom left-hand corner with your name and click Settings. Under “General,” which is the first page that comes up, toggle on “Show legacy models.” Then, the model picker toggle will also show the “Legacy model” option.
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When the “show legacy models” option is toggled on, to actually use the model, you just have to click on the model picker toggle, which appears when you click the model’s name in the upper left-hand corner.
Also: GPT-5 bombed my coding tests, but redeemed itself with code analysis
If you are a ChatGPT Plus user, you can access GPT-4o in addition to GPT-5. If you are a Pro user, you can access the entire suite of legacy models, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.5 (research preview), o3, o4-mini, GPT-4.1, and GPT-4.1-mini. Whichever you select will be the one to output your response.
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