As a developer and a long-time ChatGPT Plus subscriber, I was excited to try out the new GPT-5 model. But after 24 hours of using it, I’m left feeling frustrated and disappointed. The changes made to the platform have turned what was once a reliable tool into a slow and limited experience.
The first thing I noticed was that the model options were removed, and we’re now stuck with a single ‘GPT-5 Thinking’ model. This might sound like a good thing, but in reality, it means we’ve lost the flexibility to choose the model that best suits our needs. And to make matters worse, the response times have slowed down significantly.
As someone who uses ChatGPT constantly throughout the day, the difference in usability is staggering. Before, I could get quick and direct responses from GPT-4. Now, I’m stuck waiting for GPT-5 to ‘analyze code architecture’ and ‘evaluate edge cases’ just to give me the same solution. It’s like going from a sports car to a bicycle.
The cherry on top is the 200 message weekly limit. As a developer, I need to be able to use ChatGPT frequently to get work done efficiently. But now, I’m already hitting the limit by Wednesday. It’s like being given a tool that’s only half-functional.
I’m not alone in feeling frustrated. The Reddit community is filled with users who are unhappy with the changes. We’re paying the same subscription price for fewer features, slower responses, and limited weekly usage. It’s like being punished for being loyal customers.
I understand that AI development isn’t always linear progress, but removing features and adding restrictions isn’t development – it’s just bad product management. Has anyone else felt like GPT-5 is a massive downgrade? Are there any alternatives out there that can fill the gap?