Tell HN: OpenAI brings back 5 hour limit for plus and business standard users — SkimNews
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- OpenAI reinstated the 5-hour usage limit for Plus and Business standard subscribers after the earlier weekly caps let users burn through too much credit in the first couple of days.
- OpenAI introduced per-model "usage multipliers" starting in early August, with different models offering monthly dollar values ranging from $15 to $30 to $60 to $100.
- The original $10/month plan was advertised as $60 of usage — a ratio that held consistently until early August when the per-model multipliers took over.
- OpenAI users hitting the new session limits must now purchase another plan, upgrade, or migrate to competing tools like Codex or Hyper ($20/month).
- Commenters characterized the shifting rules as "bait & switch," saying tracking which model offers the best capability-per-dollar ratio is not worth the mental effort.
- The 5-hour window begins when a user sends their first token after extended inactivity, so idle periods effectively reset the clock.
Why it matters: For OpenAI's Plus and Business subscribers, the reinstated 5-hour cap means heavy users face a hard mid-week stop and must choose between buying additional plans, upgrading tiers, or migrating to cheaper alternatives like Codex or Hyper ($20/month). The opaque per-model multipliers — varying from $15 to $100 in stated monthly value — add friction that could push price-sensitive users toward competitors willing to publicize flat-rate pricing.
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