ChatGPT-5 rolling out with confusing access and stricter limits, sparking user frustration: common opinions and reviews

The latest posts on Reddit reveal a rapidly changing scene of random access, unpredictable restrictions, and growing irritation.

The launch of GPT‑5, announced by OpenAI as a global rollout between August 7 and 8, 2025, is generating a torrent of real-time posts on the main AI subreddits. The most recent reports from r/ChatGPT and r/OpenAI paint a concrete picture of what free, Plus, and Pro users are actually experiencing across different countries and subscription tiers.

Many users still don’t see GPT‑5—and for some, the upgrade never arrived

Access is unlocked “in waves,” often unpredictably and regardless of subscription type

Despite official announcements describing the rollout as completed or “in progress” everywhere, the real situation on Reddit is much messier. Users are reporting that the model selector is often stuck on GPT‑4o even for those paying for Plus or Pro, both in the US and across Europe. In particular, several recent posts mention a message:

“Some users may temporarily see a simplified or restricted model selector.”

The community interprets this as confirmation that OpenAI is enabling GPT‑5 in “batches” or regions, alternating who sees the new version and who remains with the previous one. Comments make it clear that this phenomenon isn’t tied to subscription type: some Plus and Pro users see GPT‑5, others don’t, even among users in the same country. Some report that after logging out/in or refreshing the page, GPT‑5 suddenly appears or disappears.

Much lower usage limits for everyone, even Plus/Pro

Timeouts, upgrade prompts, and ambiguous messaging: frustration is rising among paying users

One of the hottest topics in recent threads is the sharp drop in usage limits, affecting both free and paid plans. A free user complains of being blocked after ten messages, while Plus subscribers report that after just a few queries, ChatGPT prompts them to upgrade to Pro and displays frequent timeouts and slowdowns not seen in previous weeks.

The widespread impression is that server load is pushing OpenAI to “throttle” access, giving priority to the most expensive subscriptions and drastically shrinking usage windows for everyone else.Some Plus users also report being locked out for long cooldowns after hitting these limits, with no clear explanation.

Many “power users” are disappointed with GPT‑5’s quality

More forgetfulness, less consistency, and “motivational” prompts that get in the way

Complaints about response quality are also multiplying: users who rely on ChatGPT for work (such as PDF data extraction, Excel automation, or coding) are noticing a clear drop in experience. One user reports that GPT‑5 forgets objectives, asks for repeated confirmations, throws session errors, and drops complex tasks for no reason. Other posts mention “vaguer” answers and new motivational prompts (“Do you need a break?” or “You’re not broken”) that many find distracting or annoying, especially in professional contexts.

Fluctuating access: models appear and disappear

Reddit users say: “Sometimes GPT‑5 disappears, 4o comes back, then everything flips again”

Many recent threads report that the available models list updates randomly—even within the same session: some Plus users say they saw GPT‑5, then it suddenly vanished, only to reappear an hour later. Others report never seeing GPT‑5 at all, whether on web or mobile, and are left wondering if the rollout in Italy and other EU countries is still ongoing.There are also cases of users who had GPT‑5 only to be sent back to GPT‑4o with no explanation.

The community feels like “beta testers”: waiting and frustration

Live threads: field feedback, protests, and tips for coping

The mood on Reddit is one of a community in waiting—often frustrated, but very active in sharing fixes (like logging out, clearing cache/cookies, switching browsers, or trying a VPN—with mixed results).Top-voted posts are demanding clarity from OpenAI on the reasons behind these limits and real timelines for the full rollout across all countries and plans.

Many feel they’re, once again, involuntary “beta testers” for a not-quite-ready new version, with an international user base that feels ignored by official communications.

In summary... the rollout of GPT‑5 is neither complete nor stable. Reddit users, in these very last hours, are reporting severe limits, inconsistent quality, and a rollout that is still far from “global and for everyone.” For those wanting to stay up-to-date, Reddit voices are proving faster and more reliable than official announcements.

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