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| (Graphic generated by Luna 6 Medium) |
Two days ago, I hit my ChatGPT usage limit (aka "tokenmaxxing") while using Astra on Max. I had generated three maps and asked three follow-up questions when I hit the limit, so learned my lesson the hard way to toggle the model to save tokens. ChatGPT uses varying verbiage for usage; it does use the term "tokens"...sometimes...but weirdly, not most of the time.
The map I was generating was a map of where my ancestors lived in 18th century Westmoreland County, Virginia. I will eventually do a post about how to generate such a map, but ChatGPT still struggles to get the modern roads correct; so it is not quite there yet with accuracy. One of my cousins was generating a map using the free ChatGPT account and hit the usage limit which made me wonder about the differences between a free vs. paid account. My account is the $20 Plus plan. So I prompted ChatGPT to compile the following information about the different plans and suggested uses for genealogists. Lastly, I turned off the setting which allows what I enter to be used for "training data". Not that I am entering anything on living persons, etc. But just to be on the safe side. Note too how the setting is called, "Improve the model for everyone" - lol! Passive-aggressive guilt trip much, OpenAI?
Information checked October 14, 2026. Prices are in US dollars. Features, limits, and model access can change.
ChatGPT can help genealogists organize research, transcribe records, compare evidence, draft biographies, and create maps showing where ancestors lived. The model, the subscription plan, and the tools you can use are related, but they are not the same thing.
A model processes your request. Your plan affects which models and features are available and how much you can use them. Tools such as file uploads, data analysis, and image input help you work with source material.
Chat is suited to questions and discussion. ChatGPT Work is designed for larger tasks and reviewable results, such as a report made from uploaded records. Codex is intended for programming and other technical work. Most genealogists will begin with Chat or Work.
ChatGPT models made simple
Model names and availability can change. As of this review, GPT-6 is rolling out in Chat to eligible paid users. Free and Go users receive GPT-5.6 Luna as the default model. In GPT-6, the Instant, Medium, High, and Extra High thinking levels use GPT-6 Sol. The Pro thinking option uses GPT-6 Pro, powered by Astra. GPT-6.1 Sol is a separate option in Work and Codex, rather than ordinary Chat. Model access depends on your plan, account, workspace, and rollout status.
| Model or option | What it is intended for | Possible genealogy task |
|---|
| GPT-5.6 Luna | Everyday questions and focused work | Organize notes or summarize a short transcription |
| GPT-6 Instant | Fast answers to everyday questions | Ask what a historical term in a record means |
| GPT-6 Medium or High | More involved analysis | Compare several records and identify unanswered questions |
| GPT-6 Extra High | The highest GPT-6 Sol thinking level | Review a complicated timeline for contradictions |
| GPT-6 Pro, powered by Astra | Difficult problems and longer tasks | Compare competing identity hypotheses using multiple records |
| GPT-6.1 Sol in Work or Codex | Complex work with attention to usage | Prepare a chronology or sourced biography from supplied documents |
These are suggested applications, not a guarantee that one model will produce accurate genealogical conclusions. Check the current model menu in your account.
Free and paid plans
Here are the main plans and listed prices relevant to individual genealogists and small groups:
| Plan | Listed price | What may matter to genealogists |
|---|
| Free | $0 | Everyday text chat; file uploads, data analysis, image creation, and other tools have separate limits |
| Go | $8 per month | Higher limits than Free for eligible features such as file uploads, image generation, and data analysis |
| Plus | $20 per month | Access to additional models and Work; usage allowances still apply |
| Pro 100 | $100 per month | Pro models, file uploads, deep research, and a larger included usage allowance |
| Pro 200 | $200 per month | More included usage than Pro 100 |
| Pro 500 | $500 per month | Highest Pro allowance; includes eligible Ultrafast access |
| Business | $20 per user monthly with annual billing, or $25 monthly | For at least two users; includes shared workspace and administrative features |
Prices and features are subject to change. Pro 100 and Pro 200 do not include Ultrafast. Pro 500 does.
Free users can continue everyday text chats, subject to safeguards, but tools such as uploads and data analysis have separate limits. Paid plans provide higher limits for eligible features. Pro offers larger allowances, but it is not unlimited access to every model or tool.
A genealogist who asks occasional questions may find Free sufficient. Go or Plus may suit someone who regularly works with uploaded documents or spreadsheets. Pro may be useful for frequent, demanding projects, but the higher price makes sense only if the additional capacity meets a real need.
Creating an ancestral migration map
Both Free and Pro users can ask ChatGPT to help create a map, though their access to file uploads, data analysis, and other tools differs. Think of the examples below as sample project sizes, not promised plan limits.
| Free example | Pro example |
|---|
| Provide a short list of five verified locations for one ancestor | Upload a spreadsheet with locations for several generations |
| Ask for labeled points and arrows showing the order of documented residences | Ask for separate colors for family branches, labels, dates, and a legend |
| Review the map and make a small number of revisions as your available usage permits | Work through multiple revisions or request separate versions for printing and presentation |
| If you reach a tool limit, wait for the reset shown in your account | Check your usage before starting a large project; Pro still has an allowance |
A clear prompt might say:
Create a migration map from the attached table. Label each ancestor, location, and year. Use verified coordinates and a geographic base map. Put uncertain locations in a separate list. Do not invent a route between documented residences.
A plotted map based on verified coordinates is different from an AI-generated picture that merely looks like a map. Check every place name and location against your sources. Treat generated historical images as illustrations, not evidence, and label them accordingly.
Tokens and usage limits
OpenAI uses the word tokens for small pieces of information that ChatGPT reads and writes. Your prompt, files, conversation history, tool results, and answer all contribute to token use. However, OpenAI does not publish one fixed token total for Free users or a single fixed token total for Pro users. So there is no reliable number to give for “Free tokens versus Pro tokens.”
OpenAI also describes subscription use with terms such as usage allowance, model allowance, and usage limits. In simple terms, an allowance is the amount of work included with your plan. You may have limits for a particular model, a time period, or a tool such as file upload or data analysis.
| Term | Plain meaning | Genealogy example |
|---|
| Tokens | Pieces of information the model processes | A long probate file takes more processing than a short question |
| Usage allowance | The work included with your plan | Comparing a set of records and drafting a biography uses some of your included access |
| Model allowance | A limit for using a particular model | Astra may become unavailable after you have used its allowance |
| Tool limit | A separate limit for a feature | You might still be able to chat after reaching a file upload limit |
| Reset time | When access becomes available again | ChatGPT may show when you can use the affected model or tool again |
The same number of messages can use different amounts of allowance. A short request to compare several deeds, tax lists, and probate records may require more work than a longer request to alphabetize names. OpenAI says usage depends on the model, context, reasoning settings, and tools used.
OpenAI publishes estimates for local Work and Codex messages on Plus, within a five-hour window. These are estimates, not guaranteed counts, and they do not apply as Free or Pro message limits.
| Model | Estimated Plus messages in five hours |
|---|
| GPT-6 Astra | 5 to 45 |
| GPT-6.1 Sol | 15 to 160 |
| GPT-6 Sol | 15 to 150 |
| GPT-6 Luna | 350 to 3,000 |
Weekly limits may also apply. Pro has no five-hour usage limit in Work and Codex, but it still has an included allowance. GPT-6 Pro in Chat has separate limits. Your actual available use depends on your plan, model, task, and settings. Check Settings → Usage for your allowance and reset times.
For example, asking Astra to read a group of deeds, resolve uncertain place names, compare conflicting evidence, and prepare a sourced explanation can consume more allowance than asking it to summarize one document. Your experience of reaching an Astra limit is consistent with OpenAI’s guidance: Pro users can reach model limits too. Depending on the feature and account, you may need to wait for a reset, switch to another available model, or use eligible credits. Switching models does not replenish a shared Work and Codex allowance.
To make usage go further, upload only the relevant records, state the exact question, and request the format you need. You might first ask for a transcription with uncertain readings marked, then ask for a comparison of the transcribed documents. Higher reasoning effort can use more allowance and does not always improve the result.
Privacy and uploaded family records
Yes, OpenAI may use content from personal Free and Pro accounts to improve its models when the relevant setting is on. This can include content from conversations and eligible uploads. The setting can be turned off on either plan.
To opt out, open Settings → Data Controls and turn off Improve the model for everyone. New conversations will not be used for model training after you opt out. Your chats can remain in your history. Turning this setting off does not delete saved conversations or files. If you submit feedback on a response, OpenAI says the conversation associated with that feedback may still be used to improve models.
CRAIGEN, the Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, states its Privacy Principle this way: genealogists should take reasonable measures to safeguard private information when using AI. For family history work, consider removing names, exact birth dates, addresses, and other identifying details about living people when they are not needed. Take particular care with adoption records, health information, and DNA match lists. CRAIGEN’s privacy principle and practical privacy guidance offer further advice.
Whatever plan you use, check transcriptions against the original images, follow cited links to the underlying records, and verify names, dates, relationships, and map locations. CRAIGEN’s Accuracy Principle calls for checking AI-generated information against other records and acknowledging credible sources.
Sources
OpenAI, Use ChatGPT.
OpenAI, GPT-6 and other models in ChatGPT.
OpenAI, Model selection.
OpenAI, Pricing, tokens, and usage allowances.
OpenAI, Managing usage with GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex.
OpenAI, About ChatGPT Pro tiers.
OpenAI, ChatGPT Free Tier FAQ.
OpenAI, Data controls in ChatGPT.
OpenAI, How your data is used to improve model performance.
OpenAI, Data analysis with ChatGPT.
Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, Guiding Principles.
Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, Key Action Points for Protecting Privacy.
Disclaimer: This post was compiled by Katherine Borges and ChatGPT. Katherine Borges has no paid affiliation with OpenAI. This post is for informational purposes only.
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