Deep Research: Probably the best ChatGPT Pro feature (right now)
If you often spend hours researching information, you should try Deep Research.

I’ve been writing reports, papers, and articles over the past years, and one of the things that takes most of my time is digging through multiple sources, comparing facts, and cross-verifying information. Deep Research changes that completely.

With one prompt, ChatGPT Pro now delivers comprehensive, properly cited research reports. It pulls from a wide range of sources, summarizes them, and even points out conflicting information when it finds it. It feels like having a personal research assistant that doesn’t get tired.

However, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it hallucinates sources (listing citations that don’t actually exist) or gives surface-level explanations when I expect more depth. Still, for 80% of my needs, it saves me hours of tedious work.

Custom GPTs: A love-hate relationship
One of the hyped features is the ability to create your own custom GPTs. I was genuinely excited about this. The idea of building an AI assistant tailored to my needs—whether for writing, coding, or business strategy—sounded incredible.

The reality? It’s… mixed.

While setting up a basic custom GPT is easy, creating something powerful requires a lot of fine-tuning. There’s a learning curve, and the interface still feels clunky in places. Also, some custom GPTs just randomly crash or stop responding mid-task, which can be super frustrating.

That said, when it works, it’s magical. I created a personal writing coach GPT that helps me edit articles in my style, and it’s genuinely boosted my productivity.

Advanced Data Analysis (ADA): Surprisingly good (but needs babysitting)
Advanced Data Analysis is another premium feature that impressed me. You can upload files like CSVs or Excel sheets, and ChatGPT Pro can analyze them, spot trends, create charts, and even build simple predictive models.

For basic to intermediate data analysis, it’s fantastic. It helps me crunch numbers faster than I could manually. But for more complex data tasks, it still needs a lot of supervision. I often find myself double-checking its outputs because small mistakes in data interpretation can creep in.

In short: it’s a powerful tool if you treat it like a junior analyst who needs review—not a fully independent expert.

Speed and Priority Access: A subtle but real upgrade
One underrated aspect of ChatGPT Pro is the speed boost. Queries are processed much faster compared to free-tier users, and I almost never see capacity errors anymore. It’s subtle, but when you’re working on tight deadlines, it makes a real difference.

What I liked about ChatGPT Pro:

  • Deep Research saves me hours per week.
  • Custom GPTs offer insane potential for personalization.
  • Advanced Data Analysis gives me quick insights from raw data.
  • Priority access = no more annoying “server full” messages.
  • Overall faster and smoother experience.

What I disliked about ChatGPT Pro:

  • Some features (especially custom GPTs) feel half-baked.
  • Occasional hallucinations or inaccuracies in Deep Research outputs.
  • Not beginner-friendly—takes time to unlock its full power.
  • $200/month is still expensive, especially if you’re not using it daily.

Is ChatGPT Pro worth it?
If you’re someone who writes, researches, analyzes data, or builds digital products daily, and you can afford it, ChatGPT Pro can be a huge force multiplier. It’s a tool that, when used right, will save you time and unlock new capabilities.

But if you’re a casual user or just want occasional help writing emails or essays, the free version (or cheaper alternatives) are probably enough.

For me personally? Despite its flaws, ChatGPT Pro has earned a permanent place in my toolkit—for now.