Long ago, we introduced Poe, a one-stop, integrated AI application that consolidates millions of AI services including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Grok, and more. It also serves as a solution if ChatGPT or specific services are inaccessible in certain countries or network environments (think of it as using these AI models on other platforms). Of course, Poe's integration with these AI services incurs costs, so the service isn't entirely free. However, it automatically resets 3,000 usable credits daily for users, which is quite decent for light usage.

Recently, I canceled my ChatGPT Plus subscription. While $20 monthly isn't exorbitant, I felt my usage didn't justify the premium features, creating another form of waste. Additionally, GPT-4o—which requires a paid upgrade for full functionality—offers faster, more immediate responses. That's when I recalled Poe, whose billing model might suit me better.

Poe primarily operates on a “computing credit” system, with different pricing per credit depending on the selected AI model. The most affordable plan costs $165 per month (roughly $4.99 USD monthly), specifically designed for light users. This plan automatically resets 10,000 compute points daily—over three times more than the free tier. Combined with ChatGPT's free version, it proves quite sufficient while slashing monthly subscription costs by 75%!

According to the guidelines, 10,000 credits can send approximately the following number of messages to these models:

Gemini-2.0-Flash: 1,400 messages

GPT-4o: 20 messages

Claude-3.5-Sonnet: 33 messages

DeepSeek-R1: 16 messages

What I find even better about Poe is that it lets you access the latest and most popular AI services—whether from OpenAI, Anthropic, or other developers—all within one platform! This eliminates the need to subscribe and pay separately for each service, resulting in significant cost savings.

Poe also offers higher-tier plans (ranging from 1 million credits to a maximum of 12.5 million credits per month), though usage is capped. You might need to calculate which plan best fits your needs. While ChatGPT Plus is often seen as an “all-you-can-eat” option, it still has reasonable usage limits. For those who are budget-conscious or have limited funds, Poe might be a better fit!

Guide to Upgrading Your Poe Subscription Plan

Below is a brief record of my actual process for upgrading my Poe subscription plan, provided as a reference for readers who may need it.

First, go to the Poe website and log in using your Google, Apple account, or email address.

After clicking “Settings” in the left sidebar, you'll see your remaining “Calculation Points.” The free plan provides 3,000 points daily. Subscribing grants additional points and unlocks exclusive AI bots like o3-mini-high and o1.

Clicking “Subscribe to Poe” at the top of the Settings page displays the subscription feature (you can also access this page via the “Upgrade” option in the left sidebar).

Locate the most affordable plan offering 10,000 points daily at the top. Switching to monthly billing costs only 165 yuan per month.

Poe's subscription payments utilize the Stripe platform, ensuring secure transactions. Simply enter your contact information and payment method to complete the purchase.

After subscribing, return to Poe to see your computing points updated.

Like other services, Poe enables auto-renewal after upgrades or subscriptions. My practice is to first click “Manage Subscription,” then return to Stripe and disable auto-renewal.

This ensures uninterrupted access for the current month and prevents accidental charges if you stop using the service later (remember to cultivate good subscription management habits—consider using Subscription Master App).

After upgrading Poe, you can unlock additional AI models. If a model is labeled “Subscriber Access” in the Bot or Application list, it means this AI is only available after upgrading. However, these models are often exceptionally powerful, though their pricing tiers are also substantial.

If you wish to use higher-tier models, we recommend first checking the “Rates” section on the features page to view individual pricing. This will help you determine the exact upgrade plan you need (generally, the cheapest 10,000-point plan may be far insufficient for these models).