University of Illinois WebStore ChatGPT Edu Offerings
The University of Illinois WebStore offers three purchasing packages for access to the University’s ChatGPT Edu workspace: Essential, Plus, and Pro.
Essential, Plus, and Pro are University of Illinois WebStore package names. They are not the same as OpenAI’s consumer ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro subscription plans.
All three WebStore packages provide access to the same University ChatGPT Edu workspace. The primary difference between the packages is the amount of additional flexible-use credits allocated each month.
Compare WebStore Packages
| WebStore package | ChatGPT workspace | Additional flexible-use credits |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT EduEssential | University ChatGPT Edu | None |
| ChatGPT EduPlus | University ChatGPT Edu | 460 credits/month |
| ChatGPT EduPro | University ChatGPT Edu | 1,000 credits/month |
Purchasing Plus or Pro does not convert your account to an OpenAI ChatGPT Plus or ChatGPT Pro subscription or change the ChatGPT Edu workspace associated with your University account.
Monthly WebStore flexible-use allocations reset each month. Unused credits do not roll over.
What are flexible-use credits?
ChatGPT Edu includes access to many ChatGPT capabilities without requiring additional WebStore flexible-use credits.
Flexible-use credits provide additional usage capacity for supported advanced features and models. Depending on the feature, credits may be used after an included ChatGPT Edu allowance has been exhausted or may be consumed beginning with the first use.
Examples of credit-based usage can include:
- advanced reasoning models and higher reasoning levels;
- additional Deep Research usage;
- additional image generation;
- Codex and agentic workflows; and
- other advanced capabilities designated by OpenAI as credit-based.
The number of credits consumed varies by feature, model, task complexity, and OpenAI’s current rate card.
ChatGPT EduEssential
ChatGPT Edu access with no additional WebStore flexible-use credit allocation.
Essential is the base WebStore package and provides access to the University’s ChatGPT Edu workspace and the capabilities included with the University’s OpenAI subscription.
Users can access supported standard ChatGPT experiences and included allowances established by OpenAI. Advanced credit-based usage beyond those allowances requires an available source of flexible-use credits.
Additional WebStore allocation: None
ChatGPT EduPlus
ChatGPT Edu access plus 460 flexible-use credits per month.
Plus provides the same University ChatGPT Edu workspace access as Essential, along with a monthly flexible-use allocation for users who regularly need additional capacity for credit-based features and models.
Additional WebStore allocation: 460 credits per month
Reset: Monthly
Rollover: Unused credits do not roll over
ChatGPT EduPro
ChatGPT Edu access plus 1,000 flexible-use credits per month.
Pro provides the same University ChatGPT Edu workspace access as Essential and Plus, along with a larger monthly flexible-use allocation for users with frequent or high-volume advanced usage.
Additional WebStore allocation: 1,000 credits per month
Reset: Monthly
Rollover: Unused credits do not roll over
Current OpenAI Included Usage
In addition to the WebStore flexible-use allocations described above, OpenAI currently includes some usage with ChatGPT Edu that does not consume flexible-use credits.
As of September 2026, current included usage includes:
| Capability | Current OpenAI included usage |
|---|---|
| Instant Chat | Unlimited, subject to OpenAI usage policies, applicable model allowances, and routing behavior |
| Deep Research | 5 queries per rolling 24-hour period |
| Image generation | 3 generations per rolling 24-hour period |
| Codex | Baseline access, subject to OpenAI usage limits and University workspace configuration |
These allowances are established by OpenAI, not by the University WebStore, and may change independently of the Essential, Plus, and Pro packages. Feature and model availability may also depend on University workspace configuration.
For the most current information about included usage, credit consumption, and supported models and features, consult the University’s Generative AI Solutions Hub and current OpenAI documentation.
What happens if I use all of my monthly flexible-use credits?
Using all of your WebStore flexible-use credits does not remove your ChatGPT Edu access.
You can continue using ChatGPT Edu capabilities that do not require additional credits, subject to OpenAI and University usage policies. Additional credit-based usage will become available again when your WebStore monthly allocation resets or when another applicable source of credits is available.
WebStore also offers customized flexible-use credit plans above 1,000 credits per month. Email webstore@illinois.edu if you anticipate needing a higher monthly allocation than 1k.
Are ChatGPT EduPlus and Pro the same as OpenAI ChatGPT Plus and Pro?
No.
The names ChatGPT EduEssential, ChatGPT EduPlus, and ChatGPT EduPro identify University of Illinois WebStore purchasing packages for the University’s ChatGPT Edu service.
OpenAI also offers separately defined ChatGPT subscription plans, including products using the names ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro. Those are different products with their own features, pricing, entitlements, and account structures.
Purchasing a University WebStore ChatGPT EduPlus or Pro package therefore does not cause your University ChatGPT account to display OpenAI Plus or Pro branding.