Replit launches Free Mode AI feature using OpenAI's low-cost Luna model

Replit unveiled a new offering called Free Mode, which runs on OpenAI’s GPT-5.6 Luna model after the latter’s cost was slashed by 80% on July 30. Although the feature is labeled “free,” it remains tied to the platform’s subscription plans—Core at $20 per month and Pro at $100 per month—intended to add value and curb AI token consumption. Users can perform chats, ideation, or simple code executions in Free Mode, after which the system automatically escalates to a more capable model if the task demands it, then reverts back.

Michele Catasta, Replit’s president and head of AI, described the default activation of Free Mode for paid tiers as a “radical” step toward affordable AI. OpenAI’s Head of Core Products and Platform, Thibault Sottiaux, said the price reduction reflects operational efficiencies, not extra compute supply. The partnership, which dates back to Replit’s early use of GPT-3, is set to produce additional joint launches, with both firms sharing a vision of making powerful, low-cost models widely accessible. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed optimism that such accessibility could spark a new wave of entrepreneurship.