ChatGPT

ChatGPT is OpenAI’s AI assistant. It is used for writing, research, coding, data analysis, image creation and everyday questions, and is available on the web, desktop and mobile apps. OpenAI also sells a separate developer API.

Quick facts

• Made by: OpenAI (founded 2015)
• Free plan: Yes, with usage limits. In the US the Free and Go plans show ads.
• Paid plans: Go, Plus, two Pro tiers, Business and Enterprise
• Works on: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
• Pricing last checked: October 2026, using several recent published sources. Confirm on the official pricing page.

What ChatGPT is best at

• All-round assistance: drafting, editing, brainstorming, summarising and answering questions.
• Coding help: writing and debugging code, with Codex for coding tasks on paid plans.
• Data and file analysis: working with spreadsheets, PDFs and images you upload.
• Deep research: longer, multi-source research reports on paid plans.
• Images and video: image generation, plus Sora video on supported plans.
• Voice: spoken conversations in the mobile and desktop apps.

Key features

• Multiple models: faster “Instant” style models and slower “Thinking” models for harder problems, with access depending on plan.
• Custom GPTs: reusable assistants configured with your own instructions and files.
• Connected apps: integrations with services such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and GitHub.
• Memory and projects: keep context and files for ongoing work.

Plans and pricing

OpenAI added the $100 Pro tier in April 2026, so older guides listing only a $200 Pro plan are out of date. Plans, limits and ad policies change often, so confirm before subscribing.

Best for

• People who want one assistant for text, images, files and voice.
• Developers and analysts who want strong coding and data tools.
• Teams that want a widely used, familiar tool.

Less suited to

• People who want an ad-free experience on a free plan in the US.
• Anyone who needs very high limits without paying for a Pro tier.

How to get started

1. Create an account on the official ChatGPT website or app.
2. Try the Free plan on a real task, such as drafting an email or summarising a document.
3. Check the privacy and data settings, and avoid pasting passwords or confidential client data.
4. Upgrade to Plus if you hit limits or want ad-free use and the stronger models.
5. Move to a Pro tier only if you regularly run into Plus limits.

Prompt ideas to copy

Act as an experienced editor. Rewrite the text below for [audience] in plain English, under [number] words. List the three biggest changes you made.

Here is a spreadsheet of [describe data]. Find the three most important trends, explain them in simple terms and suggest one chart for each.

I want to learn [topic] in [time]. Create a week-by-week plan with goals, practice tasks and a final project.

Limitations and things to watch

• It can state wrong information confidently, so verify names, numbers and sources.
• Free and Go plans have limits and show ads in the US.
• The best models and highest limits are on higher-priced plans.

Frequently asked questions

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes. ChatGPT has a Free plan with usage limits. In the US the Free and Go plans show ads. Confirm current limits on the official pricing page.

What is the difference between ChatGPT Plus and Pro?

Plus ($20 per month) is ad-free and adds the flagship models, Deep Research, Sora and Codex with higher limits. The Pro tiers ($100 and $200 per month) offer about 5x and 20x Plus usage for heavy users.

Which devices does ChatGPT work on?

It works on the web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.

Can I trust ChatGPT’s answers?

Not blindly. It can state wrong information confidently, so check names, numbers and sources before relying on them, and avoid pasting passwords or confidential client data.

Is the ChatGPT API included in my subscription?

No. OpenAI sells the developer API separately from ChatGPT plans.

Alternatives

Compare Claude and Gemini as all-round assistants. For answers with cited sources, see Perplexity.