ChatGPT
OpenAI's flagship assistant — still the name most people reach for first when they think "AI chatbot".
What is ChatGPT?
Ask a random person on the street to name an AI chatbot, and there's a good chance they'll say ChatGPT before anything else. Launched by OpenAI at the end of November 2022, it was the product that turned large language models from a research curiosity into something hundreds of millions of people use every week — for drafting emails, debugging code, planning trips, or just asking questions they'd otherwise have Googled. Under the hood, it's less a single model than a moving target: OpenAI ships new versions on a rolling basis, and the app quietly routes your message to whichever one fits the job, unless you tell it otherwise.
What keeps ChatGPT relevant isn't just the underlying model — it's the sheer breadth of what's bolted onto it. Custom GPTs let anyone package a specialised assistant without writing code. Canvas turns the chat window into something closer to a document editor for longer writing or coding sessions. Codex handles software work directly, and Advanced Voice Mode makes talking to it feel less like typing into a search bar and more like a conversation. Whether that breadth feels like genuine usefulness or feature sprawl tends to depend on how much of it you actually touch.
User figures are OpenAI's own published numbers (via Reuters, February 2026). Context window applies to manually-selected "Thinking" responses on paid plans; the default fast mode uses a smaller window. Check OpenAI's site for the current status in your region.
Key features
Thinking mode
Switch on extended reasoning for harder problems — math, multi-step logic, or anything that benefits from the model slowing down.
Image generation
Generate and edit images directly inside the chat, from quick concepts to more polished visuals.
Canvas
A side-by-side editor for longer documents or code, so you're revising a draft instead of scrolling through chat bubbles.
Custom GPTs
Build a specialised version of ChatGPT with its own instructions and knowledge, no coding required.
Advanced Voice
Hold a natural, low-latency spoken conversation instead of typing, with a voice that actually sounds like one.
Codex
A built-in coding agent that can write, review and run code across a project rather than one snippet at a time.
Pricing
Free
- GPT-5.5 Instant, limited daily use
- Basic image generation & file uploads
- Web, iOS & Android access
Plus
- GPT-5.6 Sol reasoning & higher limits
- Custom GPTs, Canvas & Codex
- Expanded voice & image generation
Pro
- 20x the usage allowance of Plus
- Unlimited Sora video & Operator agent
- 250 Deep Research runs / month
A lower-usage Pro tier ($100/month) and a Business plan (from $20/seat/month, annual) also exist. Prices reflect OpenAI's published pricing as of July 2026 and may change — cards link to OpenAI's official pricing page.
Available models
Integrations & platforms
Pros, cons & best for
Pros
- Broadest feature set of any assistant on the market
- Huge ecosystem of Custom GPTs and integrations
- Strong native image and voice capabilities
Cons
- Pricing ladder has grown complex, with six tiers to compare
- Free and Go tiers now show ads
- Smaller in-app context window than some rivals by default
Best for
- Anyone who wants one app to cover chat, images, voice and code
- Users who rely on a large third-party plugin ecosystem
- Teams already standardised on OpenAI's tools
Take a look inside
Alternatives
ChatGPT's biggest strength — how much it tries to do — is also where competitors carve out an edge:
Our verdict
It's hard to fault ChatGPT for ambition. Between Custom GPTs, Canvas, Codex, image generation and voice, there's very little it doesn't at least attempt — and for most people, the free tier or Plus subscription genuinely covers everyday needs without hunting for a second tool. The trade-off is that the pricing structure has become one of the more confusing in the industry, with six overlapping tiers, and the in-app context window trails a couple of rivals unless you deliberately switch into Thinking mode. If you want the widest set of capabilities in a single subscription and don't mind a bit of tier-shopping to find the right one, ChatGPT remains the safest default pick.
FAQ
Which GPT model does ChatGPT actually use?
By default, everyday replies come from GPT-5.5 Instant. Paid users can manually switch to GPT-5.6 Sol ("Thinking") for harder problems, with Terra and Luna available through Codex and other paid features rather than the standard chat picker.
Are there ads on ChatGPT now?
Yes, as of February 2026 OpenAI began showing ads on the Free and Go tiers. Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise plans remain ad-free.
What's the difference between Plus and Pro?
Plus ($20/month) covers most individual needs. Pro (from $100/month) multiplies usage limits, adds unlimited Sora video generation on the $200 tier, the Operator agent, and a much larger Deep Research allowance.
Can I use ChatGPT without an account?
Basic use without registration has been available since April 2024, though creating a free account unlocks memory, saved chats, and higher usage limits.
What are Custom GPTs?
They're specialised versions of ChatGPT that anyone can configure with custom instructions and reference files, without writing code, then share or use privately.
Does ChatGPT have a business plan?
Yes. Business starts around $20 per seat per month on annual billing (or $25 monthly), with admin controls and a two-seat minimum. Enterprise pricing is negotiated directly with OpenAI.