ChatGPT is OpenAI’s general-purpose AI assistant and the most widely used chatbot in the world. You can ask it questions, have it draft and edit text, analyze spreadsheets and PDFs, create images, write and debug code, and, on paid plans, hand it multi-step jobs in agent mode that browse the web and use apps on your behalf.
In 2026 ChatGPT runs on the GPT-5.5 family: GPT-5.5 Instant for fast everyday answers, GPT-5.5 Thinking for harder reasoning, and GPT-5.5 Pro for the most demanding work. Which of these you can use, and how much, depends on your plan.
Key features
- GPT-5.5 Instant, Thinking and Pro models, with Thinking on Plus and above and Pro reserved for the Pro plan.
- Deep research that reads dozens of sources and returns a cited report.
- Agent mode that can browse, fill in forms and complete multi-step tasks (Plus and above).
- Codex for software engineering tasks, from small fixes to full pull requests.
- Image creation, voice and vision: generate images, talk to it, or show it a photo or screen.
- Projects, memory, tasks and custom GPTs to organize ongoing work and reuse your own assistants.
- 60+ app integrations on Business, including Slack, Google Drive and GitHub.
ChatGPT pricing
| Plan | Price (US) | Best for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Trying it out | Limited GPT-5.5 Instant, uploads, images, deep research and Codex |
| Go | $8/month | Light daily use | More messages, uploads and images, longer memory; may include ads |
| Plus | $20/month | Most individuals | GPT-5.5 Thinking, agent mode, projects, tasks, custom GPTs, more Codex |
| Pro | From $100/month | Power users | 5x or 20x Plus usage, GPT-5.5 Pro, maximum deep research and Codex |
| Business | From $20/user/month (annual) | Teams of 2+ | Shared workspace, app integrations, admin controls, no training on your data |
| Enterprise | Custom | Large organizations | SCIM, data residency, enterprise key management, 24/7 support |
OpenAI does not print every amount on its pricing page and prices vary by country, so check the exact figure at checkout. Business is about $25 per user per month when billed monthly and needs at least two users. Verified U.S. K–12 teachers can use ChatGPT for Teachers free through June 2027.
Our experience using ChatGPT
For everyday writing, summarizing and brainstorming, GPT-5.5 Instant is fast and reliable, and the free plan covers most casual use. The jump to Plus is worth it if you rely on longer reasoning, upload files often, or want agent mode to take on chores like research and form filling.
Deep research is one of the best features in the category: the reports are well structured and cited, although you should still check the sources for anything important. Codex makes ChatGPT a credible coding tool too, but dedicated editors like Cursor and GitHub Copilot fit better into a developer’s daily workflow.
Who should use ChatGPT?
ChatGPT suits almost everyone: students, marketers, writers, analysts and developers who want a single assistant that does a bit of everything well. Start on Free, move to Go if you only need more messages, and choose Plus once you want Thinking, deep research and agent mode. Pro only makes sense if you hit Plus limits every day.
ChatGPT vs alternatives
ChatGPT’s closest rivals are Claude, which many people prefer for long documents, careful writing and coding, and Google Gemini, which is the better pick if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android. Microsoft Copilot makes more sense inside Word, Excel and Outlook, while Perplexity is stronger as a cited answer engine for research. For real-time trends from X, also see Grok.
See every option in our AI Chatbots category, or browse AI for Writing tools if your main use is content.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes. The Free plan costs nothing and includes limited access to GPT-5.5 Instant, file uploads, image creation, deep research, memory and Codex.
How much is ChatGPT Plus?
ChatGPT Plus costs $20 per month in the US and adds GPT-5.5 Thinking, agent mode, projects, tasks, custom GPTs and higher limits.
What is ChatGPT Go?
Go is a low-cost plan at $8 per month in the US with more messages, uploads and images than Free plus longer memory. It may show ads.
How much is ChatGPT Pro?
Pro starts at $100 per month for 5x Plus usage, with a 20x option at $200 per month. It also unlocks GPT-5.5 Pro.
Is ChatGPT better than Claude or Gemini?
It depends on the job. ChatGPT is the best all-rounder, Claude is often preferred for writing and coding, and Gemini fits best if you use Google Workspace.
