About ChatGPT
ChatGPT brings chat, ChatGPT Work, and Codex into one product. Ask a question, upload context, or describe a deliverable, then review and refine the result. The tools and models available depend on your plan and account.
Main features
- Explain concepts, draft text, and compare options
- Search the web and carry out deeper research
- Understand uploaded files and analyze data
- Generate and edit images, and use voice conversations
- Create work deliverables with ChatGPT Work and handle code with Codex
Inputs, outputs and access
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What you can provide | Text, uploaded files, images and voice. |
| What you can create | Text, images, voice, documents, spreadsheets, presentations and code; access varies by feature and plan. |
| Account access | Some chat features work while signed out. Subscriptions, saved history settings and account exports require sign-in. |
| Interface languages | Includes Chinese, English, Japanese, French, German and Spanish. |
| Availability examples | Available in supported markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Taiwan. |
Capabilities in practice
Build deliverables from your working files
ChatGPT Work can combine approved app context with files and templates to create documents, decks and analyses. A launch brief can draw on a product document, a schedule and a Slack discussion, bringing responsibilities and next steps into one deliverable.
Plan, schedule and review recurring work
Plan mode gathers context and proposes steps for you to revise or approve. Recurring tasks can prepare reports on a schedule. Team tasks let authorized colleagues update shared instructions, while desktop workflows can use local files, apps and the built-in browser.
Platforms and access
Web, iOS, Android, and official desktop apps; feature availability varies.
Pricing and plans
Plus is USD 20 billed monthly, with no annual option. Pro 100, Pro 200, and Pro 500 are USD 100, USD 200, and USD 500 per month, also with monthly billing. Usage allowances differ by tier. API usage is billed separately.
Open source and deployment
ChatGPT is a hosted product. The separate OpenAI Python API SDK uses the Apache-2.0 licence, which covers the SDK.
Data and privacy
Personal users can turn off “Improve the model for everyone” so new chats are not used for training. Temporary chats are not used to improve models and may be kept for up to 30 days for safety; saving them changes their status. Data exports and deletion controls depend on the workspace. Submitting feedback after opting out may still allow the associated conversation to be used for training.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ChatGPT for free?
Yes. A Free plan is available, with limits on uploads and several advanced tools.
What does Plus cost?
USD 20 per month, billed monthly. There is no annual Plus plan, and API usage is billed separately.
Does it support Chinese?
Yes. Chinese is a supported interface language.
Can I stop my new chats being used for training?
Turn off “Improve the model for everyone” in Data controls. This does not remove chats from your history.
Can I download my chat history?
Eligible signed-in accounts can request a ZIP export in Data controls. Business, Enterprise, and Healthcare workspaces do not offer the same self-service export.
Product updates
- OpenAI introduces Pro 500 with Astra Ultrafast · 2026-09-29
Product and provider
Product scope
Hosted ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work and its official client experience; separately billed OpenAI API and model-weight releases are excluded.
Provider and service
ChatGPT is provided by OpenAI (OpenAI OpCo, LLC). The product is available as an online service.
Provider location
OpenAI OpCo, LLC is a United States entity.
| Tagline | OpenAI’s AI assistant for everyday questions, learning, creating work deliverables, and coding. |
| Contact channels | Search the help center for setup, account and billing support. |
Access and help
Official website · Launch url · Pricing url · Documentation url · Support url · Status url · Policy url · Terms url
| Legal urls | Service terms, privacy and applicable organization agreements. |
Working style
Interaction and review
Use natural-language conversation to generate, analyze and retrieve information. Editable working surfaces are available for supported deliverables; review the final result before use.
| Primary category | Assistants |
| Product forms | website; mobile app; desktop app |
| Integration ecosystems | Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, SharePoint, MCP |
Tasks and preparation
People and tasks
The assistant covers general research, writing and file work. It can fit individual, small-team and enterprise workflows, with the relevant plan and organization controls.
| Problems solved | Combine source material, reuse context and prepare a reviewable first draft. |
| Primary jobs | Turn notes into a document or presentation; Explore a topic and check the underlying sources; Analyze an uploaded spreadsheet; Plan, write, test, and review code |
| Target roles | Students and people learning a subject; Professionals working with documents and data; Developers |
| Experience level | Basic chat uses natural-language instructions; connected workflows also require permissions and result review. |
| Prerequisites | Prepare the task, relevant files and permission to use them. Sign in for saved or paid features. |
| Value proposition | Reduce manual collection and first-draft assembly while keeping a review step. |
| Unsuitable scenarios | Model access and tool limits depend on the plan, account, and rollout. API usage is billed separately from a ChatGPT subscription. Available in supported countries and territories. |
| Manual alternatives | The corresponding manual workflow is to read sources, organize findings and edit the final document. |
Files and results
Prepare files for analysis
For data analysis, upload XLS, XLSX, CSV, PDF, JSON, XML, YAML, TXT or Markdown. Use clear column names and one record per spreadsheet row; separate unrelated tables before analysis.
Upload size and quota
Each file has a 512 MB ceiling; text documents also have a 2-million-token limit. Spreadsheets are about 50 MB and images 20 MB. Free allows 3 uploads per day; rolling upload and shared storage caps are separate.
Adapt a repeat task
Task instructions, revised plans, templates and connected context can shape the work. ZIP account exports preserve history; they do not recreate the running workflow or connected-app permissions.
From a task to a result
When a file is missing or incomplete
If an upload fails, check the account, file size, rolling allowance and shared storage, then inspect the service status. For incomplete analysis, split the data and name the sheets, columns or ranges to inspect.
Repeat a workflow with shared instructions
ChatGPT Work can schedule recurring reports and gather an editable plan before work starts. Shared team instructions can guide repeat tasks, while supported desktop workflows can use local files and applications.
Example task: Compare two weekly sales CSVs
Compare these two sample weekly CSVs by product. List changed totals, show the calculation and make a chart. Ask if a column is unclear.
Get started
Open ChatGPT on the web or download an official app. Ask a question or describe the output you want; add relevant files if available. Review the result, refine your instructions, and check important claims.
Example steps
Prepare sample materials you have permission to use. Compare these two sample weekly CSVs by product. List changed totals, show the calculation and make a chart. Ask if a column is unclear. Review the draft and save the result.
Platforms and availability
| Support languages | English product documentation is available. |
Subscriptions and billing
Cancellation and refund route
For web subscriptions, request a refund through Help Center while signed in to the charged account. Accidental purchases are generally eligible when reported within 14 days. Apple purchases use Apple’s refund process; regional rules and purchase channel affect eligibility.
Renewal and taxes
Subscriptions renew automatically until canceled through the original billing channel. Applicable taxes vary by location.
| Access model | freemium; subscription |
| Free tier | Free plan available. |
| Free | USD 0 · per account. Uploads: up to 3 files per day; rolling allowance can be reduced at peak times. |
| Plus | USD 20/month · per account. Uploads: up to 80 files per 3 hours; rolling allowance can be reduced at peak times. |
| Pro 100 | USD 100/month · per account. Uploads: up to 80 files per 3 hours; rolling allowance can be reduced at peak times. |
| Pro 200 | USD 200/month · per account. Uploads: up to 80 files per 3 hours; rolling allowance can be reduced at peak times. |
| Pro 500 | USD 500/month · per account. Uploads: up to 80 files per 3 hours; rolling allowance can be reduced at peak times. |
Choosing and using the tool
| Key takeaways | OpenAI’s AI assistant for everyday questions, learning, creating work deliverables, and coding. Free plan; Plus USD 20/month; Pro USD 100, 200, or 500/month. Model access and tool limits depend on the plan, account, and rollout. |
| Pros | Explain concepts, draft text, and compare options; Search the web and carry out deeper research; Understand uploaded files and analyze data |
Apps, integrations and development
Connected sources and MCP apps
ChatGPT can read connected sources such as Drive, OneDrive and SharePoint. Custom MCP apps can expose actions in supported workspaces: Pro currently supports read/fetch; full write support is a Business and Enterprise/Edu beta on the web.
| Mcp status | client only |
Ownership and deployment
Input and output rights
You keep your input rights. Output rights are assigned to you to the extent allowed by law and the service terms; third-party material and dependencies keep their own terms.
Hosted product and generated files
ChatGPT runs as a hosted product. Installing its official client does not deploy the full service on your own server. Generated files and scripts can be used separately where export is supported.
| Generated code license | Generated code is covered by the output terms; included third-party dependencies keep their separate licences. |
| Third party rights | Third-party material can carry separate terms; a generated response does not itself establish a licence to all quoted material or dependencies. |
Privacy and organization controls
Saved, deleted and temporary chats
Saved chats remain until deletion. Deleted account content is normally removed within 30 days; de-identified material and security, legal or financial records can have different retention. Temporary chats are normally deleted within 30 days.
Personal and organization data locations
Personal-account data can be processed in the US and other jurisdictions used by OpenAI or its service providers. Eligible Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare workspaces can choose supported data-residency regions; storage residency and inference location are separate controls.
Workspace identity and permissions
Business supports MFA, member/admin/owner roles and SAML SSO. Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare add SCIM and more granular role controls. Business data uses encryption at rest and in transit and is excluded from training by default.
Data handled during use
Using the service can involve account details, prompts, files, generated outputs and device or usage information. Paid services also process billing details; optional app connections bring in the information you authorize.
Deletion and organization agreements
Delete individual chats, memory or the account, or submit a request through privacy.openai.com. Organization offerings support a DPA and publish SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 assurance information. BAA eligibility applies to specified Healthcare or API arrangements.
Working limits
Data analysis boundaries
The data-analysis Python environment does not make external web or API requests. Supply the data or attach an available connected source first. Exact values in scans and image-based tables are less reliable than a spreadsheet or text-based file.
Export, migration and alternatives
Keep a copy of your account data
Eligible personal accounts can request a ZIP of chat history and account data from Data controls. Business, Enterprise and Healthcare do not use the same personal self-service export. A ZIP backup is separate from editable work deliverables.
A related option
Claude is a partial alternative for document and knowledge work. Its working environment and connected-app ecosystem differ. Compare the output you need and required permissions; this is a workflow comparison for 2 October 2026.
Sources and further reading
Information checked: 2026-10-02
ChatGPT product overview
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Name · Record scope · Tagline · Vendor name · Lifecycle status · Official website · Launch url · Documentation url · Support url · Contact channels · Primary category · Secondary categories
Data controls in ChatGPT
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Training opt out · Training use · Account requirement
Exporting your ChatGPT history and data
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Account requirement · Data export process · Export exit options · Export formats
Official OpenAI Python SDK and licence
View source · OpenAI
ChatGPT release notes: Pro 500
View source · OpenAI
OpenAI Terms of Use
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Terms url · Legal urls · Vendor legal name · Vendor jurisdiction · Product open source status · Self host status · Ownership terms · Third party rights · Generated code license · Renewal cancellation · Tax treatment
OpenAI Privacy Policy
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Policy url · Data categories · Retention policy · Storage regions · Deletion process
Business data privacy, security, and compliance
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Storage regions · Encryption claims · Assurances · Access controls · Enterprise identity · Enterprise agreements
Data analysis with ChatGPT
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Input modalities · Input formats · Troubleshooting · Known limitations · Integrations · Integration ecosystems · Example prompts · Use cases · Problems solved · Value proposition · Manual alternatives
Developer mode and MCP apps in ChatGPT
View source · OpenAI
Topics: Mcp status · Integrations · Integration ecosystems · Export exit options
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OpenAI Multi-agent in Practice: Responses API, Tools and Parallel Workflows — Start with a GPT-6.1 Sol review example and learn task delegation, application tools, and HTTP versus WebSocket.
Setup guide: ChatGPT MCP plugins
How to Add MCP Plugins to ChatGPT: A Pro Setup Guide with Screenshots — Follow connection, installation and first-call checks, with screenshots and troubleshooting.
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