ChatGPT is OpenAI’s AI assistant for writing, research, analysis, coding, images and voice. As of September 2026 it is also an agent platform: the new ChatGPT Work mode turns a goal into finished documents, slides, spreadsheets and web pages. The free plan runs on GPT-5.6 Luna. Paid plans start at $8 a month and add GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-6 Astra and higher limits.
Last updated: September 2026
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a conversational AI product made by OpenAI. It launched on 30 November 2022 and now runs on the web, on iOS and Android, and in a Mac and Windows desktop app that combines Chat, Work and Codex.
The model lineup changed several times in 2026. According to OpenAI’s help center, Free and Go users now get GPT-5.6 Luna by default (it became their default in the week of 6 August 2026). Plus subscribers chat with GPT-5.6 Sol at Instant, Medium or High reasoning levels. Pro users also get Extra High and Pro levels, including GPT-5.6 Sol Pro and GPT-6 Pro.
OpenAI announced GPT-6 Astra, its new flagship, on 3 September 2026, rolling out to Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise. Plus gets it in ChatGPT Work and Codex; Pro also gets it in Chat. On 22 September 2026 OpenAI added GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna to Work and Codex for paid plans. They are not yet in Chat, but Free and Go users can use GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app.
Key features of ChatGPT
ChatGPT Work (the agent that replaced agent mode)
Launched on 9 July 2026, ChatGPT Work is OpenAI’s agent for longer tasks. OpenAI describes it as an agent that “can take action across your apps and files, stay with a project for hours if needed, and turn a goal into finished work.” It can produce slides, spreadsheets, documents and interactive Sites. Free users get limited Work access in the desktop app; paid plans also get it on web and mobile.
- Plan mode gathers context, asks questions and creates a step-by-step plan that you can change or approve before the agent starts.
- Check-ins let you answer questions, change direction and approve important actions while a task runs.
- Signed-in websites: since August 2026, Work’s browser on web and mobile can complete tasks on some websites that require you to sign in.
The older “ChatGPT agent” (agent mode) is no longer available; OpenAI’s help center points users to Work. OpenAI also shut down its standalone Atlas browser on 9 August 2026 in favour of the browser built into the ChatGPT desktop app.
Deep research
Deep research writes cited reports with a table of contents and an activity history. It can search the public web, your uploads, connected apps such as Google Drive and SharePoint, and websites you choose. Reports download as Markdown, Word or PDF. Every plan includes some deep research, but limits vary by plan; fixed monthly allowances reset every 30 days from your first use.
Memory and personalization
With memory on, ChatGPT uses saved memories and past chats. Since May 2026, answers can show “Sources” that tell you which past chats, saved memories, custom instructions, files or connected email shaped a response. You can switch memory off or use Temporary Chat. On paid plans, custom instructions can now be up to 5,000 characters long (up from 1,500).
Projects, scheduled tasks and custom GPTs
Projects keep related chats, files and instructions together. Scheduled tasks run prompts on a schedule, and they can also be triggered by updates in connected apps such as Gmail, Slack and GitHub pull requests. Free users are limited to three active tasks. Custom GPTs still work for now, but in September 2026 OpenAI announced plans to retire them across plans and offer a migration path to plugins.
Voice with GPT-Live
OpenAI released GPT-Live on 8 July 2026. It is a “full-duplex” voice model, meaning it can listen and speak at the same time, which makes conversations feel more natural. Go, Plus and Pro users got GPT-Live-1 as the default at launch, while Free users get the lighter GPT-Live-1 mini; daily voice limits vary by plan. Since September 2026, voice can also use plugins and Work.
Image generation with ChatGPT Images 2.5
ChatGPT Images 2.5 arrived on 8 September 2026. OpenAI says it cuts image generation latency by up to 50% compared with Images 2.0 and handles precise edits and reference photos better. New tools include Sketch (draw a rough guide), templates for posters, flyers and product photos, and comments for targeted edits. It is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including in Work and Codex, with limits by plan.
Plugins, Library and Sites
In July 2026 a Plugin Directory replaced the App Directory, and existing app connections kept working. Plugins connect ChatGPT to tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, SharePoint, Gmail and Google Calendar; OpenAI says there are more than 1,400. The Library stores your files and now links to Google Drive, Box, Dropbox and SharePoint. ChatGPT Sites (public beta since July 2026, starting with Pro and Edu users) turns your work into an interactive website or lightweight app that you can share.
Codex for coding
Codex, OpenAI’s coding agent, is now part of the unified ChatGPT desktop app. Free includes limited Codex access; paid plans get more usage, plus the GPT-6 models.
Benefits of using ChatGPT
- Finished deliverables: Work produces ready-to-edit documents, slides, spreadsheets and Sites, not just text to copy.
- A useful free tier: OpenAI’s pricing page promises unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna on the Free plan, plus limited access to uploads, images, voice, deep research, Codex and Work on desktop.
- Business privacy defaults: OpenAI says it does not train its models on content from Business, Enterprise or Edu workspaces.
ChatGPT use cases by role
- Marketers: draft campaign copy in English and Arabic, research competitors with deep research, and create social images with Images 2.5.
- Founders and managers: give Work a goal, such as turning meeting notes into a board deck, and review its plan first.
- Analysts and consultants: analyse spreadsheets and export cited research reports to Word or PDF.
- Developers: use Codex in the desktop app for coding tasks, with GPT-6 Astra on Plus and higher plans.
- Students and educators: get concepts explained, take interactive quizzes, and practise with voice conversations.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
Prices below are in USD as of September 2026, from OpenAI’s pricing page and help center. Some countries are billed in local currency.
| Plan | Price | Main models | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | GPT-5.6 Luna | Unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images, voice, deep research, memory, Codex and Work (desktop); may show ads |
| Go | $8/month (US) | GPT-5.6 Luna (including Think) | More messages, uploads, images and voice than Free; longer memory; may show ads |
| Plus | $20/month | GPT-5.6 Sol; GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex | Expanded deep research, Projects, scheduled tasks, custom GPTs, more Codex, Work on desktop, web and mobile; no ads |
| Pro | $100/month | Adds Extra High and Pro reasoning; GPT-6 Astra in Chat, Work and Codex | 5x Plus usage; one shared allowance of 50 messages a week across GPT-6 Pro and GPT-5.6 Sol Pro |
| Pro (higher tier) | $200/month | Same as above | 20x Plus usage; 200 GPT-6 Pro messages a week plus a separate daily GPT-5.6 Sol Pro allowance; new sign-ups and upgrades paused since 10 September 2026 |
| Business Standard | $25/user/month, or $20 billed annually | GPT-5.6 Sol at all reasoning levels; GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex; GPT-6 Pro (15 messages a month) | Minimum 2 seats; Chat, Work and Codex; admin controls; no training on your data |
| Business Premium | $125/user/month, or $100 billed annually | Same as Standard, with GPT-6 Pro at 50 messages a week | 5x Standard usage; no five-hour limit; weekly resets |
| Enterprise and Edu | Custom (contact sales) | GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-6 Pro and GPT-6 Astra (admins control access) | Enterprise security, compliance and admin features |
Depending on the plan, Work and Codex usage is limited over a five-hour window and a weekly window. Credits buy extra usage but do not unlock models your plan lacks.
Does ChatGPT have ads?
Yes, on Free and Go. OpenAI began testing ads in the United States on 9 February 2026 and has since expanded to more countries, including the UK. Ads appear below a response, labelled as sponsored. OpenAI says it does not share conversations with advertisers and does not show ads near health, mental health or political topics, or to users identified as under 18. Free users can pick an ad-free option with fewer daily messages and no tools such as image generation.
ChatGPT pros and cons
Pros
- Chat, agent, deep research, voice, images, coding and Sites in one app
- Generous free tier with unlimited text chat on GPT-5.6 Luna
- Work produces real files and keeps you in control with Plan mode and check-ins
- Large plugin directory (1,400+ plugins, according to OpenAI) and Library integrations for Google Drive, Box, Dropbox and SharePoint
- Many price points, from $8 Go up to Enterprise
Cons
- Plans, models and limits change often, and the naming can confuse
- The newest GPT-6 models are mainly in Work and Codex; Plus users do not get GPT-6 Astra in regular Chat
- Ads on Free and Go
- Five-hour and weekly caps; heavy agent work uses allowances quickly
- New sign-ups for the $200 Pro tier are paused
- It can still make mistakes; check important facts
How to use ChatGPT
- Go to chatgpt.com or download the ChatGPT app for iOS, Android, Mac or Windows, then create an account or log in.
- Type or speak a request; for harder questions, pick a thinking level your plan offers.
- Upload files or connect plugins such as Google Drive or Slack.
- For multi-step deliverables, switch to Work, describe the result, review the plan and approve key actions.
- Use deep research for a cited report, or create an image and refine it with comments.
- In Settings, review memory and data controls, and turn off “Improve the model for everyone” if you do not want new chats used for training.
ChatGPT alternatives
- Claude (Anthropic): a good choice for long documents, careful writing and coding workflows.
- Gemini (Google): best if your team works in Gmail, Docs and the rest of Google Workspace.
- Microsoft Copilot: the natural fit for organizations built on Microsoft 365, Teams and Outlook.
- Perplexity: choose it for quick, cited answers from the web rather than long agent tasks.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0 and, according to OpenAI’s pricing page, includes unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna. It also includes limited uploads, image generation, voice, deep research, memory and Codex. Free accounts may see ads where OpenAI has launched them, or can pick an ad-free option with lower limits.
What is the difference between ChatGPT Go, Plus and Pro?
Go ($8/month in the US) raises Free’s limits on GPT-5.6 Luna but may show ads. Plus ($20/month) adds GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex, expanded deep research and Codex, and Work on web and mobile, with no ads. Pro ($100 or $200/month) gives 5x or 20x Plus usage, Pro reasoning and GPT-6 Astra in Chat.
Which model does ChatGPT use now?
As of September 2026, Free and Go chats use GPT-5.6 Luna and Plus chats use GPT-5.6 Sol. Pro adds GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, GPT-6 Pro and GPT-6 Astra in Chat. GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna are available in Work and Codex on paid plans.
What happened to ChatGPT agent mode?
OpenAI discontinued ChatGPT agent. Its help center now points users to ChatGPT Work, launched on 9 July 2026, for longer, multi-step tasks. Work can use connected apps and files, complete tasks on some signed-in websites, and produce documents, slides, spreadsheets and Sites.
Does ChatGPT show ads?
Ads can appear on the Free and Go plans in countries where OpenAI has launched them. They started in the US in February 2026. Paid Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans have no ads. OpenAI says advertisers cannot see your chats.
Does OpenAI train on my ChatGPT conversations?
On personal plans you can turn off the “Improve the model for everyone” setting so that new chats are not used for training. Temporary Chats are not used for training but may be kept for up to 30 days for safety. OpenAI says it does not train on Business, Enterprise or Edu workspace content.
How much does ChatGPT Business cost?
ChatGPT Business Standard seats cost $25 per user per month, or $20 billed annually. Premium seats cost $125 per user per month, or $100 billed annually, and give about 5x Standard usage with no five-hour limit. Each workspace needs at least two seats, and you can mix seat types.
Verdict: is ChatGPT worth it in 2026?
ChatGPT remains one of the most complete general-purpose AI assistants. In 2026 it moved beyond chat: Work, Sites, plugins and Codex handle real deliverables, and GPT-6 Astra reaches paid users. For regular professional use, Plus at $20/month is the sensible default.
The trade-offs are complexity and limits: model names and plan rules change often, the newest models sit mainly in Work and Codex, and the lower tiers show ads. Teams should compare Business Standard with Google and Microsoft’s workplace options; heavy agent or coding users should budget for Pro or Business Premium.
Sources
- ChatGPT Pricing (OpenAI)
- ChatGPT release notes (OpenAI Help Center)
- GPT-5.6 and GPT-6 Pro in ChatGPT (OpenAI Help Center)
- GPT-6 Astra: A new generation of intelligence (OpenAI)
- Introducing GPT-6 Sol and Luna (OpenAI)
- ChatGPT is now a partner for your most ambitious work (OpenAI, ChatGPT Work launch)
- ChatGPT agent (OpenAI Help Center)
- Managing usage with GPT-6 Astra in Work and Codex (OpenAI Help Center)
- Introducing GPT-Live (OpenAI)
- Introducing ChatGPT Images 2.5 (OpenAI)
- Deep research FAQ (OpenAI Help Center)
- Memory FAQ (OpenAI Help Center)
- Introducing ChatGPT Go (OpenAI)
- What is ChatGPT Go? (OpenAI Help Center)
- What is ChatGPT Plus? (OpenAI Help Center)
- About ChatGPT Pro tiers (OpenAI Help Center)
- Managing billing and seats in ChatGPT Business (OpenAI Help Center)
- Premium seats are coming to ChatGPT Business (OpenAI)
- Ads in ChatGPT (OpenAI Help Center)
- Data Controls FAQ (OpenAI Help Center)
- Introducing ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2022)
- ChatGPT finally offers $100/month Pro plan (TechCrunch)
- OpenAI unveils GPT-6 Astra amid rising scrutiny and safety concerns (Al Jazeera)
- ChatGPT Work for every team (OpenAI)
- OpenAI announces rollout of GPT-6 Astra model (CNBC)
