OpenAI

ChatGPT Free Tier FAQ

ChatGPT is free to use. Free tier users have access to a range of chat capabilities, tools, and GPTs. The default model and available limits can change over time.

Updated: 4 hours ago

Free users have access to GPT-5.6 Luna. Think is available in the ChatGPT mobile app and is rolling out on the web. On mobile, open the + menu and select Think. In addition to advanced intelligence capabilities, Free tier users can now:

  • Search the web and obtain up-to-date information

  • Analyze and extract insights from your data

  • Upload images or files in your prompts

  • Discover and use GPTs

  • Create images in ChatGPT

  • Use Library with 500 MB of storage

Users on ChatGPT Plus have access to higher rate limits. Learn more about ChatGPT Plus.

Ads may appear in the Free tier in certain countries. See the ads FAQ for current availability and controls.

Can I create a GPT as a Free tier user?

No. New GPT creation and publishing are not available on personal ChatGPT accounts, including Free, Go, Plus, and Pro.

You can continue using existing GPTs. Editing an existing GPT still depends on your plan and permissions.

GPT creation remains available in Business, Enterprise, and Edu workspaces when workspace settings and permissions allow it.

How do rate limits work on the Free tier?

Free users have unlimited everyday text chats, subject to abuse-prevention safeguards. File uploads, image generation, voice, data analysis, and other tools have separate usage limits. ChatGPT will notify you when you reach an applicable limit.

ChatGPT notice that the free image creation limit has been reached, with a Get Plus upgrade button

GPT usage follows your current Free tier model limit. When you reach that limit, GPT access pauses until the limit resets; ChatGPT shows the reset timing in-product.

ChatGPT notice that the free-tier daily limit for GPTs has been reached, with a Get Plus button

The following tools can have usage limits separate from the main chat limit:

  • Data analysis with ChatGPT

  • File and image uploads

  • Create images in ChatGPT

If you reach a rate limit for any of these tools, you will need to wait for a later time to use any of these tools.

Will my rate limit reset when I upgrade my account to ChatGPT Plus?

Yes. If you reach a rate limit on your Free tier account, your usage rates will reset when you update your account to a Plus plan, a Pro plan, or a Business plan.

Is performance for GPTs different for users on the Free tier?

GPT usage on the Free tier follows the same plan limits as ChatGPT. Advanced functionality, including data analysis, file uploads, and image creation, can have stricter limits than paid plans.

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