Is ChatGPT free?
Kahu team·Updated 2 Oct 2026·4 min read
Yes. ChatGPT has a free plan that anyone can use, with unlimited text chats and limited access to uploads, image creation, voice and deep research. Paid plans called Go, Plus and Pro raise those limits and add features, and Business and Enterprise plans are for teams. Prices vary by country, so check OpenAI’s pricing page for yours.
What the free plan includes
OpenAI’s pricing page lists the free plan as unlimited text chats, subject to its usage policies, plus limited access to the extras. For most everyday tasks, such as drafting an email, rewording a paragraph or explaining something, the free plan is enough.
- Unlimited text chats.
- Limited file uploads, image creation and voice chats.
- Limited deep research and limited memory.
- Use on the web and in the iOS and Android apps.
Where the free plan runs out
The limits show up when you lean on the heavier features: uploading several documents, creating lots of images, long voice conversations or repeated deep research. When you reach a limit you wait for it to reset or move to a paid plan. The free plan also cannot create your own custom GPTs or use projects and scheduled tasks.
The plans at a glance
| Plan | Who it is for | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Anyone | Unlimited text chats, limited extras |
| Go | Light paid use | More messages with tools, uploads, images and memory |
| Plus | Regular individual use | Advanced reasoning models, projects, scheduled tasks and custom GPTs |
| Pro | Heavy individual use | The highest limits and the newest features first |
| Business and Enterprise | Teams | Shared workspace, admin controls and stronger data protections |
OpenAI shows prices in your local currency and changes plans often, so the only reliable price is the one on its pricing page today. Its pricing page also notes that the Go plan may include ads.
Before you use it for business
On personal plans, your conversations can be used to improve OpenAI’s models unless you turn that off. In Settings, under Data controls, switch off “Improve the model for everyone”. A temporary chat is another option: it is not saved to your history and is not used for training.
- Do not paste customer details, health information or passwords into any AI tool without a reason and a policy.
- Use a Business or Enterprise plan if several staff will use it for work.
- Check facts, prices and anything legal before you send what it writes.
Where Kahu fits
Two Thursday gaps at 11:00 and 14:30. Drafted messages to 6 waitlisted customers.
Updated the hours on your site and Google profile to Sat–Sun 8–2.
One post about the new hours, using your Sunday counter photo.Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to use ChatGPT for free?
You can try it without signing in, but an account keeps your chat history and settings.
Is the free version good enough for a small business?
For drafting and rewording, often yes. If you rely on uploads, images or research every day, or several people use it for work, a paid plan is usually worth it.
Does ChatGPT keep what I type?
Saved chats stay in your history until you delete them. You can stop new chats being used for training in Data controls, and temporary chats are not saved to your history.