ChatGPT
The world's most popular AI assistant
OpenAI · Language Models
Launched Nov 30, 2022
Quick Answer
ChatGPT is the world's most popular ai assistant, made by OpenAI. It offers a free tier with paid upgrades. Key uses: Content writing, Code generation, Research summaries.
Last updated:
Users
1 BILLION WAU (May 2026) / 1B+ MAU (Jun 2026)
Revenue
$24B ARR (~$2B/month run rate)
Valuation
$852B (Mar 2026)
Growth
400M WAU Jan 2025 → 900M WAU Feb 2026 → 1B WAU May 2026
Employees
~9,268 (OpenAI, Jun 2026)
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a conversational AI developed by OpenAI. It can write, analyze, code, summarize, translate, and engage in nuanced multi-turn conversations. Available via web, API, and mobile apps.
How did ChatGPT get started?
Launched Nov 30 2022 to unexpected viral success. Reached 1M users in 5 days, 100M in 2 months. Prompted Google to declare a 'code red'. Plus subscription Feb 2023. GPT-4 Mar 2023. Custom GPTs & GPT Store Jan 2024. Advanced Voice Mode and persistent memory 2024. o1 reasoning model Sep 2024. GPT-4.5 (preview) Feb 2025. o3 + o4-mini released Apr 2025. GPT-4.1 family (1M context) Apr 2025. GPT-5 / GPT-5.5 (2026). 1B WAU milestone May 2026.
What's new in ChatGPT in 2026?
GPT-5.5 default model (Apr 2026); ChatGPT 1 BILLION WAU (May 2026, fastest consumer product ever); GPT Image 2 launched (Apr 2026); DALL-E 2/3 removed from API May 2026; Ads on free tier (Feb 2026); 'Go' tier $8/mo; Codex coding agent 3M weekly users; Personal Finance feature (Pro, May 2026)
How much does ChatGPT cost?
Free
$0/mo (with ads)
- GPT-5.3 Instant model
- GPT Image 2 (limited)
- Web search
- Codex Mobile (free)
- Ads shown
Go
$8/mo
- GPT-5 access
- Higher limits than Free
- No ads
- Codex Mobile
Plus
$20/mo
- GPT-5.5 default
- Thinking Mode (reasoning + web + image)
- Advanced data analysis
- Canvas
- 5× more messages
Business
$20/seat/mo (dropped Apr 2026)
- GPT-5.5
- Team workspace
- Admin console
- Data NOT used for training
Pro
$200/mo
- Unlimited GPT-5.5
- Extended thinking
- Personal Finance (US, May 2026)
- Priority new features
- ChatGPT Personal Finance
Enterprise
Custom
- Unlimited usage
- SSO/SAML
- Custom data retention
- Dedicated support
- Enterprise security
What can you do with ChatGPT?
- Content writing
- Code generation
- Research summaries
- Customer support drafts
Pros
- Vast knowledge base
- Strong reasoning
- Plugin ecosystem
Cons
- Knowledge cutoff
- Hallucinations
- Cost at scale
What are the best alternatives to ChatGPT?
Compare ChatGPT Head-to-Head
Frequently Asked Questions about ChatGPT
How much does ChatGPT cost?
ChatGPT pricing: Free at $0/mo (with ads); Go at $8/mo; Plus at $20/mo; Business at $20/seat/mo (dropped Apr 2026); Pro at $200/mo; Enterprise at Custom.
Is ChatGPT free?
ChatGPT offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans unlock additional features.
What is ChatGPT used for?
ChatGPT is used for: Content writing, Code generation, Research summaries, Customer support drafts.
What are the best alternatives to ChatGPT?
Top alternatives to ChatGPT include Claude, Gemini, Llama, DeepSeek, Meta AI, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini.
What platforms does ChatGPT support?
ChatGPT is available on: Web, iOS, Android, macOS App, Windows App, API.
Details
Underlying Models
Platforms
Integrations
Ideal For
- Knowledge workers
- Students
- Developers
- Writers
- Business analysts