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ZDNET's key takeaways
- ChatGPT can help with writing, research, images, files, and apps.
- Free users can start fast, but paid plans unlock higher limits.
- Projects, memory, and voice mode make ChatGPT more useful.
It will be four years this fall since ChatGPT launched, turning AI from something most people talked to for fun on their phones or home speakers into a tool they could use to debug code, create presentations, generate images, shop, and plan trips. In fact, the phrase "chatbot" now feels a little too small, and maybe even dated, for what ChatGPT can do today.
**Also: **I stopped using ChatGPT for everything: These AI models beat it
New use cases are constantly being developed for and because of AI, and ChatGPT itself now has to keep up with an exploding industry filled with competitors, from [Anthropic's Claude](https://www.zdnet.com/article/chatgpt-vs-claude/) to [Google's Gemini](https://www.zdnet.com/article/chatgpt-plus-vs-gemini-pro/). Still, if you want to try AI, the OG is a good place to start. You can type, talk, upload a file, connect an app, and let it generate away.
## How to use ChatGPT (for beginners)
**What you'll need: **ChatGPT is available on the web, desktop, or a mobile app for iOS and Android. You don't need to create an account, but you probably should. Maybe start with a free account, then decide later whether upgrading to a paid plan is worth it.
1. Sign up (or don't create an account) #
You can use ChatGPT in a browser at chatgpt.com or through the official mobile app for iOS and Android. You can try the app without much setup, but creating an account gives you access to longer and more messages, as well as your chat history, projects, memory, file uploads, Library, GPTs, and connected apps.
Also: How to learn ChatGPT in an hour - for free
On the web, go to chatgpt.com and click sign up or log in. Use your email, Google account, Apple account, Microsoft account, or number, if available. On mobile, download and open the app, and sign up the same way.
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## 2. Choose a plan (or remain free)
ChatGPT Free users get "limited access" to GPT-5.5, OpenAI's latest model family. You can ask the AI anything via text or voice, and upload files and generate images. But you'll quickly hit usage limits.
A paid plan raises limits and unlocks more tools and model options, such as GPT-5.5 Thinking and GPT-5.5 Pro.
Also: I put GPT-5.5 through a 10-round test: It scored 93/100 Free users get about 10 messages every five hours, while Plus and Go users get 160 every three hours. Plus users can switch to GPT-5.5 Thinking for up to 3,000 messages per week, while Go users get 10 messages every five hours. Pro includes unlimited Instant and Thinking access (subject to "abuse guardrails"), plus GPT-5.5 Pro.
In the US, ChatGPT Go costs $8 per month, Plus is $20 per month, and Pro has $100 and $200 monthly tiers.
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3. Learn the layout #
The ChatGPT interface is simple: a sidebar and a main chat area with a composer.
On the web and desktop app, click the menu button in the top-left corner to open the sidebar. From there, you can start a new chat, search past chats, open your image library, browse apps, access sometimes-paywalled tools like Codex, find GPTs, open projects, and see recent chats. All your stuff is in the left sidebar.
At the bottom of the main chat area is the composer, where you type your prompt or use the + tool menu to add files, photos, and more. On the desktop, ChatGPT also includes the model picker, a mic for dictation, and a Voice Mode button. On mobile, the model picker is at the top of the chat instead, near the new chat button and more menu options.
Also: Switching to Claude? How to take your ChatGPT memories
On desktop, the top of the main area includes options to share a chat, start a temporary chat, or open a more menu, where you can group a chat, move a chat, archive it, or delete it. For personalization, profile, and other settings, open your profile in the bottom-left corner on desktop or the top-right corner of the sidebar on mobile.
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4. Pick your model #
To select a model on the web, look for the model name in the composer. (The name previously also appeared at the top of the main chat area.) On mobile, tap the model name at the top of the chat. Then, if available, choose the model you want to use. Most people can leave ChatGPT on the default model and get good results.
As of June 2026, GPT-5.5 Instant is the standard model for free and logged-in users. Paid users can use the model picker to choose that or another option, GPT-5.5 Thinking, while Pro users also get GPT-5.5 Pro.
Also: AI Model Release Tracker: Microsoft AI's first reasoning model arrives
I'd use GPT-5.5 Instant for fast writing, summaries, brainstorming, and basic questions, and GPT-5.5 Thinking for deeper reasoning tasks like research synthesis, coding help, and spreadsheet analysis. GPT-5.5 Pro is the heavy-duty version, meant for especially complex tasks that benefit from more reasoning time.
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5. Start a chat #
When you're ready to start your first chat, click or tap New chat, type your prompt in the composer, and press Enter or tap Send. Use Shift + Enter or Shift + Return to add line breaks. On the web and mobile, you can also dictate your prompt using the mic button or start a Voice Mode conversation by tapping the waveform button.
ZDNET has published many articles about the art of prompt writing. It's often not enough to give ChatGPT instructions. The trick is to give it enough context to do the job well. You may need to describe the task, maybe even the audience, give it source material, provide constraints such as format, and more.
Also: Want better ChatGPT responses? Try this surprising trick, researchers say
Instead of "give me a LinkedIn photo," try: "Use the attached photo of myself to create a LinkedIn-style professional headshot I can use on my resume and at work. Do not change my face, body, or likeness." My other advice is to prompt away. Keep revising and following up until you're happy. You can start a new chat if needed.
**Tip: **Don't forget to use the tools menu in the composer. To more quickly access them, type /Image, /Search, /DeepResearch, or "/" followed by any other tool you want. Tools help ChatGPT to do more tasks for you.
Here are some guides to read for extra help:
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What can I do with ChatGPT? #
Once you've gone through the above, you can start using ChatGPT for more than basic questions. The use cases are nearly endless, but there are a few built-in ChatGPT features that are especially useful for getting more work done, whether that's deep research reports, connected apps like Canva or Malwarebytes, or custom GPTs and projects. Here are some things you can do.
1. Search the web
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
ChatGPT can search the web when you need current or up-to-date information. Use it for news, prices, laws, product specs, software updates, sports, weather, or anything else that may have changed recently.
All users, paid and free, can use ChatGPT to search the web, though they are constrained by their plan's messaging limits.
**Also: **ChatGPT is reportedly scraping Google Search data to answer your questions - here's how
On the web, choose Web Search from the tools menu. On mobile, choose Plugins from the tools menu, then Search. Or just type /Search on desktop and mobile. Whichever way you choose, try asking: "What did Google announce at I/O 2026?" You should see ChatGPT quickly search different web pages, and in the end, you'll get a summary with clickable links to primary sources.
As always, be sure to fact-check the answers.
2. Use Deep Research
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
Deep Research is for bigger questions. It can search across sources, compare information, and return a more structured report with citations. Think of Web Search as being handed a piece of paper and your reading glasses. Deep Research is a folder.
On the web or mobile app, open the tools menu and choose Deep Research. You can also type /Deep Research. When ready, try asking ChatGPT a complex, multi-part, hyper-specific question that requires context and reasoning. An example:
"My grandfather was born in Quebec in 1945, moved to New York, and died there. I'm 38, born in New York, and my mother is his New York-born daughter. As of 2026, am I a Canadian citizen by descent? How do I verify my status and obtain legal proof?"
Also: I tested ChatGPT's Deep Research against Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok AI to see which is best
ChatGPT has changed Deep Research's usage limits several times over the past couple of years. Last I heard, free users had access to a limited lightweight version, Plus users got 25 full reports a month, and Pro users got 250. I've contacted OpenAI for a comment.
3. Upload files and analyze them
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
ChatGPT can work with PDFs, documents, spreadsheets, CSVs, images, and other supported files. This capability is one of the AI's most useful tools because it lets you ask questions about your own material instead of pasting huge blocks of text into the chat.
**Also: **I compared how Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude can analyze videos - this model wins
On the web or mobile app, click the + button, then choose the file, attachment, or photo option. Then enter your prompt: "Summarize this PDF in three bullets," "Find spelling errors in this draft," "Turn this spreadsheet into a chart," or "Tell me how to improve my resume." For data, ChatGPT can clean columns, calculate totals, spot patterns, and explain what the numbers mean.
4. Connect to apps like Canva
Who can access? Paid and free
Anyone can connect apps to ChatGPT to unlock new abilities or get more work done. These apps were often called connectors, but the basic idea is the same: You grant ChatGPT access to a third-party service you use so it can search or use your connected data.
For example, you can connect Google Drive to work with your stored files. Or you can add Canva and then prompt ChatGPT to create a presentation. Malwarebytes even has an app that lets you ask ChatGPT whether an email, letter, or text you received is a scam. In chat, use @ mentions, the tools menu, or a natural request like, "Search my Google Drive for the latest budget spreadsheet." **Also: **How to use Canva in ChatGPT to build a stunning presentation in minutes - for free
But you first need to connect the app. On the web or mobile app, click your profile icon, open Settings, then Apps, and browse the app directory. Choose an app, click Connect, and complete the permissions process.
5. Create images and find them in Library
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
ChatGPT can generate images and edit images you upload. In my experience, it helps to describe the subject, style, layout, colors, aspect ratio, and any text that you want to appear in specific detail. A weak prompt is "make an image of a cat." A better one is: "Create a 16:9 editorial-style portrait of a Russian blue cat on a pink background with glossy lighting, HD resolution, and no text."
**Also: **I got an early look at ChatGPT Images 2.0, and it's impressive - with one exception
On the web, just ask ChatGPT to create an image, or select Images from the tools menu, if you see it. On mobile, you can type the prompt or use the tools button. After your image appears, ask for changes in the same chat, such as "make it brighter" or "keep the glossy lighting but change the pink background to purple." To find any image later, open your Library in the left sidebar.
Like Deep Research, ChatGPT often changes the usage limits for image generation. The last numbers I found suggest free users get a couple of images a day, Go users get 20 to 30 images a day, Plus users get about 50 images every three hours, and Pro is unlimited.
Anyone with a ChatGPT account can create images, but you need an account to store them in a library, obviously.
6. Find and use GPTs
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
GPTs are custom versions of ChatGPT built for specific tasks. You'd basically use a GPT when you want a custom workflow.
Some GPTs help with writing, coding, studying, design, research, or productivity. Some are made by OpenAI, and users or organizations make others. While you can access your GPTs on mobile, I couldn't find the option to explore them.
**Also: **How to use ChatGPT to write code - and my top trick for debugging what it generates
On the web, you can open Explore GPTs from the sidebar. Search by topic, select one, and start chatting. On mobile, you'll just see your own GPTs in the sidebar above recent chats. Free users can use GPTs with limits, while creating GPTs requires a paid plan.
7. Create Projects
Who can access? Paid and free
Projects are like dedicated workspaces for ongoing work. They keep related chats, files, and instructions together, so ChatGPT can use specific context without making you re-explain everything each time you resume. Think of Projects as folders that remember.
**Also: **These 7 useful ChatGPT settings are turned off by default (and I can vouch for them)
On the web or mobile, choose Projects in the sidebar, select New project, name it, add instructions, and upload files. You can use a project for a book, coding work, a research topic, a vacation plan, or anything else you want to keep organized. Your instructions can tell ChatGPT what tone, audience, formatting rules, and sources to use. Anyone with a ChatGPT account can save a project.
8. Use Voice Mode
Who can access? Paid and free, with usage limits
Voice Mode lets you talk with ChatGPT instead of typing. This mode can be useful for practicing a presentation, doing a mock interview, brainstorming, or dumping messy thoughts out loud. On the web or mobile app, open a new chat and tap the waveform icon. Then start talking, interrupt ChatGPT, or ask follow-up questions the way you would in a real one-on-one conversation.
**Also: **7 surprisingly useful ways to use ChatGPT's voice mode, from a former skeptic
As usual, free users get limited access, while paid plans get more.
9. Save memories and personalize
Who can access? Paid and free
Last but not least, let's talk about what ChatGPT can remember about you. It has a Memory feature that can remember useful details across chats -- up to 130, as I found out recently as a Plus user, before being prompted to clear some. For example, the AI can remember my weight, height, name, family, and other information I've told it, so I don't have to repeat myself when asking personal questions.
But ChatGPT has other features that affect its memory. Custom instructions let you tell ChatGPT how you want it to respond. For example, you could tell it to never use em dashes in its responses. On the web or mobile, click your profile icon, open Settings, then Personalization. From there, you will see options to manage your memory and add custom instructions.
You'll even see options to change the AI's tone, make it less warm or enthusiastic, and decide if it uses headers, lists, and emoji.
**Also: **How to audit what ChatGPT knows about you - and reclaim your data privacy
Finally, there's Temporary Chat. It's a little chat bubble button at the top of the main chat area on desktop. Use this feature when you do not want ChatGPT to remember a conversation. It's like Chrome's Incognito mode, but for ChatGPT. You can even archive or delete past chats for added privacy. Just open the left sidebar, find the recent chat, click its menu, and choose Archive or Delete.
Of course, you need to be logged in for ChatGPT to remember things about you or to be more personalized.
And there's more... #
ChatGPT has several other buried features because it's always continually updating with more. Here are a few you might want to try:
(for Paid users): Available via the sidebar, Codex is ChatGPT's coding assistant that helps you write, review, and debug code. It can analyze repositories, refactor scripts, and test code.Codex(for Paid users): Available via tools, Agent Mode lets ChatGPT perform multi-step tasks, such as opening sites, filling out forms, and generating files. I suggest you use it when you want ChatGPT to act autonomously.Agent Mode(for Free and Paid users): This feature provides a split space where you and ChatGPT can co-edit text, code, or a draft together.Canvas(for Paid users): Available via tools, Tasks lets you schedule one-time or recurring actions, such as daily summaries or weekly reminders. ChatGPT will run the task on schedule and notify you when it's done via email and notifications.Scheduling Tasks(for Free and Paid users in the US): You can ask ChatGPT for a product to see results with images, details, and sometimes a "Buy" button. Introduced in September 2025, it lets US users check out in chat from supported merchants like Etsy.Shopping(for Paid and Edu users): Available via tools, this mode guides you through lessons, quizzes, and reasoning exercises, rather than giving direct answers, which is great for learning new topics interactively.Study and Learn
The point is to play with the AI, test things, figure out the tools that interest you or what you use AI for the most, and have fun trying ChatGPT.
FAQs #
Where is ChatGPT available?
ChatGPT is available on the web, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and desktop apps for macOS and Windows.
Is ChatGPT free?
Yes. But it's heavily limited, meaning you won't be able to message often in a short period of time or generate many images.
Do I need a ChatGPT account or login?
No. But for the full experience, such as memories, personalization, chat history, image library, and projects, you'll want an account.
Which ChatGPT plan should I choose?
Here is a quick decision tree for you:
- If you rarely use AI and want to test it now, stick with ChatGPT Free.
- If you've tried AI, like it, but do not expect to use it every day, get ChatGPT Go.
- If you use AI all day for writing, planning, research, or problem-solving, get Plus.
- If you need AI for heavy research, coding, and advanced work, Pro is your best bet.
How much does ChatGPT cost?
As of June 2026 in the US, ChatGPT Go costs $8 per month, Plus is $20 per month, and Pro has $100 and $200 monthly tiers.
Can ChatGPT be wrong?
Yes. Any answers should be fact-checked, especially medical, legal, financial, and breaking news information.
How do I stop ChatGPT from remembering?
You can turn memory off by going to Profile > Settings > Personalization > Reference saved memories, or manage your saved memories from the same settings area. You can also use a Temporary Chat when you do not want ChatGPT to remember a chat.
What is Atlas?
Atlas is OpenAI's ChatGPT browser available to paid subscribers. It's a Mac browser built on Chromium. It has ChatGPT built in, so it can answer questions, summarize pages, help with web searches, assist on webpages, manage tabs, and autofill forms.
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