Text chat
The heart of the app. Ask anything, iterate on answers, and pick up old threads from your synced history. Available to everyone, with message limits that vary by plan.
The full tour
Everything the ChatGPT app can do.
The mobile app is far more than a chat box. It listens, sees through your camera, reads your files, searches the web and runs custom GPTs — all from your pocket. This is a complete tour of the features on iPhone and Android, with an honest, hedged note on what's free versus paid, because OpenAI adjusts that split over time.
Feature map
What's in the app, in one table
Here's the shape of the feature set before we go deep on each one. Exact availability depends on your plan, region and version.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Text chat | The core: ask questions, draft and edit, brainstorm, code — with history you can revisit. |
| Voice | Speak and hear replies. Standard voice plus Advanced Voice on eligible plans. Voice guide. |
| Vision & camera | Take or upload a photo and ask about it — labels, charts, screenshots, problems. |
| File uploads | Attach PDFs and documents to summarize or query them (supported plans). |
| Web search | Pull in current information for recent or fast-moving topics. |
| Custom GPTs | Open purpose-built assistants for specific tasks (supported plans). |
Independent guide, not affiliated with OpenAI. Confirm what your plan includes in the app and on OpenAI's help center.
Deep dive
The features, one by one
Each of these lives a tap or two away in the app. Some are free, some are gated to paid plans — we flag which where it's stable enough to say.
Voice conversations
Tap the voice icon to talk instead of type. Standard voice is broadly available; Advanced Voice adds natural, interruptible, real-time conversation on eligible plans. Full voice guide →
Camera & image input
Point your camera or upload a photo and ask about it — translate a menu, explain a diagram, or work through a photographed math problem. Vision availability depends on your plan.
File & photo uploads
Attach PDFs, documents and images so ChatGPT can summarize, extract data, or answer questions about them. Supported types and sizes vary; big documents are sometimes easier on the website.
Web search
On supported plans, ChatGPT can look up current information for recent events and fast-changing topics, then cite what it found. Always sanity-check important results.
Custom GPTs
Open specialized assistants built for particular jobs — writing, coding help, learning a topic — right from the app on supported plans. Browse or return to ones you use often.
Projects & history sync
Your conversations sync across the app and website when signed in with one account. Newer organizing tools such as projects group related chats together, subject to plan and version.
Widgets & notifications
Home-screen widgets jump straight to a new chat or voice session, and notifications can flag completed responses. You control these in your phone settings and in the app.
Free vs paid
What you get without paying — hedged
OpenAI moves features between tiers regularly, so treat this as a snapshot, not a contract. The safest source is always the plan comparison inside the app.
| Area | Typical free | Typical paid |
|---|---|---|
| Text chat | Yes, with limits | Higher limits, newer models |
| Voice | Standard voice, often some Advanced Voice | More Advanced Voice access |
| Vision & files | Some access, capped | Higher caps and reliability |
| Web search | Often available | Broader access |
| Custom GPTs | Limited or none | Fuller access |
New to the app entirely? Start with our safe download guide, then pick up practical habits in tips & tricks. If a feature won't load, the fixes guide covers the usual culprits.
FAQ
ChatGPT app features — questions
What features does the ChatGPT app have?
The app includes text chat, voice conversations, image and camera input, file and photo uploads, web search, access to custom GPTs on supported plans, conversation history that syncs across devices, home-screen widgets and notifications. The exact set you see depends on your plan, region and the app version, so some features may appear or move over time.
Which ChatGPT app features are free?
Free accounts generally get text chat, a standard voice option, some image and file handling, and basic web search, though limits apply. Paid plans typically raise those limits and add features such as Advanced Voice and priority access to newer models. Because OpenAI adjusts what is free over time, check the app and help center for the current split rather than relying on a fixed list.
Can the ChatGPT app see photos and use my camera?
Yes, on supported plans and versions. You can take a photo with the camera or upload one from your gallery and ask ChatGPT about it — reading a label, explaining a chart, or helping with a photographed problem. Vision quality and availability vary by plan, so confirm what your account supports inside the app.
Does the ChatGPT app support voice conversations?
Yes. Tap the voice icon to speak and hear replies. There is a standard voice option and, on eligible plans, an Advanced Voice mode with more natural, real-time conversation. Our voice mode guide explains how to start a chat, pick a voice and use it hands-free.
Can I upload files and documents in the app?
On supported plans you can attach files, PDFs and photos so ChatGPT can summarize, extract or answer questions about them. Upload limits, file sizes and supported types depend on your plan and the app version. Larger documents and side-by-side work are sometimes easier on the website, which shares your account and history.
Does the ChatGPT app sync my history across devices?
Yes. When you sign in with the same account, your conversation history and most settings sync between the app and the website. You can start a chat on your phone and continue on a laptop. Newer organizational features like projects may also appear across platforms depending on your plan and version.
Are widgets and notifications available in the app?
The app offers home-screen widgets for quick access to a new chat or voice, and it can send notifications for things like completed responses, depending on your settings and platform. You control notification permissions in your phone's system settings and within the app. Available widgets differ slightly between iPhone and Android.
Can ChatGPT search the web from the app?
Yes, the app can pull in current information from the web on supported plans, which helps with recent events or fast-moving topics. Availability and behavior depend on your plan, region and version. Always sanity-check important answers, since AI responses can be incomplete or out of date even with search enabled.