Six Free ChatGPT Features You Can Use In 2025
Are you curious about ChatGPT but hesitant to commit to a paid subscription? You're in luck. OpenAI provides a robust free tier packed with features perfect for casual users or those testing the waters before upgrading. This now includes access to OpenAI's latest model, GPT-5, though there are a few conditions.
Users on the free plan can experience GPT-5, but with a usage cap. Once you hit your limit, you're switched to a less powerful model. Let's dive into what the free version of ChatGPT offers.
GPT-5 with Usage Limits
Free tier users get to use GPT-5 for up to 10 messages within a five-hour window. After reaching this limit, you'll need to wait for the window to reset. In the meantime, you'll be automatically switched to GPT-5 mini, a faster but less capable fallback model.
The number of messages you can send before hitting the cap depends on the length and complexity of your requests, as well as the overall server demand. Since paying subscribers are prioritized, free users might notice slower responses or reach their limits more quickly during peak times.
Whether using GPT-5 or a different model, free ChatGPT users can:
- Get help with writing and editing.
- Summarize and analyze text from pasted content or uploaded files.
- Customize their ChatGPT's personality.
- Enable the Memory setting to recall information from past conversations.
- Discover and create custom GPTs tailored for specific tasks.
ChatGPT Search
When Search is enabled, ChatGPT connects to the internet to provide current and comprehensive answers. This is a significant upgrade from its previous limitation, where its knowledge was cut off in June 2024. Since last year, OpenAI has given ChatGPT access to search engine capabilities, making it far more accurate for real-time information.
One GPT-5 Thinking Message Per Day
GPT-5 introduces advanced reasoning capabilities, and for the first time, free users can tap into this power. You can use this feature to tackle more complex queries, such as weighing the pros and cons of different SUVs based on your budget or gathering market research for a new business idea. The free version of ChatGPT offers one message per day with this advanced "thinking" power.
Generate and Upload Images
ChatGPT has been praised as the best overall AI image generator, even before the arrival of GPT-5. Unlike some competitors, it excels at details like spelling words correctly in images.
Free users can also generate images, though usage is limited. While OpenAI hasn't specified the exact rate for GPT-5, the previous limit with GPT-4o was about three images per day, so a similar cap is expected.
Additionally, the free version supports multimodal inputs, meaning you can upload images for the AI to analyze and understand.
ChatGPT Voice
Formerly a premium feature called Advanced Voice Mode, ChatGPT Voice is now available on a limited basis to free users. This voice assistant allows for real-time conversations, translations, tutoring, and more. For free users, it is powered by GPT-4o mini, and the usage limit has recently been expanded from minutes to hours each day. To use it, simply look for the soundwave icon in the interface.
Customizable Accent Colors
It's a minor touch, but personalization is always a plus. In the ChatGPT settings, you can now change the accent colors of the chat interface. These colors will appear in your text bubbles, the voice mode icon, and highlighted text, allowing you to add a personal flair to your AI experience.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
