ChatGPT Canvas
otherby openai
A collaborative two pane editing workspace inside ChatGPT for writing and coding projects that require iterative revision.
Key features
Free tier available, Plus at $20/mo
Writers iterating on long form content with AI assistance, including essays, reports, blog posts, and documentation
Available on ALL tiers including Free, with no premium lock on any Canvas feature
What it does
Two Pane Editing
Chat on the left, editable document or code on the right. Work alongside ChatGPT with a full editing surface instead of receiving everything in the chat window.
Learn moreHighlight to Edit
Select specific text or code in the canvas and ask ChatGPT to improve just that section. The model focuses its changes only on your selection, leaving everything else intact.
Learn moreWriting Shortcuts
Quick actions for writing: suggest edits (tracked changes style), adjust length (shorter or longer), change reading level (elementary to graduate), add final polish, and add emojis.
Learn moreCoding Shortcuts
Quick actions for code: add logs (print/console.log), add comments, fix bugs, code review with inline suggestions, and port to another language (JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C++, PHP).
Learn morePython Execution in Browser
Write Python code in Canvas and run it directly in the browser. See output, errors, and results without leaving ChatGPT. Useful for data analysis, scripting, and quick prototyping.
Learn moreReact/HTML Sandbox Rendering
Build small interactive applications, HTML pages, and React components that render live in Canvas. Great for prototyping UI ideas, building tools, and testing interactive concepts.
Learn moreVersion History with Diff View
Navigate through previous versions of your document or code using the back button. See exactly what changed between versions with a diff view.
Learn moreExport to Multiple Formats
Export writing to PDF, Markdown, or Word (.docx). Export code to the appropriate language file. Copy to clipboard with formatting preserved.
Works with GPTs
Canvas is available inside custom GPTs. If you build a GPT via the GPT Builder, you can enable Canvas so your custom GPT opens a side editor for collaborative work.
Enterprise Admin Controls
Enterprise and Business plan administrators can configure Canvas availability, control data policies, and manage how Canvas interacts with company data.
Pricing
Free
Canvas is fully included on the Free plan. All writing and coding features available, including Python execution and React sandbox.
- Canvas included
- Two pane editing
- Writing and coding shortcuts
- Python execution
- React/HTML sandbox
- Version history
- Export (PDF, Markdown, Word, code)
Plus
Canvas included with all Plus features. Higher messaging limits mean more iterations and longer editing sessions.
- Canvas included
- All Free features
- Higher messaging limits
- Reasoning models available
- 150 GPT-4o messages/3 hrs
Pro
Canvas included with unlimited messaging. The best experience for heavy Canvas users who need extended editing sessions.
- Canvas included
- All Plus features
- Unlimited messaging
- Priority access to new features
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available on ALL tiers including Free, with no premium lock on any Canvas feature
- Two pane editing feels natural for iterative work where you need to see the document and the conversation simultaneously
- Python execution in the browser lets you write and test code without any external tools or setup
- React/HTML sandbox rendering makes it possible to prototype interactive applications directly in ChatGPT
- Version history with diff view lets you navigate between edits and undo changes confidently
- Export to PDF, Markdown, and Word covers the most common output needs for documents
Cons
- Not available on mobile yet; Canvas requires the web, Windows, or macOS app
- Not available with GPT-5.2 Pro reasoning models, limiting advanced reasoning during Canvas sessions
- Limited formatting options; Canvas supports basic markdown but not rich text formatting like headers, tables, or embedded images
- No real time collaboration; Canvas is single user only, so teams cannot co edit a document simultaneously
- No templates system; you start from scratch every time, with no way to save and reuse document structures
How to get started
Open ChatGPT on web or desktop
Canvas is available on chatgpt.com, the Windows app, and the macOS app. It is not yet available on mobile. Sign in with any account tier.
Start a Canvas session
Canvas opens automatically when ChatGPT generates content longer than approximately 10 lines. You can also trigger it manually by clicking the Canvas button in the toolbar or typing "open canvas" in your message.
Edit directly in the canvas
Click anywhere in the document or code on the right side to edit it yourself. Your changes are preserved, and you can continue asking ChatGPT for help on specific sections.
Use highlight to edit
Select a specific passage of text or block of code, then type your request in the chat. ChatGPT will modify only the selected section, leaving everything else unchanged.
Try the shortcuts
Use the shortcut buttons at the bottom of the canvas. For writing: suggest edits, adjust length, change reading level, add polish. For code: add logs, comments, fix bugs, port to another language.
Run code (Python or React)
For Python code, click the Run button to execute it in the browser and see the output. For React/HTML, the sandbox renders your code live so you can see the result immediately.
Export your work
When finished, export your document to PDF, Markdown, or Word (.docx), or export your code to the appropriate language file. Use the version history to review or restore earlier versions.
Deep dive
Detailed guides with comparisons, tips, and visuals for each feature.
Canvas for Writing
How Canvas transforms long form writing with inline editing, shortcut actions, reading level control, version history, and export options.
Canvas for Code
How Canvas enables inline code editing, Python execution in the browser, React sandbox rendering, language porting, and code review shortcuts.
Canvas vs Claude Artifacts vs Cursor
How ChatGPT Canvas compares to Claude's Artifacts and Cursor for collaborative AI editing across writing and coding workflows.
Links
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Last updated: 2026-02-21