ChatGPT Search
searchby openai
Web search built into ChatGPT with inline citations, available on all tiers including free, with special visual displays for weather, stocks, sports, and news.
Key features
Free tier available, Plus at $20/mo
ChatGPT users who occasionally need current information without switching to a separate search tool
Available on ALL tiers including Free, with no additional cost or separate subscription required
What it does
Automatic Search Triggering
ChatGPT detects when your question needs current information and automatically searches the web. No manual action required for queries about news, weather, stock prices, or recent events.
Learn moreInline Citations with Sources Sidebar
Every search response includes clickable citation links embedded in the text. A Sources sidebar shows all referenced pages for easy browsing and verification.
Learn moreSpecial Visual Displays
Rich, purpose built visual elements for weather forecasts, stock charts, sports scores, news headlines, and map locations. These go beyond plain text to present data in the most useful format.
Learn morePublisher Partnerships
Partnerships with AP, Reuters, Financial Times, and other major publishers ensure high quality sourcing for news and current events queries.
Learn moreChrome Extension
Search ChatGPT directly from Chrome's URL bar. Type a query and get AI powered answers with citations without navigating to chatgpt.com first.
Works with All ChatGPT Models
Search is available across all model options in ChatGPT, including GPT-5.2, o3, o4-mini, and others. It is not locked to a specific model.
No Separate Subscription
Search is included at no extra cost on every ChatGPT plan, including Free. There are no additional charges or separate search quotas.
Available Without Signup
Logged out users can use ChatGPT Search without creating an account, making it accessible to anyone with a web browser.
Pricing
Free
Search is fully included on the Free plan. No usage limits on search queries. Automatic and manual triggering both available.
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- No search query limits
Go
Search included with the same capabilities as Free. Part of the broader Go plan with expanded ChatGPT messaging limits.
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- Expanded ChatGPT messaging
Plus
Search included with full access to all ChatGPT Plus features, including reasoning models, image generation, and Deep Research.
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- All Plus features (reasoning, images, Deep Research)
Pro
Search included with unlimited everything. The highest tier with maximum model access and priority features.
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- Unlimited everything
- Priority access
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available on ALL tiers including Free, with no additional cost or separate subscription required
- Deeply integrated into ChatGPT, so search results flow naturally into the conversation without context switching
- Inline citations with a Sources sidebar make verification straightforward
- Special visual displays for weather, stocks, sports, and news are well designed and immediately useful
- Chrome extension provides convenient access from the browser URL bar
Cons
- Does not search by default; only triggers when the model detects the query needs current information, which means it sometimes misses queries that would benefit from a search
- Less thorough sourcing than Perplexity, which searches on every query and typically cites more sources per response
- No dedicated research mode for comprehensive investigations; that capability lives in Deep Research, a separate feature with strict usage limits
- Limited to OpenAI models; you cannot use Claude or other third party models with ChatGPT Search
- Cannot configure or restrict search providers; you have no control over which sources ChatGPT prioritizes
How to get started
Open ChatGPT
Go to chatgpt.com or open the ChatGPT app. Search is available immediately on all plans, including Free, and even without an account.
Ask a question that needs current info
Type a question about recent news, weather, stock prices, sports scores, or any topic where up to date information matters. ChatGPT will automatically detect the need and search the web.
Manually trigger search
Click the globe icon below the input field, or type "/" and select Search from the menu. You can also write "Search the web for..." in your message to force a web search.
Check the citations
Review the inline citations in the response. Click any citation to open the source page. The Sources sidebar shows all referenced pages for easy browsing.
Install the Chrome extension (optional)
Add the ChatGPT Chrome extension to search from your browser's URL bar without navigating to chatgpt.com.
Deep dive
Detailed guides with comparisons, tips, and visuals for each feature.
How ChatGPT Search Works
The fine tuned GPT-4o model, automatic vs manual triggering, publisher partnerships, and the citation system that makes verification possible.
Special Visual Displays
Purpose built visual renderings for weather forecasts, stock charts, sports scores, news headlines, and map locations that go beyond plain text.
ChatGPT Search vs Perplexity vs Google Search
How ChatGPT Search compares to Perplexity (which always searches) and Google (traditional link based search) across citation quality, data freshness, and workflow.
Links
Apps
Official
Documentation
Pricing
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Last updated: 2026-02-21