ChatGPT Search
Web search built into ChatGPT with inline citations, available on all tiers including free, with special visual displays for weather, stocks, sports, and news.
What it is
Web search capability inside ChatGPT. Originally launched with a fine tuned GPT-4o model and now integrated across all current ChatGPT models, including the GPT-5.5 family. Available to ALL tiers (Free through Enterprise) since February 2025. ChatGPT automatically searches the web when a query needs current information, or you can manually trigger search via the globe icon. It uses third party search providers plus publisher partnerships (AP, Reuters, Financial Times, and others) to source high quality information. Responses include inline citations with a Sources sidebar. Special visual displays render rich results for weather, stocks, sports scores, news, and maps. A Chrome extension is also available for searching directly from the browser URL bar. Users can access search without signing up (logged out users are supported).
Who it is for
ChatGPT users who occasionally need current information without switching to a separate search tool
Users who want search and text generation combined in one interface
People who prefer conversational, synthesized answers over traditional search result pages
Anyone looking for free AI powered search with inline citations and source verification
Pros and 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
Pricing
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
- All Plus features (reasoning, images, Deep Research)
- Search included
- Inline citations
- Special visual displays
Prices change; check the official pricing →