OpenAI Extends ChatGPT Projects Feature to Free Users
Key Points
- OpenAI makes ChatGPT Projects accessible to free users.
- Projects enable organized, topic‑focused conversations with custom AI instructions.
- File upload limits increase to five for free users, 25 for Plus, and 40 for Pro.
- All users can personalize project colors and icons.
- Feature is live on web and Android; iOS support arriving "over the coming days."
- Move continues OpenAI’s pattern of extending premium tools like Deep Research and ChatGPT Voice to all users.
OpenAI has announced that its ChatGPT Projects feature, previously limited to paid subscribers, is now available to free users. Projects let users organize conversations around specific topics and offer custom instructions and file reference limits. The rollout also raises file upload caps: free users can add five files, Plus subscribers 25, and Pro subscribers 40. Users can personalize projects with colors and icons. The feature is live on the web and Android app, with iOS support arriving "over the coming days." This move aligns with OpenAI's pattern of gradually making premium tools, like Deep Research and ChatGPT Voice, accessible to all.
OpenAI Opens Projects to All ChatGPT Users
OpenAI has announced that it is making the Projects feature available to free users of ChatGPT. Projects, which let users organize chats with the AI around a specific subject, were previously one of several privileges only enjoyed by paid subscribers.
While Projects function as glorified folders for ChatGPT conversations, they also allow users to set custom instructions for how the AI responds and to limit what information and files the assistant can reference. These capabilities make the feature especially useful for power users who want more control over their interactions.
Expanded File Upload Limits
As part of the rollout, OpenAI is increasing the number of files that can be added to a project for the AI to reference. Free users can upload five files, Plus subscribers can upload 25, and Pro subscribers can upload 40. In addition, all users will be able to customize the color and icon for each project.
Continuing a Trend of Feature Democratization
OpenAI has a habit of slowly trickling down paid features to its free users over the last few years. Tools such as Deep Research and ChatGPT Voice started off as exclusives for the company’s subscribers before becoming available to everyone. Offering a formerly premium feature with limits is itself a way to get free customers to become paid ones.
OpenAI’s decision to make the recently released GPT‑5 model available to everyone at launch, but with harsher limits on how many times free users can use it, follows a similar logic.
Availability Across Platforms
Projects are now available for free users on the web and in the ChatGPT app for Android. OpenAI says the iOS ChatGPT app will receive the feature "over the coming days." This multi‑platform rollout ensures that a broad audience can take advantage of the new organizational and customization tools.