How to access and use Custom GPTs for free in ChatGPT
In early May 2024, ChatGPT introduced an update that included the new GPT-4o model. This update gave free users access to many new features that were previously only available to paid subscribers. One of the most exciting features now available to everyone is Custom GPTs. These are powerful tools that allow users to have personalized AI interactions, making the experience more tailored to their needs.
What are Custom GPTs?
Before diving into how to use them, it’s important to understand what Custom GPTs are. Custom GPTs are specialized versions of the GPT model fine-tuned for specific tasks or industries. They enable users to customize the AI’s behavior and responses to better meet their needs. As a result, Custom GPTs are particularly useful for specialized tasks such as research, content creation, technical assistance, and more.
Custom GPTs Limitations for Free Users
Despite these new capabilities, free users still face certain limitations. While they can now use Custom GPTs, they cannot create their own. Creating Custom GPTs is only available to premium ChatGPT users.
Everyone can now create images in ChatGPT with DALL-E for free, but free users are limited to creating only a few images. Once they reach the image creation limits, they can’t create more images in ChatGPT or use custom GPT to create images.
Additionally, free users have lower message limits. Once they reach the limit for messages or conversations using GPT-4o, ChatGPT automatically switches back to GPT-3.5, and they won’t be able to use GPT-4o and Custom GPTs until the limit resets. These limitations are important to consider when planning your use of Custom GPTs as a free user.
Steps for Accessing and Using Custom GPTs
Now, let’s move to the practical steps of accessing and using Custom GPTs. The process is straightforward, and here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
1. Log In to ChatGPT
First, log into your ChatGPT account. If you do not have an account, you will need to sign up.
Once logged in, click on Explore GPTs in the sidebar. On a desktop, the sidebar is located on the left side of the screen. If you are using a mobile device, you can access the sidebar by clicking the menu icon.
3. Browse Available Custom GPTs
Browse through the available Custom GPTs. You can filter them based on popularity or specific use cases to find the one that best suits your needs.
4. Select and Use a Custom GPT
Choose the Custom GPT you want to use and click “Start Chat.” This will initiate a new chat session with your selected Custom GPT. Begin the conversation by typing your questions into the chat interface. If the GPT supports file inputs, you can also upload relevant images or files from your device or online storage services such as Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive for more accurate and relevant responses.
How to Quickly Access Recent and Pinned GPTs
In addition to the steps above, it’s helpful to know how to quickly access your recent and pinned Custom GPTs. If you have recently accessed or pinned a Custom GPT and want to use it again, you can quickly access it by typing @ (at symbol) in the prompt box and selecting it from the GPTs that appear. This makes it easy to switch between Custom GPTs whenever you need them.
Conclusion
The introduction of Custom GPTs and other advanced features to free ChatGPT users marks a significant step toward making AI more accessible and useful for everyone. While paid subscribers still enjoy advantages like creating Custom GPTs and higher message limits, free users can now leverage powerful tools to improve productivity and creativity. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily access Custom GPTs.
