OpenAI has opened Deep Research in ChatGPT to everyone – even without a subscription

OpenAI is expanding access to one of its most powerful features, Deep Research. Starting this month, even users of the free version of ChatGPT on iOS and Android will be able to use a lightweight version of the tool, which was previously only available with paid subscriptions. Deep Research allows you to get deep analytical reports in minutes that would normally take hours of human labor to produce.

Deep Research is a powerful tool that can be used by users of the free version of ChatGPT on iOS and Android.

The feature first launched in February 2025 and immediately became part of ChatGPT Plus, Team and Pro plans. Now OpenAI is giving free account holders the opportunity to try it out, albeit with limitations.

What is Deep Research and how does it work

Deep Research is an intelligent tool powered by OpenAI language models that can collect, analyze, and synthesize information from hundreds of online sources. It can be used to:

• choosing a new car, appliance or TV;
• performing market analysis;
• selecting a place to live;
• help in choosing a university and other complex decisions that require analyzing a large amount of information.

Paid users get access to the full version, built on the o3 model, while the lightweight version, available for free, uses the o4-mini model. OpenAI says it’s “nearly as intelligent” and the results, while shorter, retain the same depth and quality of analysis.

OpenAI says it’s “almost as good as the o4-mini,” and the results, while shorter, retain the same depth and quality of analysis.

Rate restrictions

Users of the free version of ChatGPT will be able to use the Deep Research feature up to 5 times per month. OpenAI hints that the limit may be revised upward in the future. Here’s how Deep Research access is distributed across the various plans:

• Free plan: up to 5 tasks per month (lightweight version)
• Plus and Team: 10 tasks per month (full version) + 15 tasks (light version)
• Pro: 125 tasks per month (full version) + 125 tasks (light version)
• Enterprise: 10 tasks per month (full version), access for EDU and enterprise customers will open next week

If a user exhausts the limit of the full version, ChatGPT will automatically switch to the simplified version to keep access to analyze without interruption.

Competing with Google’s GeminiAI

Google also has a similar feature within GeminiAI, available only to paid subscribers. It offers the same benefits – accelerated analysis and report generation within minutes. Competition between OpenAI and Google in this area is only expected to grow, and users are expected to benefit from new features, even in the free versions.

The introduction of Deep Research into the free plan is a move that opens up access to AI analytics to a wider audience. And it’s likely just the beginning of a larger integration of such tools into everyday digital life.