ChatGPT Search
by OpenAI
ChatGPT Search is OpenAI’s web-search capability within ChatGPT. It finds timely information online, returns conversational answers with links to sources, and can search automatically or when users select the web-search option.
Why Abandoned
OpenAI continues to document ChatGPT Search and provides it through ChatGPT. OpenAI expanded access broadly after the initial 2024 rollout and introduced shopping-related search improvements in 2025.
💵 Pricing & access
- Pricing model
- Not documented
- Starting at
- Not documented
- Official site
- Visit ChatGPT Search →
🩺 Health Signals
- HTTP Status
- 403
- Response
- —
- SSL
- —
- Confidence
- 97%
- Domain expires
- —
- Last content change
- —
- Last tweet
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- API status
- —
📅 Timeline
SearchGPT prototype announced
OpenAI introduced SearchGPT as a temporary prototype for testing AI-powered web search with real-time information and source links.
ChatGPT Search launched
OpenAI launched web search in ChatGPT, initially for ChatGPT Plus and Team users and SearchGPT waitlist participants, with wider access planned.
Search expanded to logged-in free users
OpenAI announced that ChatGPT Search was available to all logged-in users in regions where ChatGPT was offered.
Search opened without sign-in
OpenAI said ChatGPT Search became available to everyone in supported regions without requiring users to create an account or sign in.
Shopping search improved
OpenAI announced product-focused search enhancements, including visual product details, prices, reviews, and direct purchase links; it said product results were selected independently and were not ads.
🔄 Alternatives to ChatGPT Search
Bard / Gemini
🟢ActiveGoogle's AI assistant, originally Bard, rebranded to Gemini with multimodal capabilities.
Genspark Super Agent
🟢ActiveGenspark Super Agent is a general-purpose AI agent from MainFunc that can research, make calls, generate documents and presentations, and complete multistep tasks using integrated models and tools.
Perplexity AI
🟢ActiveAI-powered answer engine that provides cited, real-time answers to complex questions.
You.com
🟢ActiveAI search engine offering summarized answers with source citations and app integrations.
🪦 Other dead Search tools
Waldo
🟡Acquired / MergedWaldo was a research search platform for finding and extracting information from online sources. It provided source-backed answers and tools for organizing research, with a focus on professional knowledge work.
Scite
🟡Acquired / MergedScite is a research discovery and citation-analysis platform that uses machine learning to classify citation contexts as supporting, contrasting, or mentioning a claim. It also offers literature search and an AI research assistant.
Neeva
🔴Shutdown / DeadAd-free, AI-powered search engine founded by ex-Google exec that aimed to provide unbiased search results.
Casetext
🟡Acquired / MergedCasetext launched CoCounsel in March 2023, a GPT-4-powered legal assistant for case analysis, contract review, and deposition prep. The product gained traction with AmLaw 100 firms and Thomson Reuters announced a $650M cash acquisition in June 2023, closing in August. CoCounsel was rebranded as a Thomson Reuters product line and integrated with Westlaw. The standalone Casetext site is gone.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is ChatGPT Search?
ChatGPT Search is OpenAI’s web-search feature inside ChatGPT. It uses online sources to answer timely questions conversationally and provides links or citations so users can inspect source material.
Is ChatGPT Search free to use?
Yes. OpenAI expanded ChatGPT Search beyond paid plans, first to logged-in free users in December 2024 and then to users without sign-in in February 2025, subject to regional availability and usage limits.
How do I use ChatGPT Search?
Ask ChatGPT a question that benefits from current web information. ChatGPT can search automatically, or users can choose the web-search option in the composer and then open cited links from the response.
Does ChatGPT Search provide sources and citations?
Yes. Search answers include links to web sources, and OpenAI provides a Sources panel where users can review cited material. Citation quality and completeness can vary, so important claims should be checked against primary sources.
What are the best alternatives to ChatGPT Search?
Alternatives in conversational and AI-assisted web search include Perplexity AI, You.com, Gemini, and Genspark Super Agent. Their interfaces, source presentation, model access, and usage limits differ.