ChatGPT Work

0:03 ChatGPT Work is the mode of ChatGPT built for longer tasks: OpenAI calls it "an agent for longer, more involved tasks" that researches and analyzes information, works across connected apps and files, and produces finished documents, spreadsheets, presentations, reports and Sites. It launched on Jul 9, 2026 beside Chat and Codex in the new desktop app. To use it, choose Work from the toggle above the composer (desktop) or the Chat/Work dropdown (web and mobile). As of Nov 6, 2026 it is included on Plus and above, with limited access on Free and Go in the desktop app, and it draws on the same allowance as Codex (Pricing).

Quick facts

What does ChatGPT Work do?

1:20 Work takes a goal rather than a question. Given something like a market summary, a cleaned-up spreadsheet or a small website, it plans the steps, searches and reads, opens connected apps such as Gmail, Slack or Google Drive through Plugins, and hands back a file or a Site rather than a chat reply (ChatGPT release notes, Jul 9, 2026). It can keep a project going on its own through Scheduled Tasks that run once, repeat or watch for changes.

Event-triggered tasks run in Work too: a new Gmail message, a message in a Slack channel or GitHub pull request activity can start one, for eligible Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Edu and ChatGPT for Healthcare users, not Free or Go. Voice also works in Work, on the desktop since Jul 23, 2026 and on web and mobile since Sep 23, 2026 (Voice Mode).

Chat vs Work vs Codex

0:03 OpenAI's help page draws the line in one sentence each: Chat is "for fast, conversational assistance and everyday questions", Work is "designed for longer, multi-step work and finished deliverables", and Codex "remains dedicated to software development and technical work" (ChatGPT Work and Codex).

Sources: ChatGPT Work and Codex and GPT-6 and other models in ChatGPT, read Nov 6, 2026.

Older ChatGPT features overlap with Work. Agent Mode, the agent in Chat since July 2025, still has its own help page and limits, and OpenAI's pages read on Nov 6, 2026 do not say plainly whether it stays a separate tool beside Work. Deep Research remains a Chat tool for cited reports.

Cloud Work and desktop Work

1:07 On the web and in the mobile apps, Work runs in the cloud on OpenAI's computers, and those conversations sync across web, mobile and desktop (Jul 16, 2026). In the desktop app, Work can also use local files and desktop apps with permission; those local conversations stay on the computer (ChatGPT Work and Codex). On Linux, the preview app runs browser actions but cannot yet control other desktop apps.

To start Work:

1. On the desktop, open the ChatGPT app, choose ChatGPT from the switcher, then Work from the toggle above the composer.
2. On the web or mobile, choose Work from the Chat/Work dropdown.
3. Describe the outcome, attach files or mention a plugin with @, and send.

Admins of Business, Enterprise and Edu workspaces can turn Work on or off separately for the cloud and for local use under Workspace settings > Permissions & roles (Work Cloud, Work Local) (ChatGPT Work and Codex).

The built-in browser

0:05 Work has its own browser. Since Aug 25, 2026, the browser on web and mobile can sign in to websites on Plus and Pro: ChatGPT shows the site's login screen, works with password managers and cannot see the username or password, and it asks for confirmation before consequential steps such as a reservation or a payment. Saved browsing data can be deleted at Settings > Cloud browser > Browser data. In the desktop app the built-in browser also shows a page's own tools (WebMCP) under the arrow in the address bar, since Aug 31, 2026. Outside the app, the ChatGPT Browser Extension lets Work act in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera or Vivaldi.

Plans and usage

As of Nov 6, 2026, Free and Go get limited Work access on desktop with GPT-6 Luna, and Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise get it on desktop, web and mobile. Work "follows the same usage structure as Codex", so a long Work task and a Codex session spend the same allowance; the remaining Work usage shows in the sidebar on the web (release notes, Aug 7, 2026).

OpenAI publishes estimates for Plus and Business Standard, in local messages per five hours (Pricing, as of Nov 6, 2026):

Weekly limits may also apply, and cloud tasks may use more than local messages. "Pro currently has no five-hour limit", and on Oct 29, 2026 Pro 100 and Pro 500 got twice their earlier Work and Codex allowance. Business Premium seats have no five-hour limit either (ChatGPT Business overview). Past the allowance, Plus and Pro can buy credits (ChatGPT Credits). Full numbers for each plan are on ChatGPT Usage Limits and Codex Pricing and Limits.

Models in Work

Work has its own model choice, separate from Chat's. GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna "are not available in regular ChatGPT conversations", only in Work and Codex. GPT-6 Astra is there too: Pro 100, Pro 200 and Business Premium can spend their whole allowance on it, while Plus and Business Standard get limited Astra usage. Ultrafast, a faster mode for Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol that spends the allowance at 8 times the Standard rate, is only on Pro 500 and eligible Enterprise and Edu workspaces.

Limits and caveats

• Work is not available in a project that uses project-only memory, and shared projects always do (Projects).
• Quiet hours set by a parent also stop Work (Parental Controls).
• ChatGPT Sites are built in Work and count toward Codex usage.
• Business, Enterprise and Edu admins can switch it off; Enterprise and Edu got it after a two-week preview that was off by default.

Frequently asked questions

What is ChatGPT Work? ChatGPT Work is an agent mode in ChatGPT for longer tasks that end in a finished document, spreadsheet, presentation, report or Site. It launched on Jul 9, 2026.

Is ChatGPT Work free? Free and Go users get limited ChatGPT Work access in the desktop app only, as of Nov 6, 2026. Plus and higher plans get it on desktop, web and mobile.

What is the difference between ChatGPT Work and Codex? Both use the same models and the same usage allowance, but Work is for research and finished deliverables while Codex is for software development. Both live in the ChatGPT desktop app.

Does ChatGPT Work use the same limits as Chat? No. ChatGPT Work shares its limits and credits with Codex, separate from Chat's message limits.

Which model does ChatGPT Work use? As of Nov 6, 2026, ChatGPT Work offers GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Luna and, depending on the plan, GPT-6 Astra.

Can ChatGPT Work log in to websites? Yes, on Plus and Pro since Aug 25, 2026. ChatGPT Work shows the site's login screen and cannot see the password, and it asks before payments or reservations.

Sources

• ChatGPT release notes, OpenAI Help Center, read Nov 6, 2026
• ChatGPT Work and Codex, OpenAI Help Center, read Nov 6, 2026
• GPT-6 and other models in ChatGPT, OpenAI Help Center, read Nov 6, 2026
• ChatGPT Business overview, OpenAI Help Center, read Nov 6, 2026
• ChatGPT pricing, OpenAI, read Nov 6, 2026
• Pricing, OpenAI Codex and ChatGPT docs, read Nov 6, 2026
• Get started with ChatGPT Work, OpenAI, Jul 9, 2026 (video)
• Getting Started with ChatGPT Work, OpenAI, Aug 28, 2026 (video)
• ChatGPT can now complete tasks on your computer, OpenAI, Jul 16, 2026 (video)