I want to know what are the limits on the free tier, like messages per day, uploads, and other stuff
#What are the limits on the free tier?
north pine
thorny nestBOT
Hi @north pine. I'm kapa.ai, your friendly support bot. I will try to answer your question by searching through the knowledge base. :wave:
Here’s what the knowledge sources say about limits on the ChatGPT Free tier (not the API):
1. Message limits (models)
- Free users are defaulted to GPT‑4o with a limited number of messages in a 5‑hour window. The exact number can vary based on usage and demand. When you hit this limit, you’re invited to continue with GPT‑4.1 mini or upgrade. [Free tier FAQ; Model selector]
- You can use GPTs (from the GPT Store) as long as you still have GPT‑4o usage left. When you hit your GPT‑4o limit, you also can’t use GPTs until the limit resets. [Free tier FAQ; GPTs Free FAQ]
The sources do not give a fixed “messages per day” number for GPT‑4o on Free; they only describe a capped number of uses per 5‑hour window and note that it can vary.
2. File & image uploads (inside ChatGPT)
For uploads used with tools like data analysis, document Q&A, etc.:
- Free users can:
- Upload images or files in prompts. [Free tier FAQ]
- Use file uploads and data analysis, but with stricter rate limits than paid tiers. [Free tier FAQ; GPTs Free FAQ]
- Specific upload caps from the File Uploads FAQ: [File uploads FAQ]
- Up to 80 files every 3 hours (all users).
- Free users are limited to 3 file uploads per day.
- Per‑file limits:
- Max 512 MB per file.
- Text/doc files: max 2M tokens per file (not applied to spreadsheets).
- CSV/spreadsheets: roughly ≤ 50 MB.
- Images: ≤ 20 MB per image.
- Per‑user / org storage caps:
- 10 GB per end‑user.
- 100 GB per organization.
- For Projects (organizing work in ChatGPT), Free tier users can upload up to 5 files per project. [Projects in ChatGPT]
3. Tools & advanced features
On Free, you can use (with their own separate rate limits): [Free tier FAQ; GPTs Free FAQ]
- Data analysis (Advanced Data Analysis / Python sandbox).
- File and image uploads.
- Image generation (DALL·E).
- Web search / browse.
- Using GPTs from the GPT Store (but you cannot create your own GPTs on Free). [Free tier FAQ; GPTs Free FAQ]
If you hit a rate limit for any of these tools (data analysis, file uploads, search, image creation), you must wait until a later time to use that tool again, even if you still have GPT‑4o text messages left. [Free tier FAQ; GPTs Free FAQ]
4. Other notes
- When you upgrade from Free to Plus/Pro/Business, your rate limits reset at the time of upgrade. [Free tier FAQ]
- The docs do not provide:
- A precise daily message cap for GPT‑4o on Free.
- Exact numeric limits for how many times per day you can use each advanced tool; they only state that limits are stricter and separate from the GPT‑4o text limit.
If you tell me whether you care more about ChatGPT (web/app) or the developer API, I can narrow this further to just what’s relevant to you.
Note: you can ask me a follow up question by @ mentioning me again :speech_balloon:
north pine
@thorny nest I think the default is gpt 5 and not 4
thorny nestBOT
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! :books:
You’re right to flag this—there’s newer info in the docs.
The more recent articles say that GPT‑5 (and now GPT‑5.1) is the default model for logged‑in users, not GPT‑4o:
- GPT‑5: “GPT‑5 in ChatGPT is our next flagship model and the new default for all logged‑in users.” [Model notes – GPT‑5]
- GPT‑5.1: “GPT‑5.1 in ChatGPT is our flagship GPT‑5–generation model and the default for all logged‑in and logged‑out users.” [GPT‑5.1 in ChatGPT]
Older docs still describe Free users as defaulting to GPT‑4o with a fallback to a mini model, but those pre‑date the GPT‑5 / GPT‑5.1 rollout. [Model selector – GPT‑4o]
So, based on the latest sources, the current default is GPT‑5.1 (or GPT‑5 during its rollout), not GPT‑4o.
Note: you can ask me a follow up question by @ mentioning me again :speech_balloon:
north pine
@thorny nest so could you please try again and list all the limits on the free tier? Try to stay as recent and updated as possible
thorny nestBOT
Let me check the knowledge base for you again. One moment! :books:
Here’s what the latest docs say about ChatGPT Free tier limits (not API), focusing on GPT‑5.1 and tools.
1. Model usage (messages)
Default model
- GPT‑5.1 is the default model for all logged‑in and logged‑out users in ChatGPT. [GPT‑5.1 in ChatGPT]
Free tier GPT‑5.1 limit
- Free accounts can send up to 10 messages with GPT‑5.1 every 5 hours.
After that:- Your chat will automatically switch to the mini version of the model until the limit resets. [GPT‑5.1 in ChatGPT]
The docs do not state a strict “messages per day” number—only the 10 messages / 5‑hour window for GPT‑5.1 on Free.
2. File & image uploads
From the File Uploads FAQ (applies across plans, with some Free‑specific caps): [File uploads FAQ]
Per‑file limits
- Max 512 MB per file (any type).
- Text / document files: max 2M tokens per file (not applied to spreadsheets).
- CSV / spreadsheets: roughly ≤ 50 MB (depends on row size).
- Images: ≤ 20 MB per image.
Per‑user / org storage caps
- 10 GB per end‑user.
- 100 GB per organization.
Upload frequency
- All users: up to 80 files every 3 hours.
- Free users specifically: 3 file uploads per day. [File uploads FAQ]
The docs also note there’s currently no way to see remaining quota inside ChatGPT. [File uploads FAQ]
3. Tools & GPTs on Free
Free users can: [ChatGPT Free FAQ; Using GPTs – Free]
- Search the web / browse.
- Analyze data (Advanced Data Analysis).
- Upload images or files in prompts.
- Use GPTs from the GPT Store (but cannot create their own GPTs).
- Create images in ChatGPT.
Important details:
- GPTs usage on Free is tied to your main model limit:
“You can use GPTs as long as you can use GPT‑5 (previously GPT‑4o). When you hit your limit for the main model, you won’t be able to use GPTs until your limit resets.” [Using GPTs – Free] - Some tools have separate rate limits from the text/model limit:
- Data analysis
- File & image uploads
- Image creation
If you hit a limit for one of these, you must wait before using that tool again, even if you still have text messages left. [ChatGPT Free FAQ; Using GPTs – Free]
The docs do not give exact numeric counts (per day or per hour) for how many times Free users can use each of these tools—only that limits are stricter than on paid plans and separate from the GPT‑5.1 text limit.
4. Summary of concrete Free‑tier limits we do know
- GPT‑5.1 messages:
- 10 messages every 5 hours, then auto‑switch to mini model. [GPT‑5.1 in ChatGPT]
- File uploads: [File uploads FAQ]
- 3 file uploads per day (Free).
- Up to 80 files / 3 hours (global cap, but Free is further limited by 3/day).
- 512 MB max per file; 2M tokens per text/doc; ~50 MB per CSV/spreadsheet; 20 MB per image.
- 10 GB per user; 100 GB per org.
- Tools (data analysis, browse, image gen, GPTs):
- Available on Free, but with separate, stricter rate limits; exact numbers are not specified in the docs. [ChatGPT Free FAQ; Using GPTs – Free]