OpenAI has expanded access to Projects in ChatGPT — the workspace feature that lets you group chats, upload files, and set project-specific instructions — to free users worldwide. The move puts one of ChatGPT’s most useful organizational tools into more hands, while keeping tiered file limits and memory controls in place.
What Projects does
Projects act like dedicated folders inside ChatGPT. Each Project can contain chats, uploaded files (documents, images, spreadsheets), and custom instructions that tell the model how to behave for that Project’s use case — for example, a travel planner, a study assistant, or a business workspace. When you ask questions inside a Project, ChatGPT prioritizes that Project’s context and files to deliver more focused responses.
Limits by plan
OpenAI’s rollout brings Projects to free accounts with modest upload limits. Free users can upload up to 5 files per Project, while higher tiers get bigger allowances: 25 files for Plus/Go/Edu and 40 files for Pro/Business/Enterprise. OpenAI also says Projects have their own project-scoped memory, so a Project’s memory won’t automatically merge with your global ChatGPT memory.
Why this matters
Giving free users Projects reduces friction for organizing research, client work, and personal workflows inside ChatGPT. Previously, Projects were a paid feature — now creators, students, and hobbyists can keep related chats and files together without upgrading. It also encourages users to treat ChatGPT as a persistent workspace, not only a single Q&A tool. Coverage from outlets confirms the broad rollout across web and Android, with iOS following in short order.
How to get started
- Open ChatGPT (web or app) and create a new Project.
- Upload files (up to your plan’s limit) and set a Project icon and instructions.
- Start a Project chat — ChatGPT will reference uploaded files and project memory for replies. Check OpenAI’s release notes for the latest feature updates and limits.
FAQs
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Are ChatGPT Projects free now?
Ans. Yes — Projects are now available to free ChatGPT users, with a cap of 5 files per Project.
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How many Projects can I create?
Ans. OpenAI lets users create unlimited Projects — file upload limits depend on your plan.
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Do Projects share memory with my main ChatGPT memory?
Ans. No — Projects include project-only memory separate from your global ChatGPT memory.
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Where is the feature available?
Ans. The feature is rolling out on web and Android now; iOS availability may follow.
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Who should use Projects?
Ans. Students, creators, freelancers, small teams, or anyone who wants to group relevant chats and files for a focused workflow.
