The official ChatGPT app is free and available in the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play Store (Android). After downloading, you create a free account and can start chatting immediately. Watch out for copycat apps with similar names — only the one made by OpenAI is the real thing.
Having ChatGPT on your phone means you can ask it questions, get help with writing, or look something up wherever you are — without sitting down at a computer. The setup takes less than 10 minutes from start to first conversation.
This guide covers both iPhone and Android. The steps are nearly identical on both devices.
Watch out for fake copycat apps
Before you search for ChatGPT in the app store, know this: there are dozens of apps with names like "AI Chat," "ChatGPT Assistant," "AI Chatbot for GPT-4," and similar. Many of these are not made by OpenAI and may show you ads, charge hidden subscription fees, or collect your data in ways you would not expect.
The real app: Made by OpenAI. The developer name in the store will say "OpenAI." The icon is a simple white shape on a dark background.
Only install the one from OpenAI.
Find and download the official app
On iPhone: Open the App Store (the blue icon with an "A" on your home screen). Tap the Search tab at the bottom. Type ChatGPT in the search bar. Look for the result that says "ChatGPT" and shows OpenAI as the developer. Tap Get to download it.
On Android: Open the Google Play Store (the multicolored triangle icon). Tap the search bar at the top. Type ChatGPT. Find the result made by OpenAI and tap Install.
The app is free to download on both platforms.
Open the app and create a free account
Once the download finishes, tap the app to open it.
You will see a welcome screen with options to Log in or Sign up. If you already have a ChatGPT account from the website, tap Log in. Otherwise, tap Sign up.
To create an account, you can use your email address or sign in with an existing Google or Apple account (iPhone) / Google account (Android). The Google or Apple option is faster — just tap it and follow the prompts to connect your account.
If you sign up with email, you will receive a short verification code or a confirmation email. Follow the instructions to verify your address.
Complete the brief setup screens
After creating your account, the app may show you a few quick setup screens:
- A prompt to enter your first name (optional but useful — ChatGPT can address you by name)
- A screen offering you a free trial of ChatGPT Plus (the paid plan)
- A short introduction to what ChatGPT can do
You can skip the paid plan offer — tap Start for free or the equivalent button. The free version is everything you need to get started.
Type your first message
You will land on a clean screen with a text box at the bottom that says something like "Message" or "Ask anything." Tap on it — your phone's keyboard will appear.
Type a question or request and tap the send button (usually an arrow or a paper plane icon to the right of the text box).
A few good first messages to try:
- "Suggest three easy dinner ideas for tonight."
- "Explain what a deductible is in simple terms."
- "Help me write a short thank-you text to my neighbor."
ChatGPT will respond within a few seconds.
Find your way around the app
The app is simple, but here are the parts worth knowing:
- New chat button: Usually in the top corner — tap it whenever you want to start a fresh conversation on a new topic.
- Chat history: Tap the menu icon (often three lines or a sidebar icon) to see your past conversations. You can pick up any previous chat where you left off.
- Voice input: Most phones let you tap a microphone icon on the keyboard to dictate your message instead of typing.
- Voice mode: A separate voice feature that lets you have a spoken back-and-forth conversation with ChatGPT. See our ChatGPT Voice Mode guide to set that up.
Adjust your privacy settings
Before you use the app regularly, it is worth a quick look at your privacy options. Tap your profile icon or initials, then go to Settings. Look for Data controls or a similar section.
There you can turn off the option that allows OpenAI to use your conversations to train its AI — if that matters to you. For a full walkthrough of your options, see our ChatGPT privacy settings guide.
What to Try Next
You are set up and ready to go. Try 25 ready-to-use prompts if you want ideas for what to ask right now. And if you want to talk to ChatGPT out loud instead of typing — great for when your hands are busy — the ChatGPT Voice Mode guide shows you how to use that feature on your phone.
