ChatGPT Projects Are Now Free for Everyone

ChatGPT Projects Are Now Free for Everyone

OpenAI has unlocked its Projects feature for free-tier users, meaning you can now organize chats, reference files, memory, and custom instructions in dedicated workspaces without paying. Here’s what to expect, how it helps, and how to use it.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor 

September 21, 2025

Have you ever lost track of an ongoing ChatGPT conversation because it was buried in your history, mixed in with other projects, or disconnected from reference files? 

That frustration might be ending. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use ChatGPT Projects Even as a Free User

OpenAI now has extended the “Projects” feature to free users. 

It’s more than just folders—this is about giving everyone a structured workspace inside ChatGPT.

What Are “Projects in ChatGPT,” and Why It Matters

Projects are workspaces inside ChatGPT designed to bundle together everything tied to a specific task or long-running effort:

• Chats related to that task
• Reference files (PDFs, spreadsheets, images, etc.)
• Custom instructions (e.g. “Treat this project as marketing copy,” or “Keep responses concise, bullet-style”)
• Persistent memory within that project so ChatGPT can “remember” relevant context across sessions. 

For paid users, these workspaces have been available already. 

Now free users gain access, up to a point. 

That shift means people using ChatGPT for personal organization, small business tasks, academic work, or recurring content creation can finally carve out more structured, context-aware space without paying. 

What You’ll Gain

• Better organization of projects: all relevant chats + files in one workspace.

• More consistent, context-aware responses (ChatGPT “remembers” within projects).

• Customization: icons, colors, and instructions to set the tone per project.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to start using Projects now, whether you're on web, iOS, or Android.

Web / Desktop

1. Log in to your ChatGPT account, www.chatgpt.com.
2. Look for “Projects” in the sidebar.
3. Click New project, give it a name, pick an icon/color.
4. Upload reference files (up to your limit).
5. Use the three-dots menu (⋯) to add custom instructions.
6. Use chats inside the project; you can drag earlier chats into it or start new ones there. 

fig. 1 - ChatGPT Projects Are Now Available to Everyone

Android

1. Once logged in, open the ChatGPT app, go to Projects from the sidebar or menu
2. Tap to create,. 
3. Name it.
4. Add files/instructions. 

iOS

• The support is rolling out soon for the iOS ChatGPT app. 
• If it’s not yet available in your version, watch for the update. 
• Once live, iOS will work like Android/web.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Clarity / Organization: Instead of chats scattered or mixed, everything related to one project stays together. For example: a teacher working on lesson plans can have one project per unit, with all relevant material tucked in.
• Context Retention: With memory inside the project, ChatGPT can refer back to what you’ve already discussed without repeating context manually. Useful when you revisit after a break.
• Customization & Identity: Project colors, icons, and instructions make it easier to glance and know what you’re in, set tone/style per project.
• Unity Across Devices: Start on phone, continue on desktop; files/chats move with you. No more “Oh, I can’t find that file I uploaded on my phone.”

Cons

• File Limits for Free Users: Free users are limited (5 files per project). If you work with many documents, that’ll feel restrictive. 
• Delayed Features on Some Platforms: iOS rollout is not yet universal. If you rely heavily on mobile iOS, there may be lag. 
• Memory Settings Complexity: To get “project-only” memory behavior (which isolates chats/files to just within the project), you may need to toggle settings; default behavior may pull context from other chats unless configured. That can lead to unexpected mixing of topics.
• Limitations vs Paid Tiers: Paid plans still get higher limits on file uploads, perhaps richer tools (deep research / agent mode etc.) and perhaps different rate limits. Free users are suitably covered but might bump into ceiling. 

Who Can Use This, and What’s Required

Availability: All free-tier, paid tiers (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Education) globally now have access to Projects. 

Device / Platform: Web and Android are already live; iOS support is rolling out. 

File Upload Limits by Plan:

• Free: 5 files per project 
• Go / Plus / Education: 25 files per project 
• Pro / Business / Enterprise: 40 files per project 

Memory / Settings Requirements: To get project memory, ensure “Reference saved memories” and “Reference chat history” are enabled in your personal settings. 

For enterprise/workspace users, some workspace-level settings must also allow memory and context. 

Score

Score | Criterion | Justification

Value 8

Free tiers gain a meaningful upgrade—they now get structured workspaces, contextual memory, file storage. It solves common pain points for organization and follow-ups.

Usability 7

The UI is intuitive (sidebar, new project, icons). Some features (like memory settings) require attention; free-user limits and platform rollout delays detract slightly.

Wow Factor 6

It’s more “finally catching up” than “game-changing.” But for many users who felt constrained, this feels like a big usability leap. The idea of custom instruction per workspace is especially nice.

Total Score: 21 / 30 - 👍 Good. Worth adopting for most users.

If I were to pick one of these features as especially strong, it’d be the project memory + custom instructions in the workspace. 

Together they make Projects more than just “better folder management.”

Key Takeaways

Projects in ChatGPT now come for free: free-tier users can create workspaces, upload up to 5 files per project, set custom instructions, pick icons/colors, and use memory features.

There are still limitations (file count, platform rollout, memory defaults), but this is a solid upgrade in productivity for users who weren’t paying.

Using projects well means configuring memory settings, planning your files, and thinking of projects as mini workspaces, not just chats.

Try It Yourself

Go ahead and create a Project today, maybe one for something you’ve been clicking between chats for (e.g. a long-form article, research project, marketing plan). 

Don’t forget to share this tip with your team or peers, you’ll save them time too.

READ MORE

• Mastering ChatGPT Projects: Organize Your Conversations Like a Pro
  
• Give ChatGPT a Personality That Actually Sticks. Here’s How (and Why It Matters)
  
• Boost Learning with ChatGPT Study Mode: Think, Not Just Copy
  

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Rodger Mansfield, a seasoned tech expert, is the mastermind behind www.OneCoolTip.com where he serves as both writer and editor. With a keen eye for simplifying complex tech, Rodger delivers practical advice that empowers readers to navigate the digital world with confidence. Dive into www.OneCoolTip.com for a treasure trove of savvy tips and tricks that keep you one step ahead in tech.

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