If you haven’t used ChatGPT since it first came out you’re in for a treat — 5 new features you should try
Premium features for my free account? Yes please!
Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
If you felt like you needed a ChatGPT Plus account to actually harness the potential of OpenAI’s chatbot but never made the leap, now is the perfect time to fire up your old account and discover what today’s free ChatGPT accounts have to offer.
You don’t need to worry about new menus or interfaces as the general layout has remained pretty much the same. Simply log on to your regular ChatGPT account and you can dive straight into using the new features that were announced in OpenAI's spring update. These include things like the advanced GPT-4o model, more language capabilities, and uploading files to talk about them with the chatbot.
1. GPT-4o
First off you’ll now be able to use GPT-4o, OpenAI’s best model yet. It operates on the same level of capabilities as GPT-4 (which is still only available to paying users) but is much better at processing text, voice, and images.
There is, however, a limit on the number of messages you can send with GPT-4o which depends on the current demand for the service.
2. Custom GPTs
While many tasks can simply be done using the regular ChatGPT, using custom GPTs allows you to skip some of the prompt writing and training you might otherwise need to do to achieve your goals. These custom chatbots such as CV Writer and Scholar GPT are already optimized to creating a CV or helping you out with your academic research.
As a free user you won’t be able to create images, however one slight workaround is if you ask the Adobe Express GPT to create them for you — these then need to be accessed through Adobe Express itself. Additionally, while you can use GPTs others have created, you won't be able to make one yourself.
3. Data analysis
All ChatGPT Free users can now use browse, vision, data analysis, file uploads, and GPTs. https://t.co/NTXSalAV6qMay 29, 2024
Can’t wrap your head around a table full of data you gathered? A free ChatGPT account will give you access to the chatbot’s data analysis capabilities. When you upload your data, ChatGPT can instantly create interactive charts and tables to help you visualize the information.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
You can also chat about your data and ask questions about it to deepen your understanding.
4. A pair of AI eyes
Upload any image from your device and have a conversation about it! Spotted a monument you didn’t recognize or need inspiration on how to use up the ingredients you have leftover in your fridge? Snap a photo, send it to ChatGPT and fire your questions away.
The chatbot will then apply its multimodal reasoning to decipher your photos, screenshots, or documents.
5. Browse the web
Nothing beats knowing you have the best and latest information about a topic. Your free ChatGPT account now lets you browse the web. It’s akin to asking your question to Google, but instead of presenting you with a list of websites likely to be able to provide you with an answer, ChatGPT gives you that answer directly.
Depending on the context, ChatGPT may also offer helpful links such as the option to book a table if you're asking it for restaurant recommendations.
More from Tom's Guide
- ChatGPT-4o just got a major upgrade on mobile — now you can keep talking while using other apps
- ChatGPT free just got a huge upgrade — GPT-4o and custom GPTs among newly added features
- The best VPN for ChatGPT in 2024

Christoph Schwaiger is a journalist, mainly covering AI, health, and current affairs. His stories have been published by Tom's Guide, Live Science, New Scientist, and the Global Investigative Journalism Network, among other outlets. Christoph has appeared on LBC and Times Radio. Additionally, he previously served as a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global leadership organization, and graduated cum laude from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands with an MA in journalism. You can follow him on X (Twitter) @cschwaigermt.










