ChatGPT Free Users Can Now Run ‘Deep Research’ Five Times a Month

ChatGPT has had a “Deep Research” tool since February this year but it has been limited to subscribers to the tool. Now, the company is rolling out a lightweight version of it to all users, including those who use the free service.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has announced the new lightweight version of its Deep Research tool that will give shorter responses, but still includes what the company refers to as the same “depth and quality” in its reports.

The announcement from OpenAI reads, “The lightweight version of deep research is powered by a version of OpenAI o4-mini and is nearly as intelligent as the deep research people already know and love, while being significantly cheaper to serve.”

Those on Plus, Pro, and Team subscriptions to ChatGPT will get access to the new lightweight version after they’ve run out of their full tasks per month. OpenAI is increasing the amount of queries you can have overall by including this cheaper to run tool.

Those on Plus and Team accounts will get 10 full tasks per month, and then 15 of the lightweight version. Pro subscriptions get 125 full tasks, followed by 125 in its lightweight version. OpenAI says, “Once limits for the original version of deep research are reached, queries automatically default to the lightweight version.”

Those who don’t subscribe to ChatGPT will be able to use the tool five times a month, but they’ll only get access to the lightweight version.

This move helps keep ChatGPT competitive with its rivals, such as Perplexity that has offered its version of the tool to all users for a couple of months. Perplexity Pro subscribers get unlimited access to the tool, while those on free accounts get five queries per a day.

OpenAI is rolling out this tool to free users as well as Plus, Pro, and Team accounts now. Enterprise and Edu users will begin to get the tool from next week.

About James Peckham

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I’ve written tech news for over a decade, and as a Reporter at PCMag, I cover the latest developments across the gadgets and services you use every day. Previously, I worked for Android Police, TechRadar, and more.

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