ChatGPT app is now available to Windows users for free
And Mac users also get an upgrade to the app
Just last month, OpenAI finally unveiled the ChatGPT app for Windows, effectively levelling the playing field between Mac and Windows users. Mac users had been enjoying this since June, so it was long overdue for Windows to catch up.
Louis Eriakha
However, at launch, the app was initially available only to premium subscribers. Now, though, it’s accessible to everyone—even those on the free tier.
This means that all Windows users, whether they’re paying the $20 ChatGPT Plus subscription or not, can now use the ChatGPT app. While there are still some differences between the paid and free versions, the gap isn't huge. For instance, some pro features like ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice mode are now available in the app, but otherwise, the core experience remains the same for everyone.
The app offers faster access to ChatGPT, whether you’re opening it manually or using the handy Alt + Space keyboard shortcut. And with the addition of the new ChatGPT search feature, navigating and interacting with the chatbot should be smoother than ever. The only catch is that you’ll need Windows 10 or higher to use it.
But just when it seemed like the scales had balanced, Mac users got a major upgrade. OpenAI introduced a significant update to the Mac version of the app, bringing integrations with popular developer tools like VS Code, Xcode, Terminal, and iTerm2 with plans to integrate with other types of apps soon.
This update allows developers to use ChatGPT directly within their coding environments, eliminating the need for the usual copy-paste routine.
The new "Work with Apps" feature automatically pulls the code you're working on into ChatGPT’s context, allowing for real-time feedback and assistance. This is a huge win for Mac users, especially those in software development, giving them a clear edge in terms of functionality.
So, just as things seemed to be evening out between Windows and Mac users, MacOS has pulled ahead again—at least for developers. While Windows users now enjoy the app’s accessibility, it’s clear that Mac users are getting a more special treatment.
As always, it'll be interesting to see how OpenAI continues to evolve these apps and whether Windows users will eventually catch up.
With over 180 million users, ChatGPT is already one of the most popular chatbots out there. And with improvements like these—making the app more accessible and useful across platforms—it could further solidify its lead over competitors like Copilot, which has just 28 million active users, and Gemini, with 42 million per Business of Apps. These updates position ChatGPT to stay ahead in the increasingly crowded AI space.
