ChatGPT’s Deep Research is now free: Here’s what you can do with it

OpenAI has just introduced a lightweight version of its powerful Deep Research feature in ChatGPT, and the biggest surprise is that even free users can now try it out. While the full version remains exclusive to paying plans, this new mode offers broad access with only a few limits.

What is Deep Research and who can use it

Deep Research is designed for prompts that require extended processing time, in-depth answers, and access to complex reasoning. It’s used for everything from understanding scientific papers to creating detailed workout plans, and is ideal for users who need more than a quick summary.

The new lightweight version uses the o4-mini model, which OpenAI says is nearly as intelligent but much cheaper to run. That makes it accessible to free users, though they’re limited to five Deep Research queries per month. Plus, Team, and Pro users now get expanded access, with 25 to 250 queries per month depending on the plan.

What to expect from the lightweight version

While this version won’t deliver responses as long or rich in nuance as the premium tier, OpenAI claims the depth and quality remain surprisingly strong. You can expect shorter but still comprehensive outputs—perfect for learning, content creation, or exploring unfamiliar topics.

This move is part of OpenAI’s effort to balance cost, performance, and availability, offering meaningful tools to more users while managing heavy server loads. It also puts pressure on competitors like Google Gemini and Perplexity, who offer similar features behind paywalls.

Whether you’re a casual user or a serious researcher, the lightweight Deep Research tool now gives you the chance to explore advanced AI capabilities—for free.