I’ve been glued to ChatGPT for the reason that day it launched in November 2022.
From the harmless days of asking “inform me a joke” to now commanding “assist me automate this whole workflow,” we’ve come a good distance in three years, and so has the AI chatbot ecosystem.
Now it appears like we’re drowning in new AI chatbot choices. However regardless of the noise, I’ve saved coming again to ChatGPT to see if it may nonetheless maintain its crown.
Possibly it’s as a result of, for many people, ChatGPT feels private at this level, much less like a software, extra like a day by day work companion. I’ve watched it develop up, evolving from the clumsy GPT-3.5 into immediately’s reasoning powerhouse, GPT-5.2. I’ve seen options like internet search and “Deep Analysis” go from experiments to day by day requirements. I’ve examined each button OpenAI has thrown at us, not in polished demos, however within the messy actuality of on a regular basis work.
I’ve used the free model. I’ve paid the $20 for ChatGPT Plus. And I’ve fashioned some sturdy opinions. Right here’s my sincere ChatGPT assessment after 3 years of day by day use, supported by 1,000+ G2 opinions.
TL;DR: My ChatGPT assessment
ChatGPT nonetheless earns its place on the prime as essentially the most versatile AI assistant in the marketplace with a 4.7/5 G2 score. It has advanced right into a powerhouse for writing, coding, and deep analysis, with the paid model’s superior reasoning capabilities (GPT-5) providing a large improve for skilled workflows. Whereas hallucinations, privateness issues, and efficiency hiccups stay, it’s nonetheless essentially the most reliable AI chatbot in 2026.
What’s ChatGPT? Key options
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that makes use of giant language fashions to grasp prompts and generate human-like responses. In apply, it acts as a general-purpose assistant that may assist with writing, analysis, problem-solving, coding assist, and on a regular basis productiveness duties.
As of 2026, ChatGPT helps textual content, picture, and voice interactions, permitting customers to research info, summarize content material, and deal with complicated requests in a conversational format throughout a variety of use circumstances throughout industries.
ChatGPT at a look on G2
| Metrics | G2 rating | Perception |
| G2 score | ⭐4.7/5 | Persistently ranked as a prime AI chatbot primarily based on verified consumer opinions |
| Consumer adoption | 66% | Greater adoption charge than class common, indicating sturdy day-to-day utilization |
| Time to ROI | 6 months | Most customers report seeing measurable productiveness positive factors inside half a 12 months |
| Buyer section | SMB: 64% Mid-market: 25% Enterprise: 11% |
Strongest traction amongst small companies, with rising adoption in mid-market and enterprise groups |
| Ease of use | 96% satisfaction | Customers persistently reward the intuitive chat interface and minimal studying curve |
What are the important thing options of ChatGPT?
When ChatGPT launched in 2022, it was a easy textual content field: I typed a immediate, and it typed again. However now, it may now see, hear, communicate, analyze recordsdata, and browse the reside web.
Right here’s a breakdown of the core engine and options that outline the ChatGPT expertise in 2026.
- A number of LLM choices: Whereas the free tier runs on GPT 5.2 mannequin, Plus and different paid plans unlock the heavy hitters: GPT-5.2 Considering, Professional, and entry to some legacy fashions. These fashions are constructed to “motive” — planning complicated duties and self-correcting, slightly than simply predicting textual content.
- True multimodality: It’s now not text-only. You may generate pictures (through GPT Picture 1.5), create cinematic video clips (through Sora), and maintain real-time, emotional voice conversations with out ever switching modes.
- Deep Analysis: A step past easy looking out. It makes use of autonomous brokers to carry out multi-step analysis, cross-referencing sources to generate cited, structured experiences.
- Net search: For fast solutions, it browses the reside internet for real-time information, shares, and sports activities, performing nearly like a direct substitute for Google.
- Canvas: A devoted split-screen workspace for writing and coding. It helps you to spotlight and edit particular sections of your work with out regenerating the whole response.
- Superior information evaluation: Add Excel, CSV, or PDF recordsdata, and ChatGPT acts as a junior analyst — writing and working Python code to wash information, create charts, and uncover insights.
- Reminiscence: It remembers your preferences and mission particulars throughout totally different conversations, so you do not have to maintain repeating context.
- Agent mode: It does not simply speak; it acts. In “Agent Mode,” ChatGPT can management a browser to carry out multi-step duties like filling out kinds, reserving journey, or purchasing, requiring solely your last approval.
- Integrations: It integrates instantly with Google Drive, GitHub, OneDrive, Slack, HubSpot, and plenty of different instruments. You may pull in reside docs and spreadsheets for evaluation with out manually importing recordsdata.
How I examined and evaluated ChatGPT
This ChatGPT assessment is predicated on three years of day by day use throughout each the free plan and ChatGPT Plus. I evaluated ChatGPT by integrating it into my precise workflow, utilizing it for reside writing tasks, deep analysis, coding assist, and automation, slightly than counting on remoted, theoretical “immediate checks.”
To make sure my expertise wasn’t an outlier, I additionally analyzed patterns in a whole bunch of consumer opinions on G2 and neighborhood boards to grasp the place my expertise aligned with the broader consensus and the place it didn’t.
My analysis targeted on three key metrics:
- Accuracy and reliability: How persistently it produced right, usable outputs versus needing fact-checking.
- Reasoning depth: How properly it dealt with complicated logic and multi-step duties with out breaking down.
- Sensible usability: How simply it match right into a day by day workflow, factoring in velocity, interface, and friction.
How ChatGPT performs in real-world duties: My expertise
Right here’s how ChatGPT truly performs whenever you use it for actual work, not simply one-off prompts or demos.
1. Writing and enhancing
That is the place I get essentially the most worth from ChatGPT. Earlier than AI, gazing a clean Google Doc was usually the toughest a part of my day. However ChatGPT will get me began simply.
If I want to write down a tough electronic mail to a shopper, draft a mission proposal, or give you 10 headline concepts, ChatGPT is unimaginable. It offers construction, tone, and a place to begin.
The one catch is the “default AI voice” I generally encounter. It tends to overuse phrases like “unleash,” “delve,” and “tapestry,” making the output sound stiff and robotic.
Nonetheless, after I began offering clear directions on tone, asking for “conversational” or “direct” language, and mentioning the phrases to keep away from, the output was usually prepared to make use of on the primary cross. I may even add this to my personalization and reminiscence tab in order that I don’t should repeat it for each dialog.
Even when it requires enhancing, treating ChatGPT as a rough-draft machine nonetheless cuts my writing time in half.
After all, there’s Claude, which nails the human voice a lot better, and Gemini, which has improved loads. However nonetheless, I maintain defaulting to ChatGPT as my AI writing assistant.
2. Coding
I’m a no-coder. However ChatGPT has helped me create instruments and write code that I may have by no means written in my life. If I ask it to write down a Python script to scrape headers from a URL record and save them to a CSV, debug a difficult JavaScript loop, or create a responsive CSS format, it nails it.
I’ve requested it to construct video games, a studying app for my toddler, and full code for web sites, touchdown pages, and it delivers precisely what I want each time.
The most important beneficiaries I imagine are sometimes non-technical of us like product managers, designers, founders, and entrepreneurs. When you’ve got an concept for a easy internet software or a touchdown web page however lack the abilities to construct it from scratch, ChatGPT is your buddy.
That mentioned, it’s not good. ChatGPT can generally generate responses that sound extremely sure however aren’t absolutely correct. I’ve had circumstances the place it insisted damaged code was fastened when it wasn’t, and I had to make use of one other software to pinpoint the difficulty earlier than feeding that correction again into ChatGPT.
And after I evaluate it with different AI code turbines like Claude Code, the competitors is stiff. Even then, the worth is simple. ChatGPT turns me from somebody with an concept into somebody with a working prototype. For a non-developer, that shift alone is worthy.
3. Analysis and summarization
Summarizing stays this software’s absolute superpower. I can paste a 2,000-word article and ask for the gist in 100 phrases, and it delivers immediately. But it surely’s extra than simply shrinking textual content. Even earlier than the massive updates, ChatGPT was my go-to for studying complicated ideas. I’ve realized extra about AI structure and LLM utility from asking it conceptual questions than from some other supply.
When SearchGPT arrived, it was a large improve — lastly, real-time information. But when I’m sincere, it hasn’t utterly changed Google or Perplexity for me. It is not at all times as up-to-the-minute or complete as a Google seek for breaking information, and it may’t match Grok’s capability to tug prompt, uncooked reactions from X. For fast info, it’s respectable. However I nonetheless discover myself switching to different instruments after I want absolute real-time verification.
4. Deep analysis
Now, if you happen to drown in open browser tabs, whether or not you are a scholar doing a lit assessment or an analyst needing market developments by 2 PM, that is the place ChatGPT pays for itself.
Deep Analysis, which dropped again in February 2025, moved ChatGPT from being a wise reader to an energetic researcher. I may give it a imprecise subject, reply its observe up questions, and step away whereas it browses the net, reads a number of sources, and compiles a complete, McKinsey-style report. It does the heavy lifting, turning what was a two-day guide slog right into a 20-minute job.
Just a few months into the GPT-5 period, I’ve seen a trade-off: velocity over depth. The newer fashions ship sooner, extra polished solutions, however they will really feel barely shallower until you intentionally sluggish them down with extra particular prompts and the output you want.
Even with that additional friction, although, the maths is straightforward: I’d slightly spend 5 minutes refining a immediate than two days drowning in tabs. It’s not good, however it’s nonetheless essentially the most highly effective analysis assistant I’ve ever used.
5. Picture era
With the mixing of GPT-4o Native (changing the outdated DALL-E framework), ChatGPT turned one of many greatest picture turbines available in the market, and with GPT Picture 1.5, it is develop into even higher, in my opinion. Truthfully, as a substitute of looking for inventory images, I now ask ChatGPT to generate these for me.
The most important shift is that the photographs are literally usable. Three years again, if you happen to requested for a brand that mentioned “store,” the AI would spit out “sop.” Immediately, I can ask ChatGPT to “mock up a touchdown web page for a espresso store known as ‘The Each day Grind’ with a ‘Purchase Now’ button, and the spelling is ideal. I exploit this always for fast slide deck belongings, easy infographics, social media photos, and naturally, memes.
Enhancing is equally frictionless. If one thing seems off, I simply say “change the background” or “add a CTA,” and it updates the picture with out transforming the whole immediate.
This characteristic is a specific goldmine for entrepreneurs and small enterprise house owners. It successfully unlocks a “zero-budget” photoshoot. You may add a boring picture of your product, like a candle or a espresso bag, and inform ChatGPT to put it on a country desk with morning daylight.
6. Information evaluation
When you’ve got ever spent an hour preventing with an Excel method solely to get a #VALUE! error, that is for you. ChatGPT modified that equation in a single day by turning “information evaluation” right into a plain English dialog.
The workflow is deceptively easy: I add a messy CSV file, say, a 12 months’s value of visitors information or a chaotic export from a survey software, and easily ask, “Clear this up and inform me what the principle developments are.” In seconds, it writes and runs its personal Python code to clean the information, deal with lacking values, and output a clear abstract. It handles the grunt work of information cleansing that normally eats up half my morning.
That is super-helpful for managers, consultants, and operations leads who want solutions, not simply spreadsheets. You may add your uncooked information and ask particular, strategic questions like, “Which area had the very best revenue margin variance in This autumn?” or “Graph the connection between group headcount and output.” It does not simply offer you a desk; it generates precise charts, bar graphs, scatter plots, and heatmaps.
I won’t drop the chart instantly in my deck or one thing, nevertheless it’s positively my start line, and for 90% of advert hoc information duties, ChatGPT does the job.
7. Voice chat
Voice assistants have been round for years, however they had been by no means one thing I relied on for actual work. ChatGPT’s Voice Mode is the primary time that’s modified.
Now I don’t use Voice Mode daily, nevertheless it’s carved out a particular, high-value area of interest in my workflow: rehearsal. It’s particularly efficient for making ready for high-stakes conversations like training a wage negotiation, warming up for an interview, or pressure-testing the best way to get mission buy-in from skeptical management. I’ve even discovered it helpful for private conditions, performing as a non-public sounding board after I have to vent or untangle complicated ideas out loud.
That mentioned, it may be overly agreeable by default and tends to leap within the second I pause after I use the Superior Voice Mode. Until I explicitly inform it to “be important,” “play satan’s advocate,” or “push again,” it may really feel extra like a cheerleader than a challenger. When you set these floor guidelines, although, it turns into a robust method to stress-test arguments in a secure, low-risk surroundings earlier than having the true dialog.
Different duties I’ve tried with ChatGPT
Listed below are the opposite duties I’ve explored on ChatGPT.
- Agent Mode: I’ve used Agent Mode for duties like updating spreadsheets, creating journey plans, and sending customized messages. When it really works, it’s spectacular — however it may sometimes get caught in loops or want guide nudging to complete a job cleanly.
- Integrations: Having the ability to reference my Google Drive recordsdata, previous chats, and ongoing tasks is a game-changer. I can ask ChatGPT to assessment paperwork, plan subsequent steps, or proceed work with out re-uploading context. Different integrations are helpful too, however Drive entry is the one I depend on most.
- Picture understanding and visible suggestions: I’ve used ChatGPT to research screenshots, diagrams, and visuals — whether or not that’s debugging a UI subject or getting suggestions on a design. It’s not a substitute for a designer, nevertheless it’s surprisingly useful for fast checks.
- Customized GPTs: I’ve examined Customized GPTs tailor-made to particular duties and kinds, which could be useful for repetitive workflows. They positively take a while constructing, however they scale back setup time after I need constant outputs with out re-explaining directions.
What are the professionals and cons of ChatGPT (Primarily based on my expertise and G2 opinions)
To stability my very own long-term expertise, I checked out recurring themes in G2 opinions. Right here’s how ChatGPT stacks up in apply, professionals and cons included.
Professionals of ChatGPT: What do G2 customers like?
The next are the areas the place ChatGPT delivers steady worth based on 1000+ customers.
- Versatility: It’s my coder, my illustrator, my information analyst, and my author multi function tab. The “all-in-one” ecosystem is tough to beat.
- Highly effective fashions: The paid plans offer you entry to the true “mind” of the operation (like GPT-5.2 Considering, Professional). Once I throw complicated, multi-step prompts at it, it does not simply guess—it breaks down the logic and solves it.
- Surprisingly low studying curve: Even though OpenAI retains stuffing it with new options, it’s nonetheless lifeless easy to make use of. You do not want a guide to determine it out. That ease reveals up in G2 information too, the place ChatGPT scores extremely for ease of use and setup (96%), one thing I’ve felt firsthand because the product has grown extra complicated with out turning into more durable to make use of.
- The options: Options like Deep Analysis, internet search, Voice Mode, and picture era add critical worth. I discover myself utilizing the whole toolkit, not simply the chat.
What G2 customers like about ChatGPT:
“I exploit ChatGPT for lots of issues like analysis, emails, rephrasing content material, producing recordsdata, coding, and integrating with instruments. I discover it extremely useful for producing C# and JS code as per my necessities. ChatGPT assists me with analysis associated to complicated subjects, and never simply from a developer’s perspective—it guides me on well being and something I ask like a good friend. I respect that its responses are easy, structured, and pleasant. The voice mode is especially particular since we are able to speak with it in any language, making it extremely versatile. For instance, if I do not know English however wish to talk with somebody whose native language is English, the voice mode might help. It permits me to talk and ask questions while not having to kind. The preliminary setup is simple because it’s already arrange, and the API is out there to be used in any software.”
– ChatGPT assessment, Shashank S.
Cons of ChatGPT: What do G2 customers dislike?
That mentioned, each my expertise and G2 suggestions level to a couple recurring limitations value retaining in thoughts.
- It nonetheless hallucinates: Even with the superior fashions, I nonetheless catch it making issues up. You can not blindly belief it; it’s a must to confirm. The truth is, 5% of G2 opinions explicitly point out accuracy points with ChatGPT.
- Reminiscence: The reminiscence characteristic is promising, however in apply, it may really feel a bit inconsistent. Customers usually point out that ChatGPT doesn’t at all times keep in mind preferences or prior context as reliably as they anticipate, which limits how helpful the characteristic feels day after day.
- Utilization limits: The free and lower-cost plans include tighter message limits, slower efficiency, and restricted entry to superior fashions and options. Practically 8% of G2 reviewers flag ChatGPT’s utilization limits as what they dislike. And when servers are beneath heavy load, or when utilizing essentially the most superior fashions, ChatGPT can really feel sluggish.
- Privateness: Customers share issues about information privateness, particularly when utilizing ChatGPT for work-related or delicate duties. Whereas OpenAI has revealed documentation on how information is dealt with, some questions stay. With adverts being launched within the Free and Go tiers, customers could develop into much more attentive to how their information is dealt with
What G2 customers dislike about ChatGPT:
“Whereas ChatGPT could be very efficient, responses can sometimes require guide verification, particularly for extremely particular or delicate info. Advanced or area of interest queries generally want clearer prompts to get optimum outcomes. Superior options are depending on subscription tiers, which can not go well with all customers. Nonetheless, these limitations are manageable with correct utilization.”
– ChatGPT assessment, Manish B.
ChatGPT pricing: How a lot does ChatGPT value?
OpenAI’s pricing construction has gotten much more crowded in 2026. What was a easy ‘Free vs. Paid’ alternative has expanded into 4 distinct tiers, with the largest variations displaying up in mannequin entry, reasoning energy, and utilization limits.
| Plan | Beginning worth | Who it’s greatest for | What it consists of |
| Free | $0/month | Informal use, primary duties | Fundamental entry to GPT-5.2, restricted messages/uploads, slower picture era, restricted reminiscence and context, and deep analysis. Embody adverts (at the moment in take a look at within the US) |
| Go | $8/month | Frequent customers who need greater than free | Expanded GPT-5.2 entry, extra messages/uploads, longer reminiscence. Might embrace adverts. |
| Plus | $20/month | Common customers and creators | Superior reasoning fashions, expanded messages/uploads, higher picture + deep analysis instruments, tasks, duties, and customized GPTs, Codex agent and Sora video era and early entry to new options |
| Professional | ~$200/month | Energy customers for knowledgeable workflows | Professional-level GPT-5.2 fashions, limitless interactions, deeper reasoning, sooner processing |
| Enterprise | ~$25/consumer/month (billed yearly) | Groups and rising companies | Safe workspace, admin controls, 60+ apps & information integrations, compliance options |
| Enterprise | Customized pricing | Massive organizations | Enterprise safety, prolonged context, admin instruments, devoted assist |
Which plan is best for you?
I’ve spent a while digging by the brand new tiers, and I believe your best option actually will depend on how you intend to make use of it daily. Right here’s my suggestion:
- For casuals: Persist with Free if you happen to don’t thoughts adverts, or seize Go ($8) to take away message caps on a funds.
- For energy customers: Plus ($20) stays one of the best worth, providing important entry to Sora video and superior Codex brokers.
- For specialists: Solely select Professional ($200) in case your workflow requires 24/7 high-compute reasoning and nil charge limits.
- For groups: Enterprise is the neatest transfer for safe collaboration and integrating firm information.
If you’re on the fence about getting the ChatGPT subscription, learn my in-depth assessment on whether or not ChatGPT Plus is value it.
Who’s ChatGPT greatest for, primarily based on G2 Information?
My expertise factors to a transparent “candy spot” for who will get essentially the most worth out of this software. Curiously, my private observations align nearly completely with G2 Information from 1000’s of verified opinions.
Based on the numbers, the heaviest customers come from info Ttechnology, software program, and advertising and marketing industries. Right here is who ought to be utilizing ChatGPT proper now:
| Who ought to use ChatGPT? | Why | G2 perception |
| Writers and entrepreneurs | Accelerates drafting, enhancing, headlines, and content material planning throughout codecs | Opinions usually spotlight time saved on content material creation and concept era as a core profit |
| Software program builders and engineers | Helps generate code, clarify logic, troubleshoot bugs, and prototype scripts | Many reviewers use ChatGPT for C#/JS, analysis assist, and coding assist — cited as a productiveness booster. |
| Product managers and non-technical builders | Permits turning concepts into prototypes or automation with out deep technical abilities | G2 reviewers point out utilizing it to generate structured outputs (like specs, plans, scripts) once they don’t code day by day. |
| Consultants, analysts, and researchers | Synthesizes experiences, summarizes docs, and turns messy information/notes into structured outputs | Deep Analysis and summarization are repeatedly known as out as differentiators in opinions. |
| Enterprise Ops and data staff | Helpful for fast solutions, templates, planning, and on a regular basis productiveness duties | Many reviewers cite ease of use and job breadth (emails, summaries, planning) as causes they depend on ChatGPT day by day. |
| Groups searching for an all-in-one AI assistant | Reduces the necessity for a number of specialised instruments, centralizing AI assist | G2 sentiment reveals individuals respect not having to modify between separate writing, search, code, and analysis instruments. |
It’s clear that whereas nearly anybody can use ChatGPT, the true winners are the professionals who use it as a ‘drive multiplier’ to skip the blank-page part and get straight to the ultimate polish.”
Curious how different AI chatbots stack up in opposition to ChatGPT?
Take a look at these head-to-head battles:
Often Requested Questions (FAQ): Is it value utilizing ChatGPT?
Bought extra questions? G2 has the solutions.
Q. Is ChatGPT free or paid?
ChatGPT provides a free plan with primary performance, together with paid plans like Go ($8/month), Plus ($20/month), Professional (~$200/month), and business-focused tiers. Paid plans unlock extra superior fashions, greater limits, and extra options.
Q. Is ChatGPT truly good?
Sure. ChatGPT has a 4.7/5 score on G2 and is rated #1 AI chatbot primarily based on the newest grid report. It is among the most succesful and versatile AI assistants accessible and excels at writing, analysis, coding assist, and on a regular basis productiveness — particularly in paid tiers.
Q. Is ChatGPT secure to make use of?
ChatGPT is usually secure for on a regular basis duties, nevertheless it shouldn’t be handled as a supply of absolute reality or used to deal with extremely delicate information with out warning. Outputs ought to be reviewed, particularly for important or regulated work.
Q. Is there any threat in utilizing ChatGPT?
The primary dangers are over-reliance, occasional hallucinations, and privateness issues associated to reminiscence and information dealing with. These dangers are manageable with verification, clear prompts, and aware use of delicate info.
Q. Is ChatGPT Go value it?
ChatGPT Go for $8 monthly is sensible if you happen to’ve outgrown the free plan however don’t want Plus-level options but. It’s greatest for frequent customers who need greater limits and higher efficiency with out paying $20 a month.
Q. Is the $200/month ChatGPT Professional plan value it?
For private use, no. ChatGPT Professional is designed for energy customers and groups working heavy, superior workflows that require most efficiency and limitless entry. For on a regular basis skilled use, Plus is normally ample.
Q. What are the negatives of ChatGPT?
ChatGPT can hallucinate, present shallow solutions with out cautious prompting, decelerate throughout peak utilization, and lift privateness questions round reminiscence and adverts in decrease tiers. It’s highly effective — however not flawless.
My last verdict: Is ChatGPT nonetheless value utilizing in 2026?
ChatGPT is my default AI assistant — and that hasn’t occurred accidentally. Regardless of an more and more crowded AI panorama, it continues to face out for one easy motive: it does extra issues properly than nearly some other software I’ve tried.
ChatGPT isn’t good, and there are different AI chatbots which are higher at particular duties, for instance, MidJourney and Nano Banana Professional with pictures, Perplexity with sources, Gemini with up-to-date info, and Claude for coding. However ChatGPT is the one software that does all of these issues properly sufficient to be indispensable.
For informal customers, the free plan is a stable start line. For anybody utilizing ChatGPT often for skilled work, ChatGPT Plus is the place the software actually shines. The upper tiers make sense just for energy customers or groups with demanding, large-scale workflows.
The underside line: ChatGPT might not be one of the best software for each single job, nevertheless it’s nonetheless essentially the most dependable, versatile AI assistant accessible in 2026. And for me, that’s what retains it open in a browser tab each single day.
Nonetheless exploring your choices? Take a look at G2’s breakdown of free AI chatbots to see how ChatGPT compares to free instruments primarily based on actual consumer opinions.
