OpenAI released a native ChatGPT application for iOS on 18 May 2023, marking the company's first official mobile client for its conversational AI service [source]. The app provides voice input via Whisper integration and synchronises conversation history across devices for ChatGPT Plus subscribers.

The release follows months of third-party iOS applications that claimed ChatGPT integration, some of which charged subscription fees despite using OpenAI's public API. OpenAI had not previously offered an authenticated mobile experience, leaving users to access the service through mobile web browsers or unofficial clients.

The iOS app supports the same GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models available through the web interface, with model selection restricted to Plus subscribers. Free-tier users access GPT-3.5-turbo by default. OpenAI stated the app would roll out to additional countries following the US launch, with an Android version planned but not dated.

ChatGPT Plus subscribers gain access to GPT-4 on mobile with the same usage caps applied on web—approximately 25 messages per three hours during periods of high demand, though OpenAI does not publish fixed limits. The company confirmed that conversations initiated on mobile appear in the web interface and vice versa.

The app requires iOS 16.1 or later and an OpenAI account. Voice input transcription occurs on-device where supported, with audio sent to OpenAI servers for Whisper processing when local transcription is unavailable. OpenAI's data retention policies apply to mobile conversations identically to web usage, with conversations used for model training unless users opt out through account settings.

No pricing changes accompanied the iOS launch. ChatGPT Plus remains $20 monthly.