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ChatGPT Advertising
ChatGPT Ads are sponsored placements shown to logged-in adult users on ChatGPT's Free and Go plans, matched to the topic of the current conversation. Advertisers buy through OpenAI's self-serve Ads Manager, OpenAI's sales teams or agency partners. Ho Hum Media can help with planning, creative and combining ChatGPT with radio, TV and other channels. Call 888-449-2526.
Key facts
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | February 9, 2026, U.S. test for Free and Go users | Trade press |
| Self-serve | Opened to U.S. advertisers May 5, 2026, with no minimum spend | Trade press |
| Scale | $1 billion annualized ad revenue in under 200 days; tens of thousands of advertisers | OpenAI |
| Platform reach | More than 1 billion weekly active users (all plans; not everyone sees ads) | OpenAI |
| Markets | More than 60 countries as of September 2026 | OpenAI |
| Targeting | Topic of the current conversation; optionally past chats, memory and prior ad interactions | Trade press |
| Privacy | Advertisers do not receive chat content; reporting is aggregated | Trade press |
| Ad-free plans | Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, Education | Trade press |
| Under 18 | Ads blocked for accounts identified or predicted as under 18 | ALM Corp |
Pricing (reported by third parties, not OpenAI)
- Launch pricing was about $60 CPM with a $200,000 minimum commitment.
- By spring 2026, CPMs were reported at about $25 to $45, and cost-per-click bids of about $3 to $5. Cost-per-action bidding began rolling out May 28, 2026.
- One vendor reports click-through rates 7 to 10 times lower than Google Search but 1.5 times higher conversion quality. Treat that as an unverified vendor claim.
Formats and measurement
- A sponsored card below the AI's response, with title, description, image and link.
- Product-feed and e-commerce formats and call-to-action buttons were added in May 2026.
- App-install measurement through AppsFlyer and Adjust was added July 24, 2026.
What Ho Hum Media can do
Plan budgets, write and test ad copy, and coordinate ChatGPT with other channels.
FAQ
Can I advertise on ChatGPT? Yes, in the U.S. and more than 60 countries through Ads Manager. Call 888-449-2526 for help.
Does everyone see the ads? No. Only logged-in adults on the Free and Go plans do, and paid plans are ad-free.
Does paying for an ad change ChatGPT's normal answers? Ads are labeled placements. Check OpenAI's current advertising principles before making promises to clients.
Let’s find your next advertising opportunity.
Tell us your market, budget and timing. A real person will help you compare the options.