What it is: The GPT Store is OpenAI‘s marketplace where users can browse, share, and use Custom GPTs — specialized versions of ChatGPT built by other users.
Who it is for: ChatGPT users wanting specialized assistants, and creators wanting to share their Custom GPTs publicly.
Best if: You want to find pre-built AI assistants for specific tasks instead of writing a custom prompt from scratch.
Skip if: You’re happy with generic ChatGPT and don’t need specialized workflows. Want one practical AI workflow every morning? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter.
What is the GPT Store?
The GPT Store is OpenAI‘s marketplace launched in January 2024 for browsing and using Custom GPTs — specialized versions of ChatGPT that other users have built and made public. By 2026 it hosts more than 3 million Custom GPTs across categories like writing, productivity, research, programming, and education.
The Store is built into ChatGPT (free and paid tiers). Click “Explore GPTs” in the sidebar and you can browse curated categories, featured GPTs, top-trending Custom GPTs, and ones created by recognizable brands and creators. Click any Custom GPT to load it instantly into your chat — no setup needed.
Why does the GPT Store matter?
The GPT Store created the first widely-used “app store” for AI assistants. Before it, customizing ChatGPT meant copy-pasting long prompts into every new conversation. After it, you could install a Custom GPT once and use it like any other app — with persistent context, custom instructions, and (for paid creators) custom integrations.
OpenAI added revenue sharing for top GPT creators in 2024, paying based on usage. While the program hasn’t generated significant income for most creators (compared to traditional app stores), it set the model for how AI marketplaces might compensate builders. Competitors like Gemini Gems and Claude Projects are similar but smaller.
How do you use the GPT Store?
Inside ChatGPT (any tier), click “Explore GPTs” in the left sidebar. You can search by name or category, see what’s trending, and pick from curated “Featured” lists. Click a Custom GPT to start using it; click again to remove from your recent list.
Best practices for finding useful Custom GPTs:
- Check who built it (verified brands and high-reputation creators tend to be more reliable)
- Read the description carefully — some Custom GPTs are thin wrappers, others are substantive
- Test on a low-stakes prompt before relying on it for important work
- Built-in OpenAI GPTs (DALL-E, Image Editor, Data Analysis) are often best for the tasks they’re designed for
Related terms
Learn more on Beginners in AI
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: May 2026. AI terminology evolves quickly — verify specifics on the official source pages above.
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