OpenAI Releases GPT-5 for Free: 3 New Features You Can Use Right Now
OpenAI releases GPT-5 for free with a host of exciting upgrades: better writing, natural-sounding voices, and customizable interface colors.
Quick summary:
GPT-5 is officially available to users for free, replacing GPT-4o.
Three outstanding features you can experience right away: smoother writing, natural voice conversations, and changing the chat interface color.
Some advanced features like Sora or GPT-5 Pro are still only available to paid users.
At the latest GPT-5 launch event, OpenAI not only introduced groundbreaking features but also surprised by announcing that GPT-5 will be available to free users. This is a move that shows that GPT-4o has almost officially "retired".
There are plenty of great features to enjoy without paying a dime, from enhanced writing capabilities to a customizable color scheme. Here are three worth checking out today.
1. Writing improvements
GPT-5 offers clearer, more rhythmic, and more “soulful” writing quality than previous versions. Free users will have access to GPT-5 until they reach their daily usage limit, after which ChatGPT will switch to a lighter version, GPT-5 mini.
If you're a content writer, reply to emails, or need an AI to present your ideas clearly, this upgrade is a huge plus and it's completely free.
2. ChatGPT Voice
Free users can now also chat with ChatGPT using voice with significantly improved quality. The old “Voice Mode” feature will be discontinued on September 9, 2025, and all users will be switched to “ChatGPT Voice”, a new version that is more natural and intelligent.
You can chat hands-free with AI via the mobile app, for more time than before. The voice response is now more flexible, easy to listen to, and feels more “close” than ever.
3. Change interface color
For the first time, ChatGPT allows users to customize the chat interface colors. Instead of just having a light/dark or system theme, you can now choose an accent color for the conversation bubbles and highlighted text.
While not a technical feature, it's an exciting step forward in personalizing the AI experience, something users have been clamoring for.
Although the free version is significantly upgraded, there are still some limited features:
Sora: AI video creation tool available to Plus or Pro plan users only.
ChatGPT Agent: Advanced automated task processing features are also locked for free users.
GPT-5 Pro: For Pro users only.
However, the core of GPT-5 can still be experienced without spending a dime.
