ChatGPT — a guide
ChatGPT, in plain English.
What it is. How to start. What to ask. What to watch out for.
You have probably heard of ChatGPT. Maybe you have opened it once and bounced. This page walks you through it from the start, in plain words.
Product details checked: May 2026. AI tools change quickly. If something looks different on screen, the ideas in this guide should still hold.
What it is
ChatGPT is a chatbot made by a company called OpenAI. You type a message. It replies. You can keep the conversation going, ask it to change its answer, or start fresh.
It can help you write emails, explain ideas, plan trips, summarise long articles, translate between languages, and practise a job interview. It does this by predicting the most useful words to say next, based on a huge amount of text it has read.
It is the most popular tool of its kind. That is why it is the first guide on this site.
How to sign up
Five steps. About five minutes. Free.
- 1
Open the website or app
Go to chat.openai.com in your browser. Or download ChatGPT from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone). Both are made by OpenAI — check the maker name before you install.
- 2
Tap Sign up
Use an email address you can check. A Google or Microsoft account works too — just tap the right button.
- 3
Verify your email
Open the email OpenAI sends you and tap the link. If you do not see it in a few minutes, check your spam folder.
- 4
Add a phone number
OpenAI asks for a phone number for security. You will get an OTP — type it in to confirm.
- 5
Start typing
A chat box opens. Type your first message and press send. That's it.
If sign-up fails, the most common reasons are: an email already used, an OTP that arrived late (try again), or a country block that needs a different number.
Free or paid?
What you get for nothing. What you get for paying.
Free
Start here- Cost: nothing
- Good enough for: most readers, most days
- You get: full chat with the latest model, voice mode, image upload, web search
- Limits: slower at peak times; some features capped per day
Paid plans
- Cost: varies. Worldwide there is ChatGPT Plus. In India, OpenAI also offers a cheaper plan with fewer features. Prices change — check the current price when you sign up.
- Good enough for: heavy daily users, builders, and professionals who pay back the cost in time saved
- You get: higher limits, priority access at peak times, faster responses, and on the top plans, advanced tools
- Honest take: most people do not need a paid plan. Start free. Upgrade only when you hit a limit that bothers you.
I pay for ChatGPT because I use it every day for work. For most readers starting out, free is plenty.
Your first five prompts
Copy any of these. Change the bracketed bits. Send.
- 1
Explain anything
Explain [topic] like I'm 15. Use simple examples.
What to expect: A clear, short explanation. If it goes too deep, reply: "shorter, please."
- 2
Draft a CV
Help me write a CV. My work history is: [list jobs, dates, what you did]. The role I want is: [role]. Make it one page, simple language.
What to expect: A first draft you can edit. Read it carefully. Fix any made-up facts.
- 3
Translate
Translate this from English to [language]: [paste text].
What to expect: A translation, plus an offer to make it more or less formal. Useful for everyday text. For legal or medical documents, use a human translator.
- 4
Plan a question
I need to apply for [scheme or job or course]. What questions should I ask before I apply? List them in order of importance.
What to expect: A checklist that helps you think clearly. Pick the questions that matter and find real answers from the official source.
- 5
Practise an interview
Pretend you are an interviewer for a [role] job. Ask me five common questions, one at a time. After my answer, give me kind, honest feedback.
What to expect: A back-and-forth practice round. The kindest interviewer you'll ever meet. Use it as a warm-up — real interviews are harder.
What ChatGPT is good at
Drafting
First versions of emails, CVs, letters, summaries.
Explaining
Hard ideas in simple words. Different angles on a topic.
Practising
Mock interviews. Conversation practice. Quizzes.
Brainstorming
Lists of ideas, names, options to think through.
What it is not good at
Recent facts
It learns from text up to a cut-off date. For "what happened this week", use a search engine or Perplexity.
Numbers and figures
It can do basic maths but gets careless on big calculations. Use a calculator or spreadsheet for anything that matters.
Things only you know
Your specific medical history, your family situation, your local rules — it cannot know these unless you tell it.
Being right when it sounds confident
This has a name: hallucination. ChatGPT will sometimes invent facts, names, dates, or sources. It will sound completely sure. Always check anything that matters.
Privacy & safety
What OpenAI sees
Everything you type and send. They use chats to improve their service unless you turn that off.
How to turn off training on your chats
In the app or website, open Settings → Data Controls and turn off “Improve the model for everyone.” Your chats still go to OpenAI, but they are no longer used to train the next model.
Don't paste:
- Passwords or PINs
- Bank or card numbers
- ID numbers (Aadhaar, PAN, passport)
- Medical records, your own or anyone else’s
- Other people's private messages or contact details
A simple rule: if you would not write it on a postcard, don't paste it into ChatGPT.
Where to next
Back to AI Basics
The hub: pick another tool, or read the safety basics again.
Master Prompt Builder
Coming soonA form-driven tool that writes clear, complete prompts for you. Coming after the Claude, Gemini and Perplexity guides land.