ChatGPT plugins bundle the tools for a job into one install: skills that hold instructions, connected apps that link outside accounts like Slack, and extensions such as interactive views. You find them by selecting Plugins in the ChatGPT sidebar on web, desktop or mobile, then install one and connect any apps it needs. Once installed, ChatGPT uses a plugin automatically when it's relevant, or you can call it with an @ mention.
If you remember the old ChatGPT plugin store, forget it. Plugins today work differently: they're packages that bring together everything ChatGPT needs for a specific task, and they work across Chat, Work and Codex.
Here's how they work in practice, drawn from OpenAI's help article on plugins, which was updated on 22 October 2026.
What a plugin can contain
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Skills | Instructions and workflow guidance for a task |
| Connected apps | Links to external accounts, information and actions |
| App templates | Help administrators configure apps for a workspace |
| Extensions | Interactive apps, mentions of items in a prompt, opening or editing supported files, forms and settings |
Some plugins include several apps. Others are only skills and don't need any app connection. The way OpenAI puts it: an app connects ChatGPT to a service, and a plugin brings apps and skills together for a task.
Where to find plugins
Select Plugins in the sidebar on ChatGPT web, desktop or mobile. The directory shows what's available to your plan and workspace, grouped into categories such as Popular and New and Noteworthy. You'll also see four views:
- Public: publicly available plugins.
- Your workspace: plugins in your workspace's directory.
- Personal: plugins you've created or that others shared with you.
- Installed: the ones you already use.
The directory is available across ChatGPT plans, but whether you can install or use a particular plugin depends on your plan, workspace, role, region and what the plugin includes.
How to install a plugin
- Open the plugin directory in ChatGPT.
- Select a plugin and review its description, skills, apps and setup requirements.
- Select Install plugin if it's shown. This may start an app setup or sign-in flow.
- If prompted, select Connect for any app that needs your account.
- Sign in to the provider account you intend to use, only when it asks for individual authorisation.
Watch for the Desktop only label. It means the plugin needs the ChatGPT desktop app. And installing a plugin can't bypass the provider's or your workspace's permissions, so if your admin hasn't allowed an app, the plugin won't get round it.
What the OpenAI Verified badge means
Some plugins carry an OpenAI Verified badge, which means OpenAI has reviewed them for quality, reliability and usefulness. That's helpful, but OpenAI says plainly that the badge doesn't replace your organisation's own privacy, security or vendor review. If a plugin connects to client data, still check what it can see and do.
For workspace owners and admins
If you run a team account, the controls sit in the Admin console. Select the ChatGPT workspace, then open Plugins to review which plugins are available and their verification status. Some apps need each person to sign in to their own account, while others use a connection your admin has set up for the whole workspace, so decide up front which approach suits each tool.
Three ways to use a plugin
- Let ChatGPT pick it. Installed plugins are used automatically when they fit your request.
- Type @ and the plugin's name in your message.
- Select the plus button and enter its name, or select Plugins in the composer.
In Codex there's a separate route: open Sources, select Use plugins, then search for an installed plugin.
One more practical tip: some plugins open as full-screen interactive apps from their icon in the ChatGPT sidebar, so look there if you installed one and can't find it in the chat.
Plugins that watch for things
This is the part with the most potential for a small business. You can ask ChatGPT to automate a task, such as a daily summary or an hourly check for updates. Some plugins also support events, which let ChatGPT respond when something happens, like a document changing or someone replying in a thread. Not every plugin supports events yet; OpenAI says more will as developers add it.
Copy this prompt
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Every weekday at 8am, check my connected project tool for tasks due today and anything overdue.
Send me a short summary: due today, overdue, and anything waiting on a client.
Keep it under ten lines.
Build your own with Plugin Creator
You don't need to be a developer. Install Plugin Creator from the directory, then start a chat with @plugin-creator and describe what you want. OpenAI's example is a project updates plugin that gathers progress from Slack and Linear and drafts a weekly update with milestones, blockers and next steps, using a skill built from your template.
Test it before you share it. If your plugin can make changes, try those actions and check the results first. Local plugins install automatically and may not show an install card.
If you want to understand the instruction side first, skills are the building block, and they follow the same open format Claude and other agents use. For the technical end of OpenAI's tools, my guide to OpenAI Codex explains how Codex fits in.
My verdict: plugins are worth an afternoon if you repeat the same multi-app routine every week. Start with one plugin, connected to one tool you trust, doing one job. If you'd like help choosing and setting up the right ones for your business, that's what I do in my one-to-one AI sessions.
Frequently asked questions
What are ChatGPT plugins?
Plugins bring together the tools, knowledge and reusable workflows for a task. A plugin can include skills, connected apps, app templates and extensions.
Where do I find plugins in ChatGPT?
Select Plugins in the sidebar on ChatGPT web, desktop or mobile to browse the directory.
Are ChatGPT plugins available on every plan?
The plugin directory is available across ChatGPT plans, but installing or using a plugin depends on your plan, workspace, role, region and its capabilities.
What does OpenAI Verified mean on a plugin?
OpenAI has reviewed the plugin for quality, reliability and usefulness. OpenAI says the badge doesn't replace your organisation's privacy, security or vendor review.
How do I make my own ChatGPT plugin?
Install Plugin Creator from the plugin directory, then start a chat with @plugin-creator and describe what you want to build.
