ChatGPT Ads: Launch Dates, Markets, Ads Manager and Policy, With Sources

Published: 16th Jan 2026 Last updated: 31st Aug 2026

OpenAI announced ads for ChatGPT on 16th Jan 2026 and switched them on in the US on 9th Feb. By 31st Aug the pilot spanned more than 40 countries at a $1 billion annualized run rate.

ChatGPT ads run on the Free and Go tiers only. Every paid tier is ad-free, and free users can trade ads away for fewer daily messages.

Ads appear below responses and carry a "sponsored" label. The rollout began in the US and has moved market by market since.

OpenAI buys are placed through its Ads Manager at ads.openai.com. The self-serve beta opened to every US business in May 2026, with no minimum spend.

The policy has moved too. Health and finance advertisers gained a case-by-case route in April 2026, while political ads stay banned.

The log below is every dated step, each linked to its entry and primary source on our ChatGPT tracker.

Rollout log

16th Jan 2026
OpenAI announces ads and takes ChatGPT Go worldwide at 8 dollarsFidji Simo announced a US ads test on the Free and Go tiers, with five published advertising principles. The same day, the low-cost ChatGPT Go tier went worldwide.
9th Feb 2026
Ads go live in ChatGPT for US users on the Free and Go tiersSponsored-labeled ads began appearing below responses for logged-in US adults on the free tiers, with health, mental-health and politics excluded. Every paid tier is ad-free, and free users can trade ads away for fewer daily messages.
5th May 2026
Self-serve Ads Manager opens to every US business, with no minimum spendOpenAI opened the Ads Manager beta at ads.openai.com to all US businesses, dropped the minimum spend and introduced CPC bidding. Criteo disclosed more than a thousand brands already live through its integration.
22nd Jun 2026
ChatGPT ads reach Japan and South Korea; UK advertisers get self-serveThe first non-English ad markets went live and the self-serve Ads Manager beta opened to UK advertisers. Seven markets now carry ChatGPT ads, with Brazil and Mexico announced but still pending.
22nd Jul 2026
Similarweb report: citations reach 6.8% of ChatGPT answers, ads reach 26% of chatsSimilarweb's 2026 Generative AI Landscape measured ChatGPT citing the web in 6.8% of answers in May 2026, up from about 1.3% a year earlier. It found 58.8% of referral traffic landing on homepages and ads in 26% of US desktop chats.
11th Aug 2026
ChatGPT ads reach Brazil and Mexico, completing the May list at nine marketsOpenAI's running launch post confirms ChatGPT Ads is live in Brazil and Mexico, the last two markets named on 7th May. The pilot runs in nine countries, and these are its first in Latin America.
12th Aug 2026
Health and finance advertisers get a route into ChatGPT ads, case by caseOpenAI's ad policy now lets medical, legal and financial advice chats carry ads, with approved US health and finance advertisers cleared case by case. Political ads stay banned. Legal services could not advertise at all until a 31st Aug revision opened the US.
18th Aug 2026
ChatGPT ads are going to 31 European countries, the pilot's largest expansionChatGPT Ads will reach 31 European countries within a week, OpenAI says, naming nine of them. This batch alone outnumbers the nine existing markets combined.
31st Aug 2026
ChatGPT ads reach a $1bn run rate, and self-serve buying opens across Europe, India and North AfricaChatGPT Ads has hit a billion-dollar annualized run rate in over 40 countries, OpenAI says. Self-serve buying opened the same day in India, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When did ads launch in ChatGPT?

OpenAI announced the test on 16th Jan 2026. Ads went live for US users on the Free and Go tiers on 9th Feb 2026.

Which ChatGPT plans show ads?

Only Free and Go. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education stay ad-free, per OpenAI.

How big is ChatGPT advertising?

OpenAI said on 31st Aug 2026 that ChatGPT Ads had reached a $1 billion annualized run rate. That took under 200 days, and the pilot then spanned more than 40 countries.

Compiled by Claude from primary sources, checked by Akash Mansukhani before publication. See how we source and correct this page.

Spotted a change we have not covered? Ranking volatility, a new SERP test, a platform change: email us a tip and we will credit you if we cover it.

Cite this page:

Keywords Everywhere, "Ads in ChatGPT: every step of the rollout", last updated 31st Aug 2026, /kw/news/chatgpt-updates/chatgpt-ads/

Ads in ChatGPT: every step of the rollout