You can’t select o3-mini in ChatGPT now: OpenAI says it retired o3 from ChatGPT on August 26, 2026. The old instructions showing how to choose o3-mini for free were accurate at launch in January 2025, but they no longer describe current ChatGPT access.
Can I still use o3-mini for free in ChatGPT?
No. OpenAI’s Model Release Notes say OpenAI o3 was retired from ChatGPT on August 26, 2026, after a 90-day sunset period. The notice applies to ChatGPT and says there were no API changes.
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There is a reason older guides say Free users could use o3-mini: OpenAI’s January 31, 2025 launch note said ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users could access it. That was a launch-era availability statement, not a promise of ongoing access.
Why can’t I find o3-mini in ChatGPT?
Because the model was retired from ChatGPT. If an older article tells you to open the model picker and select o3-mini, those steps are outdated; there is no current ChatGPT selection path to follow.
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How to check which ChatGPT models are available to you
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Sign in to ChatGPT and open the model picker.
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Check the models listed in your account. Availability may depend on your plan, workspace, and account, so use the options actually shown rather than assuming a particular model is included.
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Review any usage notice displayed in ChatGPT. OpenAI’s Free Tier FAQ says model access can pause when you reach an applicable limit and resume when it resets. The FAQ also notes that separate limits can apply to file uploads, image generation, voice, and data analysis.
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OpenAI cautions that the Free-tier default model and available limits can change over time. ChatGPT’s in-product model picker and limit notices are therefore more reliable than a fixed allowance quoted in an older guide.
Is o3-mini free on ChatGPT or only through the API?
OpenAI’s retirement notice is specific to ChatGPT and says it made no API changes. That does not establish that o3-mini is available through the API to every reader, that API use is free, or that a particular account is eligible. ChatGPT access and API access are separate questions; check the current options and terms for the product you intend to use.
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- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
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What was o3-mini originally designed to do?
In its January 2025 launch announcement, OpenAI described o3-mini as optimized for coding, math, and science. That is historical product positioning, not a current recommendation or a guarantee about models available in ChatGPT today.
The same announcement reported that expert evaluators preferred o3-mini’s answers to o1-mini’s 56% of the time in the comparisons OpenAI cited. This was an OpenAI-reported, launch-era result—not an independent or current benchmark.
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