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Should I use the ChatGPT app or the website?
Short answer
Use both: they share the same account and chat history. The phone app is better on the go, with voice chat and your camera. The website is better for long documents and spreadsheets on a big screen. The desktop app adds ChatGPT Work with local files and Codex. Only download apps published by OpenAI.
App versus website
| Phone app | Website | Desktop app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice chat and camera | Yes | Voice in some browsers | Yes |
| Long documents and spreadsheets | Fiddly | Best | Best |
| ChatGPT Work | Yes | Yes | Yes, plus local files |
| Codex | Remote access | Cloud tasks | Yes |
| Billing | Apple or Google, in pounds | OpenAI, usually US dollars | OpenAI |
Is the ChatGPT app a scam or safe?
The official app is safe to install. In the UK App Store, the seller is "OpenAI OpCo, LLC". Avoid look-alike apps with "AI chat" names that charge weekly subscriptions. The real ChatGPT app is free to download.
Where to pay
If you pay in the app, Apple or Google bills you and you manage it there. If you want a VAT invoice for the business, subscribe on the website. See how to get a ChatGPT invoice.
Related questions
Does the ChatGPT app cost money?
No, it's free to download and use. Paid plans are optional. See how much do you pay for ChatGPT in the UK?
Is ChatGPT Plus safe?
Yes, but paying doesn't make chats private. See are ChatGPT chats private?
Does ChatGPT work on Linux?
Yes. The website works in any modern browser, and OpenAI has an official Linux desktop app in public preview for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora and Arch (checked 18 October 2026). Download it from chatgpt.com/download.
Sources
- OpenAI Help: ChatGPT Work and Codex
- OpenAI Help: accessing your subscription on another device
- Apple App Store (UK): ChatGPT
- ChatGPT Learn: desktop app for Linux
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
More on getting started with ai
- Are AI chatbots dangerous?
- Can AI analyse a video?
- Can AI compare two documents?
- Can AI help me write a book?
- Can AI proofread a document?
- Can ChatGPT be used for business?
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