Custom GPTs: How to Create and Use ChatGPT Apps That Do Exactly What You Want

Remember when ChatGPT could only do one thing - chat? Those days are long gone.

Custom GPTs turn ChatGPT from a general-purpose chatbot into a specialized tool that does exactly what you need. Want an AI that writes in your brand voice? There's a GPT for that. Need a coding assistant that knows your tech stack? You can build one in minutes.

I've created dozens of custom GPTs and tested hundreds more. Here's everything you need to know about using this feature that most people don't even know exists.

What Are Custom GPTs?

Custom GPTs are specialized versions of ChatGPT that you can create or use for specific purposes. Think of them as pre-configured ChatGPT assistants with:

• Custom instructions - The GPT knows exactly how to behave
• Specific knowledge - Upload documents, data, or information it should reference
• Connected tools - Link to external services, APIs, and databases
• Consistent personality - Same responses and style every time

Instead of typing the same detailed prompt every time you use ChatGPT, a custom GPT remembers everything automatically.

Real Example

Without a custom GPT, I'd need to prompt ChatGPT like this every time:

"You're a senior Python developer. Use type hints, follow PEP 8, prefer list comprehensions over loops, and always include docstrings. Review this code..."

With my "Python Code Reviewer" GPT, I just paste the code. It already knows my preferences.

What Happened to ChatGPT Plugins?

If you remember ChatGPT plugins, you might wonder what happened to them.

OpenAI deprecated plugins in April 2024 and replaced them with GPTs. The reasoning makes sense:

Most popular plugins have been recreated as GPTs, often with better functionality. If you had a favorite plugin, search for it in the GPT Store - you'll likely find several alternatives.

How to Find and Use Custom GPTs

Finding useful GPTs is straightforward if you know where to look.

The GPT Store

1. Open ChatGPT
2. Click "Explore GPTs" in the sidebar
3. Browse categories or search

The store organizes GPTs into categories:

• Writing - Content creation, editing, copywriting
• Productivity - Task management, email drafting, scheduling
• Programming - Code review, debugging, documentation
• Education - Tutoring, explanations, test prep
• Lifestyle - Fitness, cooking, travel planning
• Research - Data analysis, academic writing, fact-checking

Top GPTs I Actually Use

After testing hundreds, these have stuck in my workflow:

For Writing:

• Consensus - Academic research with real citations
• Write For Me - Adapts to any writing style you describe
• Humanizer Pro - Makes AI-generated text sound natural

For Coding:

• Grimoire - Serious coding projects with file management
• SQL Expert - Database queries without remembering syntax
• Code Copilot - Reviews and improves existing code

For Productivity:

• Canva - Design directly in ChatGPT
• Zapier AI Actions - Automate workflows through conversation
• PDF AI - Extract and analyze document content

For Research:

• Scholar AI - Finds and summarizes academic papers
• WebPilot - Browses the internet with better results than built-in browsing

If you're looking for alternatives to ChatGPT with similar capabilities, check out our ChatGPT alternatives guide for other options.

How to Create Your Own Custom GPT

Creating a GPT takes about 5-10 minutes. No coding required - seriously.

Step 1: Access the GPT Builder

1. Go to ChatGPT
2. Click "Explore GPTs" in the left sidebar
3. Click "Create" in the top right
4. Choose between "Create" (guided) or "Configure" (manual)

The "Create" tab works conversationally - you describe what you want, and the builder configures everything. The "Configure" tab gives you direct access to all settings.

Step 2: Define Your GPT's Purpose

Be specific about what your GPT should do. Generic GPTs aren't useful.

Too Vague:

"Help me with writing"

Specific and Useful:

"You are a B2B SaaS copywriter. You write homepage copy, feature descriptions, and email sequences. You focus on benefits over features, use active voice, and avoid jargon. Target audience is small business owners who aren't technical."

Step 3: Add Knowledge (Optional but Powerful)

Upload files that your GPT should reference:

• Style guides - Brand voice documents, writing standards
• Product docs - Feature lists, FAQs, specifications
• Data sets - Reference information, lookup tables
• Templates - Examples of ideal outputs

Your GPT can reference these files when generating responses, making outputs more accurate and consistent.

I uploaded my company's brand guidelines to a content GPT. Now every piece of content matches our voice perfectly without me mentioning it each time.

Step 4: Configure Capabilities

Choose what your GPT can do:

For most GPTs, I enable all three. The GPT only uses them when relevant.

Step 5: Add Actions (Advanced)

Actions connect your GPT to external services via APIs. This is where GPTs get really powerful:

• Pull data from your CRM
• Post to social media
• Create calendar events
• Update spreadsheets
• Send emails

This requires some technical knowledge or a service like Zapier that provides pre-built actions.

Step 6: Test and Refine

Before publishing:

1. Test multiple scenarios
2. Try to "break" it with edge cases
3. Check if outputs match your expectations
4. Refine instructions based on results

I usually go through 5-10 iterations before a GPT works the way I want.

Step 7: Publish

Choose your visibility:

• Only me - Private, just for your use
• Anyone with the link - Shareable but not searchable
• Everyone - Listed in the GPT Store

If you publish publicly, write a clear description and choose relevant categories. This helps users find your GPT.

Custom GPT Ideas That Actually Work

Not sure what to build? Here are GPT ideas organized by use case:

For Your Job

For Content Creators

If you create content regularly, see our guide on AI for content creation for more tools.

For Developers

Our AI coding assistants comparison covers dedicated coding tools if you need more power.

For Students

Check our AI tools for students for more academic resources.

Tips for Better Custom GPTs

After building and using many GPTs, here's what separates good ones from useless ones:

Be Specific About Format

Don't just say "write a blog post." Specify:

• Word count range
• Heading structure (H2s, H3s)
• Tone (casual, professional, technical)
• Required sections

Include Examples

Show the GPT what good output looks like. Add 2-3 examples of ideal responses in your instructions. This improves consistency dramatically.

Set Boundaries

Tell your GPT what NOT to do:

• "Never use passive voice"
• "Don't include generic introductions"
• "Avoid marketing buzzwords"
• "Don't make up statistics"

Use the Right Model

Custom GPTs work with GPT-4o by default. For complex reasoning tasks, you might want GPT-5 access through a Plus subscription. See our ChatGPT 5 review for capability differences.

Custom GPTs vs. Other AI Tools

How do custom GPTs compare to alternatives?

vs. Claude Projects

Claude offers Projects with similar customization:

• Claude's advantage: Longer context, project memory across conversations
• GPT's advantage: Actions (API connections), GPT Store ecosystem

For knowledge workers, both work well. Claude's projects might edge out for research-heavy work.

vs. Gemini Gems

Google's Gemini recently added Gems (custom AI):

• Gemini's advantage: Integration with Google Workspace
• GPT's advantage: More mature ecosystem, better third-party tools

vs. Custom Prompts

Some people just save detailed prompts instead of creating GPTs:

• Prompts: Free, works anywhere, easy to share
• GPTs: Persistent memory, file knowledge, external actions

For simple use cases, saved prompts work fine. For anything complex, GPTs are worth it.

The GPT Store Economy

OpenAI launched revenue sharing for GPT creators. If you build something useful, you can actually make money.

How Revenue Sharing Works

• Creators earn based on user engagement with their GPTs
• Payments are proportional to how much your GPT is used
• Top creators report $1,000-$10,000+ monthly

Tips for GPT Store Success

1. Solve a specific problem - Generic GPTs don't get used
2. Write a great description - Users search by keywords
3. Include usage examples - Show what your GPT can do
4. Keep improving - Update based on feedback
5. Promote outside OpenAI - Share on social media, forums

The GPT Store is still early. If you're looking to make money with AI, creating useful GPTs is a legitimate path.

Limitations to Know About

Custom GPTs aren't perfect. Here's what to expect:

Knowledge Cutoffs

GPTs trained before certain dates won't know recent information unless you:

• Enable web browsing
• Upload current documents
• Specify date-sensitive instructions

File Size Limits

You can upload files, but there are limits:

• Individual file size caps
• Total knowledge base limits
• Processing limitations for very large documents

Rate Limits

Heavy usage can hit OpenAI's rate limits, especially with:

• Code interpreter running complex operations
• Multiple web searches
• Large file processing

No True Memory

GPTs don't remember conversations after they end. Each chat starts fresh unless you're using Claude's memory feature or similar tools.

Getting Started Today

Here's my recommended path:

Week 1: Explore

• Browse the GPT Store
• Try 10-15 different GPTs
• Note what works and what doesn't

Week 2: Create

• Build your first GPT for a simple task
• Use the guided "Create" mode
• Test extensively before sharing

Week 3: Optimize

• Refine based on usage
• Add knowledge files
• Explore actions if relevant

Ongoing:

• Build GPTs for repetitive tasks
• Share useful ones with your team
• Stay updated on new capabilities

What's Next for Custom GPTs

OpenAI continues developing the platform. Expected improvements:

• Better actions - Easier API connections without technical knowledge
• Team sharing - Better collaboration features for business users
• Mobile creation - Build GPTs from your phone
• Enhanced memory - Longer retention across conversations

The ecosystem is growing rapidly. Getting familiar now puts you ahead when these features launch.

Related Resources

• ChatGPT Tips and Tricks 2026 - Master ChatGPT fundamentals
• How to Write Better ChatGPT Prompts - Improve your prompting
• ChatGPT Custom Instructions Guide - Set up persistent preferences
• How to Use ChatGPT for Work - Practical professional applications
• Prompt Engineering Guide - Advanced prompting techniques
• Best Free AI Tools 2026 - More AI tools worth trying