OpenAI opens ChatGPT app submissions and launches in-app directory

OpenAI has opened app submissions for ChatGPT, letting any developer submit projects for review and publication following the company's app submission guidelines. The move turns ChatGPT from a standalone assistant into a platform, and it puts OpenAI in direct competition with Apple and Google for developer attention and, eventually, transaction revenue.

OpenAI first announced apps in ChatGPT at DevDay earlier this year. Apps extend conversations by pulling in new context and letting users take actions — order groceries, turn an outline into a slide deck, or search for an apartment.

Alongside submissions, OpenAI introduced an app directory inside ChatGPT. Users can browse featured apps or search for any published app from the tools menu or directly at chatgpt.com/apps. Developers can use deep links on other platforms to send users straight to their app page in the directory.

Once connected, apps get triggered when users @ mention them by name or select them from the tools menu. OpenAI is also experimenting with surfacing relevant apps directly within conversations, using signals like conversational context, app usage patterns, and user preferences, with "clear ways to provide feedback" for users.

What developers need to know

Building happens through the Apps SDK, which is now in beta. OpenAI's guidance is explicit about quality: "The strongest apps are tightly scoped, intuitive in chat, and deliver clear value by either completing real-world workflows that start in conversation or enabling new, fully AI-native experiences inside ChatGPT."

Developers submit apps and track approval status through the OpenAI Developer Platform. Submissions must include MCP connectivity details, testing guidelines, directory metadata, and country availability settings. OpenAI said the first set of approved apps will begin rolling out gradually in the new year. Apps that meet quality and safety standards qualify for the directory, and apps that resonate with users may be featured or recommended by ChatGPT in the future.

To support builders, OpenAI published a resource hub with best practices on what makes a great ChatGPT app, open-source example apps on GitHub, an open-sourced UI library for chat-native interfaces, and a step-by-step quickstart guide.

Monetization is limited for now. In this early phase, developers can link out from their ChatGPT apps to their own websites or native apps to complete transactions for physical goods. OpenAI said it is "exploring additional monetization options over time, including digital goods, and will share more as we learn from how developers and users build and engage."

Safety and privacy requirements

All developers must follow the submission guidelines on safety, privacy, and transparency. Apps must comply with OpenAI's usage policies, be appropriate for all audiences, and adhere to third-party terms of service when accessing their content. Every submission requires a clear privacy policy, and OpenAI directs developers to request only the information needed to make their apps work.

When a user connects to a new app, OpenAI will disclose what types of data may be shared with the third party and show the app's privacy policy for review. Users stay in control: disconnect an app at any time, and it immediately loses access.

Why it matters

The stakes are straightforward. ChatGPT is one of the most heavily used AI products in the world, and a curated app ecosystem converts it from a destination into an operating layer for commerce and productivity. For developers, early placement in the directory — and potential recommendations from ChatGPT itself — offers a distribution channel that few platforms can match.

OpenAI frames the launch expansively. "Over time, we want apps in ChatGPT to feel like a natural extension of the conversation, helping people move from ideas to action, while building a thriving ecosystem for developers," the company said. It plans to grow the ecosystem, improve app discovery, and expand the ways developers can reach users and monetize their work. The gradual rollout of approved apps in the new year will be the first real test of whether developers show up.