Quick answer
When a question needs current information, or you choose Search, ChatGPT rewrites it into targeted queries, sends them to search partners such as Bing, ranks the results for relevance and reliability, and writes an answer with inline citations and a Sources list. It works on every plan, including Free.
- Allow OAI-SearchBot; sites that block it are left out of search answers, and robots.txt changes take about 24 hours.
- Blocking GPTBot, the training crawler, does not remove your site from ChatGPT search answers.
- OpenAI names Bing as a search partner and never mentions Google, so rank well in both Bing and Google.
ChatGPT searches the web when your question needs current information, or when you choose Search yourself. It rewrites your question into one or more targeted queries, sends them to search partners such as Microsoft's Bing, ranks what comes back for relevance and reliability, then writes an answer with inline citations and a Sources list of the pages it used.
ChatGPT search works on every plan, including Free. The details below come from OpenAI's own help centre and crawler documentation, checked on 7 November 2026.
What happens when ChatGPT searches
- Trigger. ChatGPT decides a question needs current information, or you pick Search.
- Rewrite. It turns your prompt into one or more targeted queries, and may send narrower follow-ups after reading the first results. Your approximate location can shape the query, but your IP address and account details are not shared with search providers.
- Rank. Results are ranked on several factors meant to surface relevant, reliable information.
- Cite. Answers carry inline citations and a Sources button. OpenAI warns they can be incomplete or wrong.
Would AI mention you?
Check whether your page can be read and quoted by AI tools, and what to fix first. Free, one page at a time.
Find out for freeA May 2026 RESONEO study on Search Engine Land, based on reverse engineering rather than OpenAI's documentation, found GPT-5.4 often runs more than 10 queries per answer.
How a business gets into ChatGPT search answers
Let OAI-SearchBot in. OpenAI says sites that block it are left out of search answers, though they can still appear as navigational links. Robots.txt changes take about 24 hours to apply, and your host or CDN must allow OpenAI's published searchbot IP addresses.
Be on the pages it reads. ChatGPT cites what its search partners return for the rewritten queries, so ranking for your buyers' narrower questions still matters.
Write copy worth quoting. Say what you do, for whom and at what price, in plain sentences and FAQs. Our free AEO readiness checker tests one page for crawler access and quotable copy. For how this differs from ranking on Google, see AEO vs SEO.
Does ChatGPT use Google or Bing?
OpenAI names Bing, at least for business plans: its article on search for Enterprise and Edu says disassociated queries are shared with the Bing search engine. The consumer article only mentions other search providers and links to Microsoft's and Shopify's privacy policies. Neither page mentions Google.
The RESONEO study reported Google tracking markers in product URLs, which OpenAI has not confirmed. The safe move is to rank well in both Bing and Google.
In short, ChatGPT search rewards open crawl access, pages that rank, and clear answers it can quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT search free?
Yes. OpenAI lists web search on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu, and people who are not signed in can use it too. It works on chatgpt.com and in the desktop and mobile apps, within your plan's usage limits.
How do I turn on ChatGPT search?
ChatGPT may search on its own when a question needs current information. To force a search, open a conversation, select View all tools, choose Search and send your question. You can also type / in the message box and pick Search, or regenerate an existing answer and choose Search the web.
Does blocking GPTBot remove my site from ChatGPT search?
No. OpenAI treats its crawlers separately. GPTBot collects content that may be used to train its models, while OAI-SearchBot decides whether your site can appear in search answers. You can block GPTBot and still allow OAI-SearchBot. Blocking OAI-SearchBot keeps you out of search answers, though you may still show as a navigational link.
Get Your Site Ready for AI Search.
Book a free 20-minute call with Waris. We will look at how your site shows up for ChatGPT and Google, or set it all up for you.
