OpenAI has started accepting submissions from third-party developers to make their apps accessible directly in ChatGPT, and has launched a new app directory (don’t call it a “store”!) that can be accessed from the ChatGPT sidebar and at the URL chatgpt.com/apps.
This means the 800 million+ users of OpenAI’s popular chatbot can instantly search, discover, and use newly approved third-party apps. Once installed, apps can be activated during calls by calling them by name (with @) or selecting them from the Tools menu.
The submission process for third-party apps officially went live last night, December 17 OpenAI announced in a blog post And on his developer account on Xalthough the company notes that it will review all new third-party app submissions before approving them for listing in the App Directory, and make them available to ChatGPT users, to ensure they comply the company’s public guidelines. Apps that pass OpenAI’s review process will be rolled out to users in early 2026.
For companies that want to get in on the action with their own ChatGPT apps, OpenAI says it will host a public webinar “Build Hour” event for third-party developers on January 21where OpenAI engineers will show you how to build, submit, and design apps for ChatGPT, using real-world examples and answering questions.
App Directory vs GPT Store
This entire effort marks the beginning of a broader developer ecosystem that goes beyond the small group of curated partners. OpenAI launched its Apps Standard Development Kit (SDK) earlier this fall and looks to fulfill some of the hype that followed when OpenAI debuted its “GPT Store” in early 2024, almost two years ago.
However, despite the revenue sharing promise that OpenAI made at the time, it hasn’t provided many updates on the GPT Store since then, nor have we heard much from GPT builders about generating substantial revenue from the GPT Store.
But while these custom, user-generated GPTs were primarily limited to text-based experiences, the new ChatGPT App Directory and SDK features allow for a much more interactive experience, including user-accessible buttons, cards, multi-views, sliders, shaders, and other interaction modalities. The GPT Store also remains available.
Monetization, limitations and assessment process
In this early phase, ChatGPT apps can link to external websites to complete purchases for only physical goods.
Selling digital goods, subscriptions or in-app services is not yet allowed, although OpenAI says it is exploring additional monetization options over time.
All apps must:
Comply with OpenAI usage policies
Be suitable for general audiences, including teenagers
Include a clear privacy policy and support contact
Avoid advertising, misleading behavior or prohibited trading categories
Developers submit apps through the OpenAI Developer Platform, where they can track review status. Only one version of an app can be reviewed at a time.
What this means for developers and users
OpenAI first introduced the Apps SDK at its DevDay conference in October, positioning it as a way to build “apps within ChatGPT.” CEO Sam Altman described the vision as enabling “a new generation of apps that are interactive, adaptive and personalized.”
Built on the open Model Context Protocol (MCP), developed by rival Anthropic, the Apps SDK allows developers to connect external services, retrieve real-time context, trigger actions, and render the user interface directly in ChatGPT.
Until now, ChatGPT apps have been limited to a list of seven pilot partners, including:
Booking.com
Kanva
Coursera
Expedia.com
Figma
Spotify
Zillow
That list has since expanded with dozens of new apps, including popular software like Adobe PhotoShop (and Acrobat and Express), Github, Replit, Gmail and Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Mailchimp, Stripe, and many more.
And now that general submissions are open, any verified developer (from solo builders to large enterprises) can build and submit apps for ChatGPT, provided they meet OpenAI’s quality, security, and privacy standards.
For users, the change means that ChatGPT can now act as a hub for specialized tools and workflows. Apps can extend conversations by pulling in live data, displaying interactive interfaces, or taking actions on a user’s behalf (such as designing a presentation, finding housing, or interacting with an external service) without leaving the chat.
Apps can appear in different formats, including:
Inline cards or carousels in the conversation
Full-screen views for immersive tasks such as maps or slide presentations
Picture-in-picture modes for video, tutorials or live sessions
The goal, says OpenAI, is to make everything feel conversational while adding real utility.
How ChatGPT handles Apps data
One of the biggest open questions surrounding ChatGPT apps is how user data is handled when third-party apps are involved. Based on OpenAI’s documentation and guidance, here’s what’s clear – and what remains unanswered.
What OpenAI has clearly stated:
When a user connects to an app, ChatGPT discloses what types of data can be shared with the third party and displays the app’s privacy policy before connecting.
Third-party developers are responsible for how their apps handle data once it is received.
Apps should minimize data collection and only ask what is necessary to perform a specific task.
Apps are prohibited from requesting full chat transcripts, broad contextual “just in case” data, or sensitive personal data.
Any action that sends data outside of ChatGPT or modifies external systems must be clearly labeled and require user confirmation.
Apps should not reconstruct or infer a user’s entire chat history and should avoid covert tracking or profiling.
What OpenAI has not publicly clarified:
Whether OpenAI itself stores or records the data passed between ChatGPT and third-party apps.
Or data exchanged with apps can be used for model training or internal analytics.
How long, if at all, OpenAI retains metadata or interaction traces related to app usage.
As a result, while OpenAI has emphasized strong protections for developers and transparency for users, it has not explicitly described OpenAI’s own role as a data processor in app interactions. That ambiguity has already attracted attention and remains an open issue as the app ecosystem expands.
The bigger picture
Now that app submissions are open and an App Directory is live, ChatGPT is no longer just a conversational AI: it’s becoming a distribution platform for AI-native software.
Developers get access to a massive built-in audience, while users get tools that can be discovered and used at the moment they are needed, right in a conversation.
OpenAI describes this as “just the beginning.” But now that the infrastructure is in place, the shift from chatbot to app ecosystem is officially underway.
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