Start HereLesson 1 of 2About 10 minutes
In this lesson
What You'll Learn
- How to create a free ChatGPT account on a computer or phone
- What the Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans cost, and which one fits this course
- How to copy a ready-made prompt and have your first useful conversation
Why It Matters
Everything else in this course, from untangling your family calendar to writing your artist statement, happens inside ChatGPT. Getting the account right once means you never have to think about it again.
The sign-up itself is easy. What trips most people up is an unfamiliar screen, a code that lands in the spam folder, or a pricing page that makes it look like you have to pay. This lesson walks you past each of those, so the only decision you make is which plan suits you.
Lessons in this module
0 of 2 lessons complete
- Not started1. Create Your ChatGPT Account and Choose a Plan10 min
- Not started2. A Guided Tour of the ChatGPT Screen8 min
Step by step
How to Create Your ChatGPT Account
- Go to chatgpt.com. Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari, or Edge) and type chatgpt.com into the address bar at the top. On a phone, you can instead download the free ChatGPT app from the App Store or Google Play. Check that the developer is listed as OpenAI, because look-alike apps exist.
- Tap Sign up. Some screens say Create account or Get started instead. They all lead to the same place.
- Choose how to sign up. If you already use Google, Microsoft, or Apple, tapping Continue with that account is the easiest option, with no new password to remember. Otherwise, type your email address and tap Continue.
- Enter the code. If you used your email, OpenAI sends you a six-digit code. Type it into the box on screen.
- Add your name and birthday. Enter your first name and date of birth, then tap Continue.
- Confirm your phone, if asked. Some accounts are asked for a cell number. Type it in, then enter the code from the text message. Many people never see this step.
- You’re in. You’ll land on a mostly blank screen with a message box at the bottom. That box is where you type to ChatGPT.
Helpful habit: save chatgpt.com as a bookmark, or keep the app on your phone’s home screen, so it’s one tap away in the pickup line. Screens change from time to time, so if a button has a slightly different name, look for the closest match.
Your budget, your call
Which ChatGPT Plan Should You Choose?
Every new account starts on the free plan. The pricing page can make it look like you have to pay, but you don’t. Here’s what each plan costs in the US as of September 2026.
Free
$0 a month
Plenty for trying things out. Everyday text chats are unlimited, but photo uploads, image tools, and memory are limited.
Go
$8 a month
A budget step up. More messages, uploads, and image creation than Free, and longer memory, using the same everyday model.
Plus
$20 a month
Our pick for this course. Expanded memory, uploads, and messages, plus OpenAI’s more advanced models for harder jobs.
Pro
From $100 a month
Built for heavy professional use. You won’t need it for anything in this course, so feel free to skip it.
Our Suggestion
Start on Free while you work through Start Here and Module 1. When you reach Module 2, where you’ll upload photos of your artwork and build a profile ChatGPT remembers, upgrade to Plus. The monthly plan can be canceled from your account settings at any time.
To upgrade later: tap your name or profile picture (bottom left on a computer, or in the side menu on the phone app), choose Upgrade plan, pick Plus, and follow the payment steps. If you don’t see those words exactly, look for the closest match; OpenAI moves things around now and then. Prices can change and may differ outside the US, so always check the amount on screen before you pay.
Try it now
Your First Conversation With ChatGPT
This is how every prompt in the course works. Fill in the boxes, tap Copy Prompt, then tap Open ChatGPT. In ChatGPT, press and hold (or right-click) inside the message box, choose Paste, and press Enter or tap the arrow.
Copy-ready prompt
Meet your new assistant
Your answers stay on this device, and later lessons fill in the same blanks for you.
Step 1: Fill in the blanks
Step 2: Check your finished prompt
Hi! My name is [Your first name]. I'm an artist who works in [Your medium, like acrylics or watercolor], and I'm brand new to ChatGPT.
The thing that eats up the most time in my week is [The task that eats up your week].
In plain, simple language, give me three specific ways you could help me with that. Keep each one to two sentences, and end by asking me one question so you can help me better.
Step 3: Copy it and paste it into ChatGPT
Your answers are saved on this device only, so you do not have to retype them in later lessons.
Check your work
What You Should See
Within a few seconds, ChatGPT writes back. Your answer will be worded differently, but it should look something like this example for an artist whose biggest time drain is her kids’ activity schedule:
Nice to meet you, Dana! Here are three ways I can help with your kids’ activity schedule:
1. One weekly schedule. Paste in practice times and school events, and I’ll organize them into one clear list by day.
2. Find your free time. I can point out the gaps between pickups where you could sketch or plan a painting.
3. Quick messages. I can draft short texts to coaches or other parents about carpools and schedule changes.
Which day of the week feels the most packed for you?
Quick fixes
If Something Looks Different
No code in your email? Check your spam or promotions folder, wait two minutes, then look for a Resend option on the code screen.
Don’t want another password? Go back and choose Continue with Google, Microsoft, or Apple instead.
Paste isn’t working on your phone? Press and hold inside the ChatGPT message box until a small menu appears, then tap Paste.
The answer missed the point? Just reply in plain words, like “Make that shorter” or “I meant my kids’ schedule, not my work schedule.” ChatGPT adjusts as you go.
Asked for payment? You may be on the upgrade screen. Close it, and you’ll stay on the free plan.
Your action this week
Have One More Real Conversation
Before your next lesson, ask ChatGPT one more question about your real life, in your own words. It can be as simple as “Give me three easy weeknight dinners my kids will eat.” The more you use it, the more natural it feels. When you’re done, mark this lesson complete.
Your progress is saved on this device. Sign in to keep it on every device.