The ChatGPT plugin directory: how it works and how to get listed
The ChatGPT plugin directory is OpenAI's in-product store at chatgpt.com/plugins where users find, install and connect plugins (called apps until July 2026) that work inside ChatGPT and Codex. You open it from Plugins in ChatGPT. A plugin can hold an MCP connection to an outside app, skills, or both. Since September 29, 2026, ChatGPT also suggests plugins inside a chat, so the directory is no longer the only way users find you. Want more installs? Rank your ChatGPT plugin in search and suggestions.
How to find the ChatGPT plugin directory
- Open ChatGPT on the web or the desktop app.
- Click Plugins in the side bar, or open the tools menu in the message box.
- Browse a category or search for an app by name or task.
On mobile, the directory sits in the same menu.
The ChatGPT app directory became the plugin directory in July 2026
Yes. OpenAI renamed the ChatGPT app directory to the plugin directory in July 2026. Apps now ship inside plugins, and one directory serves ChatGPT and Codex.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2023 | First ChatGPT plugins launch |
| April 2024 | Those plugins shut down; GPTs replace them |
| December 2025 | App directory launches, with apps built on the Apps SDK (MCP) |
| July 2026 | App directory becomes the plugin directory |
| September 29, 2026 | ChatGPT starts suggesting plugins inside chats |
Categories in the ChatGPT plugin directory
- Featured. Plugins OpenAI picks for the home page.
- Productivity. Notes, docs, tasks and calendars.
- Lifestyle. Travel, food and shopping.
For counts per category, see our ChatGPT plugin directory statistics.
How plugins rank in directory search and categories
OpenAI does not publish a ranking formula. Its submission guidelines say that "strong real-world utility and high user satisfaction" may earn directory placement or proactive suggestions. Users see your name, subtitle, description and starter prompts, so those determine whether they tap Install. ChatGPT also reads your tool names and descriptions when it decides to suggest a plugin in a chat. Read how ChatGPT suggests plugins. Track your plugin ranking in each directory category every day.
How to get your plugin listed in the ChatGPT directory
- Verify your organization in the OpenAI Platform dashboard.
- Package your plugin as a ZIP with your MCP connection, your skills, or both.
- Upload it and fix the automated findings.
- Submit it for review. You also give test prompts and reviewer test details.
- Publish once it passes. Later changes to your MCP server go live after automated checks, with no new ZIP.
Step by step: how to submit an app to ChatGPT and pass review.
Four parts of a high-performing plugin listing
- Name. Up to 30 characters. OpenAI asks you to avoid single generic dictionary words.
- Subtitle. Up to 30 characters. Say what the plugin does, in the user's words.
- Starter prompts. Up to 3 prompts of 128 characters each. They replace screenshots, which the directory no longer shows.
- Tool descriptions. Start each with "Use this when..." so ChatGPT knows when to call the tool.
Free: grade your AI app listing against these limits.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find ChatGPT plugins?
In the plugin directory inside ChatGPT. Open Plugins from the side bar or the tools menu.
Are ChatGPT apps just MCP servers?
No, not only. An app in ChatGPT connects through an MCP server, and since July 2026 it ships inside a plugin that can also hold skills.
How do I use ChatGPT plugins?
Install one, sign in to the app it connects to, then ask ChatGPT to use it by name. ChatGPT can also suggest a plugin when your request fits.
Can I see how many plugins there are?
Yes. Our statistics post, linked in the categories section above, counts them each month.