Short answer: ChatGPT ads are available in Australia, and OpenAI has been opening a self-serve Ads Manager to more businesses and countries through 2026. For most local service businesses they're worth a small test at most right now. They're new, there's little public data on results, and the formats are limited. Facebook, Instagram and Google are still the proven places to get leads.
What ChatGPT ads are
OpenAI started showing ads in ChatGPT in 2026. They appear below ChatGPT's answer, clearly labelled as sponsored. OpenAI says the ads don't change ChatGPT's answers, and advertisers don't see people's conversations.
According to reports on the rollout:
- Ads went live in Australia, New Zealand and Canada in April 2026.
- Only people on the Free and Go plans see ads. Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education users don't.
- In May 2026 OpenAI launched a self-serve Ads Manager in beta, and added cost-per-click bidding alongside cost per thousand impressions. It also added a pixel and a Conversions API for tracking.
- Early on, buying ads required a large minimum commitment, reported at $50k. Reports from June 2026 say that minimum was removed for self-serve.
Why businesses are interested
People ask ChatGPT very specific questions, often when they're close to deciding. "What should I look for in a roofer?" or "How much does it cost to re-stump a house in Melbourne?" are moments where a relevant business could be useful.
Reports on the platform say ads are matched to the topic of the conversation, rather than to keywords like Google ads.
Why most local businesses should wait or test small
- Little public performance data. There are no reliable benchmarks yet for cost per lead from ChatGPT ads for trades or local services.
- Limited formats. Ads are mainly text and images. You can't show a video of your team on the job, which is often what wins trust for a service business.
- Location is fuzzier. Local businesses live or die on service areas. Facebook and Google let you target by suburb or radius with years of refinement behind them.
- Only part of the audience sees ads. Paying subscribers don't, and many business owners and professionals are on paid plans.
If you do want to test it
- Set a small, fixed test budget you're comfortable losing.
- Write the ad to answer the question your customer is asking, not to shout about your business.
- Send people to a page that matches the ad, with one clear way to enquire.
- Set up conversion tracking so you can compare cost per lead with your other channels.
- Give it at least a few weeks before judging it.
Where the leads are today
For most service businesses we work with at Get Paid Leads, Facebook and Instagram are still where the volume is. Short videos of real work, a clear offer and fast follow-up produce leads at a cost you can plan around. One local removalist got 112 leads from $1500 of Meta ad spend. It's worth keeping an eye on ChatGPT ads, but build your lead flow on what's proven first.
Common questions
Are ChatGPT ads available in Australia? Yes. They launched in Australia in April 2026.
Who sees ads in ChatGPT? Logged-in adult users on the Free and Go plans. Paid plans like Plus and Pro are ad-free.
Can I pay to have ChatGPT recommend my business in its answer? No. Ads appear separately below the answer and are labelled. OpenAI says its answers are independent of ads.
How do I start? Through OpenAI's Ads Manager, or through an agency partner. Check the current minimums and availability before you commit.
