OpenAI Ads Manager: How It Works
OpenAI Ads Manager (Ads Manager Beta) is where ChatGPT Ads are built and managed — campaigns, ad groups, context hints, budgets, and reports all live here. This guide walks through the structure, the objectives, current availability, and what to expect when you launch your first campaign.
What is OpenAI Ads Manager?
Ads Manager is OpenAI's advertising platform. Unlike Google Ads or Meta Ads Manager, it does not target keywords or audience profiles — it uses conversational context. Ads are matched to relevant ChatGPT conversations and displayed as clearly labeled ads beneath the answer for logged-in Free and Go plan users. Delivery is decided by a relevance-weighted auction, so both your bid and the ad's fit matter.
Campaign structure: Campaign → Ad Group → Ad
1Campaign
Top level. Set your objective (Clicks or Reach), budget, and bid strategy.
2Ad Group
Where the context hint lives. Each ad group targets a specific conversation or situation.
3Ad
The creative — headline, body, destination URL, and display name — that users see under the answer.
The ad group is where you set the context hint — the description of which conversations the ad should appear in. Test different hints as separate ad groups to find which situations convert.
Objectives: Clicks and Reach
| Objective | Bidding | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks | CPC — start around $3–$5 max bid | Driving traffic to a landing page |
| Reach | CPM | Brand visibility in a new channel |
Use the CPC budget calculator to estimate daily budget and expected clicks before you launch.
Where ChatGPT Ads are available (2026)
Ads Manager is currently available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. Account eligibility depends on where your business is registered — not where your customers are. If your country is not listed, you can register interest on openai.com/advertisers. Availability changes often, so always check the official Ads Manager availability page.
Launch your first campaign
- Open OpenAI Ads Manager in a country where it is available, with your business registered there.
- Choose an objective: Clicks (CPC) or Reach (CPM). For a first test, Clicks with a $3–$5 max bid.
- Create a campaign and set a daily budget you are comfortable testing with.
- Add an ad group and write a focused context hint describing the conversation you want to reach.
- Build the ad creative: clear headline, conversational copy, and a destination that matches the intent.
- Submit for review, launch, and check reporting within 48 hours.
Reporting metrics that matter
Impressions
How many times your ad was served.
Clicks & CTR
Engagement — click-through rate shows how relevant the ad feels.
Spend
Your total budget consumed for the period.
Avg CPC / CPM
The price you actually paid per click or per 1,000 impressions.
Conversions
Tracked via pixel or Conversions API — the number that matters most.
Ads Manager supports pixel and Conversions API for conversion tracking. For a step-by-step WordPress setup, see our conversion tracking guide.
Set it up right the first time
Structure, hints, tracking, and landing page — everything you need, in one place. Start with the free tools, or let the Ridoway team run it for you.