10 of The Best ChatGPT Plugins to Get The Most From AI in 2023

ChatGPT, the powerful language model developed by OpenAI, has been a revolutionary tool for many and has found applications in diverse domains, from customer service to content creation. Despite being powerful in its base form, the tool can be further enhanced by using ChatGPT plugins, which can add extra capabilities to and introduced tailored functionality.

But what are the best ChatGPT plugins at the moment? With over 1,000 currently available on the plugin store, ranging from analytics to tarot card reading, it’s a near impossible task to pick out the ‘best’. However, we’ve looked at 10 popular plugins that enhance the tool and can help you with both work and personal tasks.

If you’re looking specifically for the best plugins for data science specifically, we’ve got a separate article covering that.

What Are ChatGPT Plugins?

OpenAI has added various enhancements since the initial launch of ChatGPT. As well as introducing GPT-4 for premium users, custom instructions, and code interpreter features, the firm also added plugin capabilities in March 2023.

ChatGPT plugins are add-on tools that are designed to enhance the core functionality of ChatGPT. They allow the model to access the latest information, use third-party services, and run computations. In a separate post, we explore how fine-tuning the GPT 3.5 model can achieve a more consistent output based on your needs. Plugins, however, allow you to access data from another organization’s dataset.

ChatGPT plugins are only available for the GPT-4 model, meaning you’ll need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to access them.

How to Install ChatGPT Plugins

It’s relatively easy to install ChatGPT plugins once you’ve got your Plus account. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to installation:

1. In the bottom right corner of the home screen, click on your account name

2. Click on Settings & Beta and navigate to the Beta features tab

3. Toggle the Plugins slider to on and accept the ‘About Plugins’ message.

Enable beta features in ChatGPT

4. Go to create a new prompt and select the GPT-4 slider. You should see a dropdown that allows you to switch between various versions of the GPT-4 model.

Allow plugins on ChatGPT

5. Click Plugins [Beta].

6. Below the model selector, you’ll see a No plugins enabled dropdown where you can navigate to the ChatGPT Plugin store.

The ChatGPT plugins store

7. Search or browse for the plugin you want and click on the install button.

8. Some plugins will require you to sign up to use them and accept their terms of service.

9. Click on the No plugins enabled dropdown and select the plugin(s) you want to use.

Allow plugins to use them in your ChatGPT Prompts

10. Bear in mind that you can currently on use a maximum of three plugins for any one prompt.

10 of The Best ChatGPT Plugins

So, let’s look at some of the best plugins for ChatGPT that you can install at the moment. Again, bear in mind that there are so many out there to try, and the ones that work best for you will depend on your needs and use cases. If you need a primer on using ChatGPT, check out our course, Introduction to ChatGPT and our guide on prompt engineering.

1. WebPilot

WebPilot is a versatile open-source plugin designed to facilitate seamless interactions with web pages, allowing users to engage in natural and intuitive conversations with online content. Through WebPilot, users can input a URL and seamlessly request a range of interactions or information extractions pertinent to the content on the page, including but not limited to rewriting, translating, and more.

An example of WebPilot in action

While the Browsing plugin provides access to internet search engines, WebPilot takes it a step further by enabling interactions with both single and multiple web pages. Users can delve into specific topics, seek out research outcomes, or embark on an interactive learning journey about new subjects.

The advantages of utilizing WebPilot lie in its capacity to manage diverse requests for interacting with web pages, extracting valuable information, and performing content transformations such as rewriting or translating. This functionality empowers users to streamline and automate a variety of common web-based tasks, eliminating the need for the prolonged back-and-forth dialogue typically associated with ChatGPT.

2. Smart Slides

If you need to create a Power Point presentation and you’re not sure where to start, Smart Slides is a good option in terms of ChatGPT plugins. With a few simple prompts and a bit of information, you can set the plugin to work on your presentation.

It’s easy to use and designed to make visually appealing slide shows for all kinds of different mediums, whether for business, academic, or your own personal use. It works well with link reader or PDF plugins, as it means you can create a presentation based on your existing materials.

Depending on how much information you give it, the plugin can take a while to produce results. However, it’s a huge time saver compared to how long it’d take to create a slide show from scratch.

Using Smart Slides to create a slideshow

3. Wolfram

The Wolfram ChatGPT plugin is a powerful tool that can enhance the capabilities of ChatGPT by providing access to a wealth of knowledge, computation, and visualization through the Wolfram Alpha and Wolfram Language platforms.

Afer you install this plugin, you can use ChatGPT to leverage the vast resources of the Wolfram Knowledgebase, which covers a all kinds of topics, including science, technology, history, and culture.

One of the key areas where the Wolfram plugin excels is in precise mathematical calculations. This feature proves extremely valuable for ChatGPT when it comes to answering complex questions or solving mathematical formulas.

Image from Stephen Wolfram Writings

You can use Wolfram to enhance your results on a wide range of topics, including chemistry, geography, astronomy, popular culture, nutrition, engineering, and algorithmic code execution.

4. Zapier

With the Zapier ChatGPT plugin, you can easily link up to thousands of apps, such as Google Sheets, Gmail, or Slack, and carry out tasks directly within ChatGPT. You can simply request ChatGPT to execute a task in another app on your behalf.

An example of a Zapier task

There are so many integrations you can use with Zapier, making it incredibly easy to perform over 50,000 actions across over 5,000 apps. You can connect two or more apps to automate repetitive tasks without coding or relying on developers to build the integration.

5. Ask Your PDF

Getting info from PDFs can be an exhaustive process, particularly if you’re struggling to copy and paste it. Ask Your PDF is a handy plugin that makes the process simple. All you need to do is upload your PDF to the service, paste the document ID it provides into your ChatGPT query, and let the plugin do the rest.

Although it’s a bit frustrating having to go through a separate process to actually upload your document, it’s worth it for the amount of time you’ll save in scanning the PDF.

6. Link Reader

Another ChatGPT plugin that can help you summarize information from different sources is the Link Reader plugin. This powerful tool that can understand and combine information from various digital sources, including web pages, PDFs, PowerPoint slides, images, Word documents, and more. This makes it a flexible tool for a wide range of uses.

With Link Reader commands, you can quickly summarize articles and pull information from websites. You can also check and confirm recent news about specific topics, clear up details in a Google Doc, or evaluate the mood of a webpage.

7. VoxScript

YouTube has a wealth of information, but digesting it in video format doesn’t suit everyone. Although many videos on the platform now have transcripts, sorting through this information can be difficult. This is where the VoxScript plugin comes in handy. It pulls the transcript from videos that have them and can summarize and pull out useful information.

An example of the VoxScript ChatGPT plugin at work

If you want to have a written format of video content, the VoxScript ChatGPT plugin could come in incredibly handy.

8. Advanced Data Analytics

We’ve already mentioned that OpenAI introduced a code interpreter feature. This feature is now called Advanced Data Analytics and it comes as part of the ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscriptions. The plugin allows you to perform a range of data analysis tasks, even if you’re a total newcomer to the space.

Using Advnaced Data Analytics plugin to analyze a CSV file

By uploading your data, the tool will help you clean, process, and visualize the results based on your requirements. It’s good at prompting you to give it more information to guide the results, making it essential for analyzing all kinds of information.

9. Speak

If you’re a language learner, ChatGPT can help with simple translations already. However, to get a more detailed and translation, as well as help with extra context, alternative phrasess, and examples of conversation in your chosen language, the Speak plugin for ChatGPT is incredibly helpful.

Language practice with the Speak plugin

With support for languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese, you can also practice conversation with the plugin, asking for help and tips along the way. If you’re a language learner looking for new ways to practice or someone seeking a tool to help communicate with others, this is a useful resource.

10. Diagrams: ShowMe

Data visualization is an incredibly useful skill in today’s world. We’ve already seen that ChatGPT has some built-in tools to help prepare your data, but when it comes to visualizing the data, the Diagrams: Show Me plugin is helpful. As well as helping you code and create data visualizations, it also gives tips, ideas, and a range of options for creating diagrams.

Using the ShowMe plugin for ChatGPT

If you’re looking for an easy way to showcase your data, either at work or at home, this plugin is easy and intuitive to use and can yield some impressive results.

Final Thoughts

Navigating through the vast array of ChatGPT plugins, we've uncovered tools that not only enhance productivity but also add a layer of versatility to your ChatGPT experience. From WebPilot's interactive web conversations to Smart Slides' presentation prowess, these plugins are game-changers.

As you integrate these plugins into your daily tasks, remember that the world of ChatGPT is ever-expanding, with new tools constantly emerging. Don't stop exploring and finding the plugins that best suit your needs.

To further enhance your skills and understanding of ChatGPT, DataCamp offers a range of resources tailored to your needs. For a comprehensive introduction, consider enrolling in the Introduction to ChatGPT course, where you'll learn everything you need to start using ChatGPT effectively.

If you're interested in applying ChatGPT to data science projects, the Guide to Using ChatGPT For Data Science Projects provides practical insights and examples.

For those looking to master prompt engineering with ChatGPT, the Beginner's Guide to ChatGPT Prompt Engineering is an excellent resource.