San Francisco - Aug 19, 2025 - OpenAI has introduced a new subscription tier for its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, called ChatGPT Go, priced at ₹399 per month (approximately $4.75 USD), exclusively for users in India. This move marks a significant step in making advanced AI accessible to a broader audience in one of the world’s fastest-growing tech markets. The plan offers enhanced features compared to the free tier, including 10x higher message limits, 10x more image generations, 10x more file uploads, and 2x longer memory for personalized responses, all powered by OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model.
Key Features of ChatGPT Go
The ChatGPT Go plan is designed to cater to India’s price-sensitive market while providing substantial upgrades over the free version:
- Increased Capacity: Users can send up to 10 times more messages, generate 10 times more images, and upload 10 times more files than the free tier allows.
- Enhanced Memory: The plan doubles the memory retention for more personalized and context-aware responses, making interactions more seamless.
- UPI Payment Support: For the first time, OpenAI is offering payments in Indian Rupees via UPI, eliminating the hassle of USD conversions and making the subscription more accessible.
- Access to GPT-5: Subscribers gain access to OpenAI’s latest flagship model, GPT-5, which boasts PhD-level reasoning, reduced hallucinations, and a real-time router for optimized responses based on query complexity.
Nick Turley, OpenAI’s VP and head of ChatGPT, announced the launch on X, stating, “We just launched ChatGPT Go in India, a new subscription tier that gives users in India more access to our most popular features… All for Rs. 399.”
He emphasized that the plan is a response to user feedback requesting more affordable pricing, with India being the first market to test this initiative before a potential global rollout.
Why India?
India, with over 850 million internet users, is OpenAI’s second-largest market and the leading country for ChatGPT app downloads, recording over 29 million downloads in the last 90 days. However, monetization has lagged, with only $3.6 million in in-app revenue from India during the same period, partly due to the high cost of the $20/month ChatGPT Plus plan in a price-sensitive market. The ₹399 Go plan aims to bridge this gap, offering a budget-friendly option to convert free users into subscribers.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, highlighted India’s significance, noting its rapid adoption of ChatGPT and its potential as a key growth driver. The company’s decision to integrate UPI payments aligns with India’s digital payment infrastructure, making subscriptions seamless for local users. Posts on X reflect excitement among Indian users, with many praising the affordability and UPI support as game-changers for students, small businesses, and tech enthusiasts.
Strategic Context and Competition
The launch comes amid intense competition in the AI landscape. Rivals like Perplexity have partnered with Indian telecom giants like Airtel to offer free AI services, while Google has prioritized India for its AI-powered search features. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go is a strategic move to capture a larger share of India’s tech-savvy user base and boost subscription revenue, which has been challenging in a market where digital subscriptions above ₹1,700 ($20) are considered expensive.
According to Sensor Tower, ChatGPT saw a 587% year-over-year increase in downloads in India in Q2 2025, reaching 46.7 million, but its in-app revenue grew to only $9 million. In contrast, Perplexity’s revenue in India remains negligible, underscoring the monetization challenge that ChatGPT Go aims to address.
Future Plans
OpenAI plans to gather feedback from Indian users to refine the Go plan before considering expansion to other regions. Turley noted, “We’re rolling out Go in India first and will learn from feedback before expanding to other countries.” This pilot could set a precedent for affordable AI subscription models globally, especially in emerging markets.
The launch also aligns with OpenAI’s broader mission to democratize AI access. By offering GPT-5 to free users and introducing affordable plans like ChatGPT Go, OpenAI aims to maintain its lead in the AI industry, where it faces pressure from competitors like Anthropic, Google, and DeepSeek. The company’s recent moves, including partnerships with U.S. government agencies and the integration of Google’s AI chips, further underscore its focus on expanding reach and improving infrastructure.
Availability
ChatGPT Go is now available on the ChatGPT web app and mobile apps in India, accessible via the model picker for users selecting the Go tier. OpenAI has not disclosed specific usage limits but assures seamless transitions to GPT-5 mini when limits are reached, ensuring uninterrupted access.
For more details, visit OpenAI’s official pricing page
