By Key Points
- New ChatGPT GO plan launched at just ₹399/month (~$4.60)
- 10x boost in usage limits over the free tier
- UPI payments enabled for local convenience
- India is first to get GO plan, more regions to follow
OpenAI has just introduced a game-changing offering for Indian users — the ChatGPT GO Plan, priced at just ₹399/month (~$4.60). Compared to the current ₹1,999/month Plus Plan, this new budget-friendly subscription is tailor-made for one of OpenAI’s fastest-growing user bases: India.
With India now OpenAI’s second-largest market and over 29 million ChatGPT app downloads in just 90 days, it was only a matter of time before a localized strategy took center stage.
“Making ChatGPT more affordable has been a key ask from users!”, Nick Turley, VP of ChatGPT at OpenAI
We just launched ChatGPT Go in India, a new subscription tier that gives users in India more access to our most popular features: 10x higher message limits, 10x more image generations, 10x more file uploads, and 2x longer memory compared with our free tier. All for Rs. 399. 🇮🇳
— Nick Turley (@nickaturley) August 19, 2025
That affordability is now here, not just in price, but also in ease of access. OpenAI has enabled UPI payments, making it super simple for Indian users to subscribe. This is a smart move considering how deeply integrated UPI is in daily digital payments across the country.
So what do you get for ₹399? Quite a lot.
The new ChatGPT Go Plan has been added to the pricing page in ChatGPT web app
“Only available in certain regions” at ₹399 INR / month with everything in Free plus expanded messaging and uploads, expanded image creation, limited deep research, longer memory and context, and… pic.twitter.com/KmjsqWJYZG
— Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) August 12, 2025
More Power, More Personalization, For Less
ChatGPT GO Plan Features
The ChatGPT GO Plan is not just cheaper, it’s smarter. Users will now enjoy:
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10x more message credits compared to the free plan
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Expanded image generation capabilities
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File uploads and processing options
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Enhanced memory retention for more personalized interactions
Essentially, GO users will see a significant jump in both performance and usability, especially if they rely on ChatGPT for creative, educational, or work-related tasks.
While the plan is currently geo-restricted to India, OpenAI stated on its support page that it’s looking to expand the GO plan to other regions soon. This India-first launch acts as a testing ground for future global rollouts.
🚨 OpenAI launched a new plan, ChatGPT Go for Rs 399 specifically for India 🇮🇳
It offers higher rate limits compared to the free tier, and subscription prices are now in Rupees with UPI payments accepted.
Huge move from OpenAI. pic.twitter.com/ZmqZ4JzV0I
— AshutoshShrivastava (@ai_for_success) August 19, 2025
From a value standpoint, the GO plan undercuts the Plus Plan, which had converted to over $20/month for Indian users due to currency differences.
That’s a nearly 80% price drop, putting premium AI features into the hands of many more users.
Also notable is how this aligns with recent warnings from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who flagged a potential AI bubble forming due to unsustainable valuations and hype in the space. Launching a cost-effective product in a real growth market shows OpenAI is playing the long game.
India, AI just got a BIG upgrade!
Smart move by OpenAI to launch India-only #chatgptgo at just ₹399/month 🔥
-Access GPT-5
-10x messages, images & uploads
-UPI support
-Indic language Support
Great for creators, students & YOU!First Perplexity with Airtel Partnership and now… pic.twitter.com/NTIdsuUnHU
— Arun Prabhudesai (@8ap) August 19, 2025
Why This Matters for the AI Race in India
India’s digital economy is massive, with 850 million+ internet users, and tech firms are rushing to gain a foothold. OpenAI’s competitors have already made their moves:
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Perplexity partnered with Airtel to give users free Pro plans
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Google launched a free AI Pro subscription for Indian students
So OpenAI’s ₹399 ChatGPT GO plan isn’t just a pricing play; it’s a strategic counterattack.
It also reflects the country’s potential. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said India is the company’s second-largest market, and the ChatGPT app made just $3.6 million from the country in the last 90 days, despite massive downloads. (Read more about ChatGPT’s earnings in India here.)
This GO plan could turn free users into paying subscribers by offering just enough at a price point that feels right for the Indian market.
Software engineer and AI insider Tibor Blaho had teased this move weeks ago, and now it’s here, showing OpenAI’s willingness to listen, adapt, and compete in a price-sensitive market.
It also comes at a time when VC investments in AI are heating up globally. Cohere’s $6.8B valuation, backed by AMD and Meta’s recent AI rules leak has further intensified the competition.
But not everyone is winning. xAI’s internal struggles show that talent wars and missteps can hurt momentum, even for Elon Musk-backed projects.
With OpenAI’s weekly users globally now at 700 million (up from 500 million in March), this India-specific move is designed to fuel the next wave of growth, not in Silicon Valley, but in Tier-2 and Tier-3 Indian cities, where affordability is key.
This could also lead to wider AI adoption, not just among techies but also students, small businesses, and content creators across India.
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