As OpenAI doubles down on its India-first strategy, the company’s budget ChatGPT Go plan — once a modest experiment in affordable AI — is being made free for an entire year. The move marks a pivotal moment in the global AI race, as India becomes a central hub for OpenAI’s next phase of growth.
OpenAI’s “India-First” Bet
In a major step toward broadening access to artificial intelligence, OpenAI announced that its ₹399-per-month ChatGPT Go plan will be offered free for Indian users starting November 4, 2025, aligning with the company’s DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru.
The Go plan, launched in August, was designed for cost-sensitive markets seeking entry-level access to advanced AI tools. Although it lacks the full feature suite of the ₹1,999 Plus and ₹19,990 Pro tiers, Go provides higher messaging limits and limited access to the latest GPT-5 model — the firm’s most advanced system to date.
“We’re making ChatGPT Go freely available for a year to help more people across India easily access and benefit from advanced AI,” said Nick Turley, VP and Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI.
A Surge in Demand and a Market Reimagined
Since its debut, the Go plan has catalyzed a dramatic expansion of OpenAI’s paid base in India. According to company figures, the number of subscribers more than doubled within a month of launch.
Encouraged by that surge, OpenAI extended ChatGPT Go to nearly 90 markets worldwide. India, however, remains the strategic focal point — a test bed for balancing affordability with adoption in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.
The timing of the free-year offer is no coincidence. OpenAI’s DevDay Exchange, its first major developer event in India, underscores how the firm is courting both everyday users and the country’s swelling base of AI developers, researchers, and educators.
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Expanding the Footprint
Behind the scenes, OpenAI has been quietly deepening its on-ground presence in India. The company recently opened its first local office in Delhi, hired a seasoned ed-tech executive to lead its education initiatives, and begun recruiting for sales and operations roles.
Billboards advertising ChatGPT have appeared in major metros, reflecting a shift from niche product to mainstream technology brand. These moves point to a longer-term goal: embedding OpenAI’s ecosystem within India’s AI-driven transformation.
Company insiders describe the free Go plan as both a marketing experiment and a policy alignment with India’s national AI agenda, where accessibility and public adoption remain core themes
A Partnership in Progress
“This promotion,” OpenAI said in its statement, “supports the IndiaAI Mission, reinforcing the growing momentum around AI in India as the country prepares to host the AI Impact Summit next year.”
Existing ChatGPT Go subscribers will receive 12 months of complimentary access, with redemption details to follow. The company’s messaging portrays the initiative as a “continuation” of its commitment to democratizing AI use.
For OpenAI, the move is both symbolic and strategic: India offers scale, technical talent, and an enormous untapped user base — all essential for the next phase of AI diffusion. Whether this bet transforms into long-term loyalty remains to be seen, but the experiment begins November 4.
