Bengaluru: OpenAI on Tuesday (October 28) announced that ChatGPT Go, its budget-friendly ₹399 per month plan, will be free for users in India for a year starting November 4, for those who sign up from that date. The move coincides with the company’s first DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru and marks a major step in its ongoing push to expand access to AI tools in one of its fastest-growing markets.
“Ahead of our first DevDay Exchange event in India, 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.
Expanding Access to Advanced AI
Launched in August 2025, ChatGPT Go was designed to meet strong demand for a lower-cost entry point to OpenAI’s conversational models. The plan offers higher messaging limits and “expanded access” to the company’s latest GPT-5 model, though with more limited deep research features compared to the premium Plus and Pro tiers, priced at ₹1,999 and ₹19,990 per month respectively.
OpenAI said the number of paid ChatGPT subscribers in India more than doubled in the first month following the Go plan’s debut. Building on this momentum, the company has since expanded the offering to nearly 90 markets worldwide.
Existing Go subscribers in India will also receive an additional 12 months of free access, with redemption details to be shared soon, the company confirmed.
Strengthening the India Footprint
The announcement comes as OpenAI deepens its on-ground presence in India. The company recently opened its first office in New Delhi and made key local hires, including a seasoned ed-tech executive to lead its education vertical. It has also begun recruiting for sales roles and ramped up its marketing push through billboards and digital ads across major Indian cities.
In a statement, OpenAI described the initiative as part of its broader “India-first” commitment, aligning with the government’s IndiaAI Mission. “This promotion supports the growing momentum around AI in India as the country prepares to host the AI Impact Summit next year,” the company said.
India: A Strategic Growth Market
With India emerging as one of the world’s largest digital economies and a key hub for developer and startup talent, OpenAI’s expansion underscores its intent to embed itself more deeply in the region’s fast-evolving AI ecosystem. The company’s education-focused initiatives, coupled with broader access to AI tools like ChatGPT Go, are expected to accelerate adoption among students, professionals, and enterprises alike.
By making ChatGPT Go free for a year, OpenAI aims to broaden the reach of generative AI across India’s rapidly growing user base—strengthening both accessibility and engagement ahead of its DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru.
