OpenAI launches sub-$5 ChatGPT GO plan in India with UPI support
OpenAI has unveiled a new, more affordable paid subscription tier for ChatGPT in India, dubbed “ChatGPT GO.” Priced at ₹399 per month, or approximately $4.60 USD, this plan marks a significant reduction compared to the existing Plus Plan, which costs ₹1,999 monthly (around $23 USD). The launch also introduces support for India’s widely used Unified Payment Interface (UPI), making subscriptions more accessible.
The ChatGPT GO plan is designed to dramatically enhance user capabilities over the free version, offering a tenfold increase in message limits, image generation capacity, and file uploads. Additionally, it doubles the memory retention for more personalized and coherent interactions. Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Vice President and head of ChatGPT, emphasized that this initiative directly responds to a persistent user request for greater affordability, confirming that India is the first market to receive this tailored offering, with plans for expansion to other regions based on feedback.
This strategic move by OpenAI is aimed at deepening its penetration in what CEO Sam Altman has identified as the company’s second-largest market globally. India boasts a massive internet user base exceeding 850 million, and recent data underscores its importance to ChatGPT’s growth. The app analytics firm AppFigures reported over 29 million ChatGPT app downloads from India in the last 90 days alone, making it the leading country for downloads across platforms. However, despite this impressive adoption, the app generated only $3.6 million in revenue from Indian users during the same period, indicating a strong user base but a lower conversion to paid subscriptions. The new, lower price point is a clear attempt to bridge this gap and convert a larger segment of the free user base into paying subscribers.
OpenAI’s localized pricing strategy is not unique in India’s burgeoning digital landscape, where affordability often dictates widespread adoption. Other major AI players are also tailoring their offerings to attract users in the country. For instance, Perplexity recently partnered with network provider Airtel to offer free Perplexity Pro subscriptions, while Google has provided a free AI Pro plan for India-based students for one year. While OpenAI’s move doesn’t involve freebies, its aggressive local pricing is poised to significantly boost subscription conversions for ChatGPT in India, leveraging the country’s vast and rapidly growing digital consumer base. This tiered approach could set a precedent for how AI companies approach market expansion in diverse economic environments, prioritizing accessibility to unlock broader user monetization.