OpenAI to offer ChatGPT Go for free to all users in India; Netizens say, 'They are copying Jio model'

OpenAI is making its paid ChatGPT Go plan free for users in India for one year, as part of a limited-time promotion beginning November 4, 2025 . 

The company announced the initiative on Tuesday, without specifying how long the offer will remain open.

Existing ChatGPT Go subscribers in India will also receive the complimentary 12-month access. ChatGPT Go, which was introduced in India in August this year, is OpenAI’s most affordable paid plan, priced at Rs 399 per month (under $5). The subscription includes 10 times more usage than the free tier for generating responses, creating images, and uploading files, along with enhanced memory for more personalized interactions.

The latest move signals OpenAI’s deepening focus on India, its second-largest market after the United States, where the company is seeking to expand its user base and strengthen local engagement.

India, home to over 700 million smartphone users and more than a billion internet subscribers, has become one of the fastest-growing markets for ChatGPT, with millions interacting with the chatbot daily, according to the company. Despite rapid adoption, monetizing the platform in India has proven challenging.

Between May and August, ChatGPT recorded more than 29 million downloads in the country but generated just $3.6 million in in-app purchases during the same period, according to data from Appfigures cited by TechCrunch.

OpenAI opened its New Delhi office in August and is currently assembling a local team to expand operations.

“Since launching ChatGPT Go in India a few months ago, the adoption and creativity we’ve seen from users has been inspiring,” said Nick Turley, Vice President and Head of ChatGPT, in a statement. “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 access and benefit from advanced AI.”

The company’s rivals are also ramping up efforts to attract Indian users. Perplexity recently partnered with Airtel to offer free access to its Perplexity Pro plan for the telecom operator’s 360 million subscribers. Similarly, Google introduced a one-year free AI Pro membership, valued at Rs 19,500, for students across India.

OpenAI’s DevDay Exchange conference will take place in Bengaluru on November 4, where India-specific developer and enterprise announcements are expected.

Excited for our first DevDay Exchange event in India 🇮🇳 on November 4. Ahead of that, we have some exciting updates coming for India users over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

— Nick Turley (@nickaturley) October 28, 2025