New Entry-Level Subscription Aimed at Boosting Adoption in India, OpenAI’s Second-Largest Market
OpenAI has rolled out its most affordable ChatGPT Plan India subscription, priced at ₹399 ($4.57) per month, as the company ramps up efforts to expand its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets. The new plan, unveiled on Tuesday, offers enhanced features at a fraction of the cost compared to its existing paid tiers.
More Features at Lower Cost
According to Nick Turley, who leads ChatGPT Plan India at OpenAI, the new subscription is designed to significantly improve the user experience compared to the free version.
Subscribers will get:
- 10 times more message limits
- Image generation credits
- File uploads
- Double the memory capacity
These upgrades are expected to benefit students, professionals, and small businesses in India who rely on AI tools for productivity, content creation, and research.
Turley added in a social media post:
“Making ChatGPT Plan India more affordable has been a key ask from users! We’re rolling out Go in India first and will learn from feedback before expanding to other countries.”
The launch of this plan marks OpenAI’s strategic move to strengthen its market share by catering to cost-sensitive users in India, which is already the company’s second-largest market by user base.
Existing Paid Plans Continue
OpenAI currently offers two other paid plans alongside the new ₹399 option:
- ChatGPT Plus – ₹1,999/month in India ($20 internationally), with faster response times and priority availability during peak usage.
- ChatGPT Pro – ₹19,900/month in India ($200 internationally), targeting enterprise users and developers with advanced needs.
By introducing a lower-cost entry tier, OpenAI aims to capture a broader customer segment without cannibalizing its higher-value offerings.
Alignment with India’s AI Ecosystem Goals
The launch follows OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s visit to India in February, during which he met with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
They discussed India’s ambition to create a low-cost AI ecosystem accessible across sectors. Altman praised India’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, highlighting the country as a key growth market for OpenAI’s long-term strategy.
The rollout of the ₹399 plan aligns with these discussions, reinforcing OpenAI’s commitment to affordability and accessibility while supporting India’s digital economy initiatives.
GPT-5 Release and Mixed Market Response
The subscription expansion comes shortly after OpenAI launched its latest flagship model, GPT-5, earlier this month.
While GPT-5 was expected to mark a major leap forward in AI capabilities, its reception has been mixed, with some users criticizing its performance compared to previous models.
In response, OpenAI has restored access to legacy GPT-4 models for paying customers, ensuring flexibility in choosing the model that best meets their needs.
Strengthening Global and Local Position
By launching its cheapest-ever subscription plan in India, OpenAI signals its intent to broaden accessibility and adoption while strengthening its competitive edge against rival AI platforms.
With India’s growing demand for AI-driven tools across education, business, and technology, the move positions OpenAI to capture a larger share of one of the world’s most dynamic digital markets.
As the AI race intensifies, the ₹399 ChatGPT Plan India could serve as a template for other emerging markets, making advanced AI tools more affordable and accelerating global adoption.
