NEW DELHI, Aug 19: ChatGPT maker OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled ChatGPT Go, a new India-exclusive subscription plan priced at 399 rupees ($4.57) per month, marking its most affordable paid option to date as the Microsoft-backed startup seeks to accelerate growth in one of its largest markets.

India, home to nearly one billion internet users, has become a critical testing ground for global tech firms that often roll out lower-cost offerings to appeal to its highly price-sensitive consumer base. By launching a localized plan, OpenAI aims to broaden access to its AI assistant while competing more aggressively in the region.

The new plan offers up to ten times more messages and images compared with the free tier, along with faster response speeds, according to the company. OpenAI noted that message limits scale higher with premium tiers, giving users the option to choose based on their needs.

“ChatGPT Go is designed for Indians who want greater access to advanced AI tools without a steep price barrier,” OpenAI said in a statement.

OpenAI currently offers three subscription levels in India. The flagship ChatGPT Pro costs 19,900 rupees ($227) per month, while its mid-range ChatGPT Plus is priced at 1,999 rupees ($23). The launch of ChatGPT Go significantly lowers the entry point for paid access to the service.

The move highlights the growing importance of India to OpenAI, which has been expanding global access to ChatGPT since its debut in late 2022. With competition intensifying from rivals such as Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude, OpenAI’s India-first pricing strategy signals a push to secure early dominance in the fast-growing AI adoption market.