ChatGPT Go to Be Free for One Year in India Starting November 4, Announces OpenAI
New Delhi, October 28, 2025: In a major announcement aimed at expanding access to artificial intelligence across India, OpenAI on Tuesday said its budget-tier plan, ChatGPT Go, will be made free for users in India for one year, starting November 4, 2025.
The offer, which typically costs ₹399 per month, will coincide with OpenAI’s first-ever DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru, marking a key step in the company’s “India-first” strategy to strengthen its user base and local presence.
OpenAI’s India-Focused Expansion Strategy
Announcing the offer, Nick Turley, Vice President and Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, said the move is designed to make AI tools more accessible to India’s rapidly growing digital population.
“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,” Turley said in a statement.
The announcement reflects OpenAI’s deepening engagement with India’s technology ecosystem. In recent months, the company has opened its first office in New Delhi and recruited a senior ed-tech executive to lead its education vertical, signaling its intent to localize operations and forge stronger partnerships across sectors.
OpenAI has also been hiring for sales and business development roles in India, running advertising campaigns across billboards and online platforms, underscoring the country’s strategic importance in its global expansion plans.
Supporting India’s AI Vision
OpenAI noted that the free ChatGPT Go plan aligns with India’s growing focus on artificial intelligence through initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission.
“This promotion is a continuation of OpenAI’s ‘India-first’ commitment and supports the IndiaAI Mission, reinforcing the growing momentum around AI in India as the country prepares to host the AI Impact Summit next year,” the company stated.
The decision comes at a time when India is positioning itself as a global leader in the responsible deployment of AI technologies, with policymakers and startups alike embracing the potential of generative AI for education, governance, and innovation.
Free Access for Existing Subscribers Too
Existing ChatGPT Go subscribers in India will not be left out. OpenAI confirmed that they, too, will receive 12 months of free access, with detailed redemption instructions to be shared soon.
The move is expected to attract millions of new users while strengthening loyalty among existing ones. Industry experts view this as OpenAI’s strategy to build a larger user base before introducing premium India-specific services or enterprise offerings.
What the ChatGPT Go Plan Offers
Introduced globally in August 2025, ChatGPT Go was developed to cater to users seeking affordable access to OpenAI’s most advanced models. While it lacks some of the premium features of the Plus (₹1,999/month) and Pro (₹19,990/month) plans, ChatGPT Go offers higher message limits, priority access during peak times, and expanded access to the GPT-5 model — albeit with “limited deep research capabilities.”
OpenAI said that the Go plan has already seen strong adoption in India, with the number of paid ChatGPT subscribers more than doubling within a month of its launch.
“On the back of this strong demand, OpenAI has since expanded ChatGPT Go to nearly 90 markets worldwide,” the company stated.
Why India Matters to OpenAI
India’s tech-savvy population, affordable mobile data, and rising number of small businesses using AI tools have made it one of OpenAI’s fastest-growing markets. With over 100 million ChatGPT users globally, India accounts for a significant portion of organic traffic and educational use.
By offering free access to ChatGPT Go, OpenAI aims to deepen user engagement, gather localized feedback, and drive AI adoption across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where affordability has been a barrier.
Industry analysts believe this could also be a competitive response to Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude, both of which have gained traction among Indian users.
DevDay Exchange Bengaluru: A Strategic Launchpad
The timing of the announcement with the DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru is no coincidence. The one-day developer-focused gathering will bring together AI innovators, startups, and educators to discuss OpenAI’s ecosystem and showcase the latest advances in GPT models and APIs.
The Bengaluru event marks OpenAI’s first in-person community engagement in India — a move seen as part of its broader effort to localize product adoption and foster developer collaboration within India’s thriving tech landscape.
A Year of Free AI Access
Starting November 4, anyone signing up for ChatGPT Go in India will automatically receive one year of free access without needing a promotional code. OpenAI is expected to roll out the promotion gradually, with user notifications via email and the ChatGPT interface.
The company has not confirmed whether this offer will extend to enterprise or institutional users, though sources familiar with the rollout suggest educational institutions could be among the early beneficiaries, given OpenAI’s active outreach to schools and universities.
Final Thoughts by The Trending People
OpenAI’s decision to offer free ChatGPT Go access for Indian users represents a defining moment in the country’s digital AI journey. By aligning with the IndiaAI Mission and choosing Bengaluru — India’s technology hub — for its first DevDay Exchange, the company is signaling long-term intent and commitment.
This initiative not only expands access to AI but also reinforces India’s position as one of the fastest-growing markets for generative technology. With one year of free access to ChatGPT Go, millions of Indians will now have the opportunity to experience the power of GPT-5, shaping how AI becomes part of everyday life in the world’s largest democracy.
