OpenAI is rolling out a notable India-focused promotion: ChatGPT Go, a paid subscription tier, can be claimed at no cost for 12 months by eligible users who sign up during a limited-time promotional window starting November 4, 2025. The offer has been widely reported by outlets including Reuters and TechCrunch, and the official terms are published in OpenAI’s Help Center.
For Indian users who have been weighing whether a paid AI subscription is worth it, the timing is significant. ChatGPT Go is typically priced at ₹399 per month, and OpenAI’s push arrives as India continues to grow into one of the company’s largest user markets, an environment where multiple AI providers are competing aggressively for subscribers.
1) What “ChatGPT Go free for a year” actually means
According to OpenAI’s Help Center (updated Dec 23, 2025), the “ChatGPT Go Promotion (India)” makes ChatGPT Go available at no cost for 12 months for eligible users in India who sign up during a limited-time promotional period beginning November 4, 2025. In other words, it’s not a permanent price cut, it’s a time-bound promotional benefit tied to eligibility and redemption rules.
Reuters reported (Oct 28, 2025) that ChatGPT Go launched in India in August and is typically priced at ₹399/month. The promotion effectively converts that paid plan into a zero-cost subscription for a year, provided the user qualifies and redeems during the promotional window.
It’s also important to read “free for 12 months” as “free during the promotional entitlement period,” not as a transfer of ownership or an unlimited giveaway. OpenAI’s terms emphasize that the promotion is governed by its Terms of Service and may include additional conditions or expiration constraints.
2) Eligibility: who qualifies and who is excluded
The official Help Center terms specify that the promo is available to ChatGPT users in India who are new users, free users, or existing active ChatGPT Go subscribers (with accounts in good standing). That last point matters: existing Go subscribers in India are explicitly included, aligning with TechCrunch’s reporting that current Go users can also receive the free 12-month benefit.
However, OpenAI also draws a clear boundary around higher-tier subscriptions. Users currently subscribed to Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu are not eligible unless they cancel and become free after their billing period ends. This is a common structure in subscription promotions, designed to avoid stacking discounts across tiers.
In practice, that means some users may need to plan a. If someone is on Plus/Pro and wants the Go promotion, they must account for the remaining billing cycle and ensure they become a free user before attempting redemption, otherwise they may find the offer unavailable in their account.
3) How to redeem in India: web, Google Play, and App Store timing
OpenAI’s Help Center states that redemption is available via the ChatGPT web experience and through Google Play. It also notes that Apple App Store availability would arrive “next week” (as described on the Help Center page), signaling a staged rollout depending on platform.
Indian media coverage has described the in-app and web upgrade flow in practical terms. India Today, for example, notes that users may see upgrade prompts or can navigate via profile settings to upgrade, essentially following the standard subscription purchase path, but seeing the promotional pricing apply when eligible.
Because platform flows can differ, the safest approach is to start from within the official ChatGPT app or the ChatGPT website while logged into the intended account. This reduces confusion about region, account status, and which store (Google Play vs. App Store) is actually handling the subscription entitlement.
4) A “free” plan that may still ask for a payment method
One detail that surprised some users is that “free” doesn’t always mean “no billing setup.” Business Today reported that a payment method is needed for redemption even though the plan is free during the promo period, and it explicitly mentions UPI among the accepted options.
This is consistent with how many app-store subscriptions work: a valid payment method is often required to initialize a subscription, manage renewals, and verify account authenticity, even when the first period is discounted to zero. Users should review the checkout screen carefully to confirm the promotional price is applied before confirming.
Business Today also highlighted constraints such as time-limited availability and redemption once per account. If you maintain multiple accounts, the “once per account” language suggests each account is treated separately, but the official terms also stress non-transferability and restrictions on duplication.
5) What features ChatGPT Go is positioned to include
Several Indian outlets describe ChatGPT Go as an “affordable alternative” tier that still unlocks premium capabilities. Business Standard’s Nov 4, 2025 recap characterized Go as offering enhanced features such as higher message limits, image generation, and file uploads, features that typically sit behind paid access.
Times of India’s feature roundup similarly associates ChatGPT Go with a broader toolset (for example: expanded access to GPT experiences, voice, image generation, memory/personalization, and tools). Specific feature availability can change over time and can vary by product policy, so users should rely on what their app shows under the Go plan at the moment of redemption.
The key practical impact is that Go is meant to feel meaningfully “above free,” especially for students, creators, and professionals who hit limits quickly. Higher usage ceilings and tool access often translate into fewer interruptions, faster iteration on drafts, and more complete workflows (like uploading a file and generating a structured summary).
6) Why OpenAI is doing this in India (and why it matters now)
Reuters framed the promotion in the context of India’s importance to OpenAI, noting India is the company’s second-largest market by user base and could surpass the U.S. This type of promotion can accelerate adoption, normalize paid-tier usage patterns, and reduce price sensitivity in a market with massive scale.
Business Standard and Mint linked the timing to OpenAI’s DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru. Launching a high-visibility consumer offer alongside a developer-facing event can amplify awareness on both sides: end users explore Go, while developers and startups build around the ecosystem.
India is also in the middle of an AI subscription race. In a separate Reuters report (Oct 30, 2025) about Google and Reliance Jio, OpenAI’s year-long free ChatGPT Go plan is referenced as part of broader competitive offers targeting Indian users, an indicator that “free trials” are becoming a strategic lever rather than a simple marketing perk.
7) Terms and limitations users should not ignore
OpenAI’s Help Center makes the legal framing explicit: the promotion is subject to OpenAI’s Terms of Service. It also states the offer may not be duplicated, sold, or transferred, is not valid for cash, and may expire or have additional conditions applied by OpenAI.
These clauses matter because they set expectations. For example, users shouldn’t expect to “gift” the free year to someone else, resell it, or combine it with other discounts. Even if a user finds a workaround, it may violate the terms and risk account action.
Finally, remember that promotions are operationally dynamic. Business Today noted OpenAI retains the right to conclude the promotion at any moment, reinforcing why eligible users who want the free year should consider redeeming during the window rather than waiting until the last minute.
ChatGPT Go’s free-year offer in India is one of the most aggressive consumer AI subscription promotions seen so far in the country: 12 months at no cost for eligible users who sign up during a limited-time period starting November 4, 2025. With a typical price of ₹399/month, the savings can be substantial, especially for users who regularly exceed free-tier limits.
Still, the most important step is reading the official eligibility and terms before upgrading. Between tier restrictions (Plus/Pro/Business/Enterprise/Edu), the once-per-account nature of redemption, and possible payment-method requirements, the “free year” is best treated like a structured subscription promotion, valuable, but governed by clear rules.
