Google launches sub-$5 AI Plus plan in India to compete with ChatGPT Go

In a strategic move to enhance its competitive edge, Google has introduced its budget-conscious AI Plus plan in India, aiming to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go subscription. Launched on Wednesday, this plan is available to new users at an introductory price of ₹199 ($2.21) per month for the first six months. Following this promotional period, the subscription will increase to ₹399 ($4.44) monthly. The AI Plus plan offers users an array of enhanced features, including elevated limits for the Gemini 3 Pro and the image editing tool Nano Banana Pro. Subscribers will also gain access to video generation capabilities within the Gemini and Flow applications, as well as expanded deep research options in NotebookLM. Additionally, users will benefit from 200GB of storage shared across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail, with the option to extend access to family members. Previously, Google’s most affordable AI subscription in India was the AI Pro plan, priced at ₹1,950 per month ($21.69). However, this new offering comes after a delay in adjusting pricing for the Indian market. The AI Plus plan was initially launched in Indonesia in September, followed by other countries. In contrast, OpenAI had already rolled out its sub-$5 ChatGPT Go plan in India in August, which provided significantly higher limits compared to the free version, including enhanced messaging, image generation, and file uploads. Amid fierce competition, various AI companies are actively trying to attract Indian users. For instance, Perplexity has formed a partnership with Airtel, offering its Pro plan free for a year to its customers. OpenAI has also provided a year-long free subscription to ChatGPT Go for both existing and new users. Meanwhile, Google has collaborated with Reliance Jio to offer its AI Pro plan for 18 months at no charge to select carrier plan subscribers.