New Delhi: OpenAI has introduced a new cost of its paid ChatGPT plans for Indian users. Until now, subscribers had to pay in dollars for access to advanced features, but the company has finally rolled out rupee-based billing.
However this move makes it easier to pay but it also makes it more expensive. The increased cost will not only affect individual users but also those who use GPT for Team and Business plans, which are now priced higher than before.
New Cost for Paid plans
Earlier, the ChatGPT Plus plan was available at $20, nearly Rs 1,750, while the Pro plan cost $200 which is about Rs 17,500. With OpenAI now shifting to rupee-based billing, the prices stand at Rs 1,999 for Plus and Rs 19,900 for Pro reflecting an increase of almost 14 per cent over the previous rates.
When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visited India last year he faced concerns from local startup founders, many of whom argued that the subscription fees are the cause for limiting adoption. They were likely planning for a cheaper alternative, especially after reports hinted at a Go plan to be unveiled alongside GPT-5. But for now, no such budget-friendly option has been introduced.
Other options for AI users
Meanwhile, competition in India is heating up. Perplexity AI is offering one year of free Pro access to Airtel customers, while Google Gemini has geared up with its premium plans and extra perks such as cloud storage and YouTube Premium.
Price hike effect on ChatGPT Business
According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, the AI chatbot has already generated over $2 billion in consumer spending since its May 2023 launch far ahead of rivals like Claude, Copilot and Gemini in subscription earnings.
Inputs from Ahsan Khan