OpenAI Unveils Budget Friendly ChatGPT Go Subscription
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for OpenAI. The company recently launched its much-hyped GPT-5 model, described as having the intelligence of a team of PhD-level experts with advanced skills in coding, writing, and medicine. However, the launch was not without its controversies.
OpenAI's Turbulent GPT-5 Rollout
The initial release of GPT-5 was met with mixed reactions. OpenAI's decision to abruptly remove access to its predecessors was unpopular, and many users reported a degraded user experience on ChatGPT, pointing to bugs and unresponsiveness. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, suggested that some of the user dissatisfaction stemmed from users wanting the AI to be more of a "yes man."
While OpenAI eventually reversed its decision to retire older models like GPT-4o, access now comes at a cost, requiring a $20/month ChatGPT Plus subscription. In response to feedback, OpenAI has also updated GPT-5 with three distinct modes—Auto, Fast, and Thinking—and increased the message rate limit to 3,000 per week for the Thinking mode.
Altman commented on the model's personality, stating, "We are working on an update to GPT-5’s personality which should feel warmer than the current personality but not as annoying (to most users) as GPT-4o. However, one learning for us from the past few days is we really just need to get to a world with more per-user customization of model personality."
Introducing ChatGPT Go A New Affordable Tier
It now appears OpenAI is making another significant change, this time to its pricing structure. As first spotted by Tibor Blaho on X and reported by Bleeping Computer, the company seems to be quietly rolling out a new subscription plan called ChatGPT Go.
This new plan has been seen on OpenAI's pricing page in certain regions, priced at 399 INR, which is approximately $5 per month. The plan's description notes that it is "Only available in certain regions," with India and other developing countries being the likely initial markets.
What Do You Get with ChatGPT Go
For this new, lower price point, the ChatGPT Go plan reportedly offers a compelling set of features, positioning it as an ideal upgrade for free users who need more power but aren't quite ready for the full Plus subscription. The features include:
- Access to OpenAI's flagship model, GPT-5.
- Expanded messaging and uploads.
- Expanded image creation capabilities.
- Limited deep research functionality.
- Longer memory and context windows.
- Extended advanced data analysis.
A Strategic Move in a Competitive AI Market
This new offering is a significant departure from previous speculation that OpenAI might increase subscription prices to as high as $2,000 per month amid earlier reports of financial strain. Such a high price was met with ridicule, with one user noting it was the price of an employee, not a chatbot.
The launch of an affordable tier is a classic strategy to expand user base and assert market dominance. It comes at a time of heightened competition and public feuds, including an ongoing tiff between Sam Altman and Elon Musk over Apple's App Store rankings.
ChatGPT's popularity is undeniable. In February 2025, it recorded over 52 times more visits in the U.S. than Microsoft Copilot. By introducing a low-cost entry point to its most powerful model, OpenAI is poised to convert more free users into paying customers, further solidifying its lead in the global AI landscape.
