The offer, worth ₹4,788 annually, coincides with OpenAI's first DevDay Exchange event in Bengaluru and represents a major push to expand AI accessibility in India.
However, there's an important catch: users must provide payment details to activate the free trial, creating a UPI mandate that will automatically charge ₹399 monthly after the promotional period ends.
Understanding the Payment Requirement
Unlike a completely free offer, ChatGPT Go operates as a promotional trial requiring payment method verification. OpenAI requires users to add a credit/debit card or UPI payment method during activation for identity verification, regional confirmation, and to enable automatic billing once the 12-month period concludes. This setup creates a mandate—essentially a recurring payment authorization—that remains active unless manually canceled.
The mandate shows a first payment of ₹2 (refunded within ten days), a payment limit of up to ₹399, and validity from November 4, 2025, to December 31, 2035. While no charges apply during the promotional year, the system is configured to automatically resume monthly billing at ₹399 starting November 4, 2026, unless users take action to cancel.
Staff Editor
Step-by-Step Activation Guide
For Android Users (Currently Available)
Open the ChatGPT app or visit Settings on your device. Navigate to the subscription section where you'll see the "Try Go free for 12 months" promotion displayed prominently.
Tap on "Upgrade to Go" or select the banner showing the free trial offer. The screen will display a comparison table showing features available in the Free tier versus the Go tier, with checkmarks indicating Go plan benefits like increased message limits, file uploads, image generation, advanced data analysis, and extended memory.
Select your payment method—options include UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, etc.) or credit/debit cards. The checkout screen clearly states "Starting today: 12-month free trial" and "Starting 4 Nov 2026: ₹399.00/month".
Review the UPI Autopay details carefully. The system will request a ₹2 verification charge that gets refunded within ten days. You'll also see the payment limit (up to ₹399), frequency (as presented), and mandate validity period.
Tap "Continue" and authenticate the payment setup through your chosen method. Once completed, you'll see "Subscribed" status under Google Play, confirming your free trial is active.
For Web Users
Sign in to your ChatGPT account at chat.openai.com or create a new account if you're a first-time user. Click on your profile icon and select "Upgrade Plan" or navigate to Settings → Account → "Try ChatGPT Go".
The upgrade menu will display the ChatGPT Go promotional offer with details about the 12-month free period. Click "Try ChatGPT Go" to begin the checkout process.
During checkout, you'll be prompted to add a payment method—credit/debit card or UPI. Enter your payment details, understanding that no charges will be applied for the first year.
Complete any required verification steps, such as email or phone OTP authentication. Once checkout is complete, your ChatGPT Go subscription becomes active immediately and will renew automatically on a monthly basis for 12 months.
Review the terms and conditions available in Settings → Account at any time to understand the subscription details.
For iOS Users (Available November 11)
The promotional offer will be available on the Apple App Store starting November 11, 2025. If you need access sooner, follow the web activation steps above and then log into the ChatGPT iOS app with the same account credentials.
Once activated on web, all Go features will be accessible through the iOS app using your registered account.
What's Included in ChatGPT Go
The Go subscription provides access to GPT-5, OpenAI's flagship model, with significantly expanded usage limits compared to the free tier. Subscribers receive ten times higher message limits, enabling more extensive daily interactions without hitting restrictions.
Image generation capabilities are substantially increased, allowing users to create more AI-generated visuals for work, study, or creative projects. File upload limits are extended, supporting analysis of larger and more frequent document, spreadsheet, and presentation uploads.
Advanced data analysis powered by Python enables code execution, chart generation, and sophisticated problem-solving beyond basic conversations. The plan includes double the memory capacity of the free tier, helping the AI maintain better context across extended conversations for more personalized responses.
Additional features include access to projects, tasks, and custom GPTs for organizing work and building personalized AI tools. The service also offers enhanced support for Indic languages, making it more accessible for Indian users.
Features Not Included
ChatGPT Go does not provide access to legacy models like GPT-4o, which remain exclusive to higher-tier plans. Third-party connectors for integrations are unavailable in the Go plan.
Sora video creation tools are not included in the subscription. API usage, which is billed separately, is also excluded from the Go tier. These premium features remain available only through ChatGPT Plus (₹1,999/month) and Pro (₹19,900/month) plans.
Managing Auto-Renewal and Avoiding Charges
To prevent automatic billing after the free year, immediately access your subscription management settings after activation. Navigate to your profile and select "Manage subscription" to view renewal options.
Switch off automatic renewal if you want to avoid charges after the promotional period. Alternatively, set a calendar reminder 10-15 days before November 4, 2026, to cancel the subscription before billing begins.
The subscription can be canceled at any time through the Google Play Subscriptions menu on Android devices or through your OpenAI account settings on web. OpenAI states clearly: "Cancel at any time in Subscriptions on Google Play. You won't be charged if you cancel before 4 Nov 2026".
Users who prefer not to add payment details should note that OpenAI's promotional structure requires payment method verification in most cases. This is standard practice for subscription services offering free trials, as it helps verify accounts, confirm regional eligibility, and reduce abuse of promotional signups.
For Existing ChatGPT Go Subscribers
Current ChatGPT Go subscribers in India will automatically receive the promotional extension. The one-year free access will be applied from the next billing cycle onwards, provided accounts have no pending or declined payments.
Existing subscribers should verify their subscription status by checking Settings → Account to confirm the promotional period has been applied and review renewal settings. Payment information will remain visible in account settings as billing details stay tied to the subscription structure, but no charges will occur during the 12-month promotional window.
Eligibility and Availability
The offer is available to users located in India with OpenAI accounts in good standing—meaning no records of missed or declined payments. New users can create accounts and immediately activate the promotion, while existing free-tier users can upgrade to Go at no cost.
OpenAI describes this as a "limited-time promotional period," though specific end dates for when new sign-ups will no longer qualify have not been announced. The company encourages users to activate during the promotional window to lock in the full 12-month free access.
The initiative reflects OpenAI's "India-first" strategy and supports the IndiaAI Mission, highlighting the company's commitment to expanding AI accessibility in one of its fastest-growing markets. ChatGPT's paid subscriber base in India reportedly doubled within just one month of the Go plan's initial ₹399 launch in August 2025, demonstrating strong demand for affordable AI tools.
Sources
- India Today - OpenAI's ChatGPT Go free for one year in India
- Economic Times - ChatGPT Go is free for a year in India, but there is a big catch
- The Week - ChatGPT Go 1-year free trial for Indian users comes with THIS catch
- Hindustan Times - ChatGPT Go free for one year in India starting today
- Indian Express - ChatGPT Go is free for 12 months
- The Hindu - OpenAI will make ChatGPT Go free for Indian users for a year
- Gadgets 360 - OpenAI's ChatGPT Go Plan Is Now Available for Free
