Google rolls out budget AI Plus plan in India to compete with ChatGPT Go
Google’s sub-$5 AI Plus plan brings Gemini 3 Pro, image tools, and video generation to Indian users
In a bid to attract India’s growing AI-curious user base, Google has launched a significantly cheaper AI Plus plan, priced at ₹199 (US$2.21) per month for the first six months. This is a major pricing shift for Google, whose previous AI Pro offering in India was priced at ₹1,950 (US$21.69) monthly.
The new AI Plus plan looks tailor-made to undercut rival services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go, which entered the Indian market in August with a sub-$5 price point.
This article explores what’s in the new Google AI Plus plan, how it compares with alternatives, and what it means for marketers watching the AI price wars heat up in emerging markets.
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Patrecia Meliana
What is Google AI Plus?
Google’s AI Plus plan gives users more access to its latest models, including Gemini 3 Pro for advanced text generation and Nano Banana Pro for image editing. Users can also generate videos in the Gemini app and unlock deeper research capabilities through NotebookLM.
The plan integrates Gemini into everyday Google apps like Gmail and Docs, includes 200GB of shared storage across Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail, and supports up to five family members on a single subscription.
Available immediately in India, the AI Plus plan costs ₹199/month (US$2.21) for new users during a six-month promotional period, before switching to ₹399/month (US$4.44).
Why India, and why now?
This launch is not just about affordability. It is a strategic move to compete with rivals already offering generous plans to Indian users.
OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Go in August, offering users 10 times the usage limits compared to its free tier. To sweeten the deal, OpenAI gave both new and existing subscribers a full year of access at no cost. Meanwhile, Perplexity partnered with Airtel to deliver its Pro plan for free to all of the telco’s users. Google, for its part, had previously teamed up with Reliance Jio to offer 18 months of free AI Pro access for users on a qualifying plan.
India’s AI market is turning into a battleground of bundling, discounts, and ecosystem plays. With 1.4 billion people and rising interest in AI-powered productivity, it is a key growth market for global AI players.
That said, Google is late to this pricing play. The AI Plus plan debuted in Indonesia back in September and expanded to other markets shortly after. The India rollout comes months after its competitors moved in. Even so, the updated pricing strategy puts Google back into serious contention.
What marketers should know
For marketers tracking the AI subscription race, the India launch of Google AI Plus highlights a few key shifts:
1. AI features are going mainstream
Tools once considered premium—like video generation, advanced image editing, and high-end language models—are now bundled in sub-$5 monthly plans. This opens the door for solo creators, startup teams, and agencies to access more with less.
2. The real war is pricing and partnerships
The race is no longer just about who has the most powerful model. Price sensitivity and regional bundling are shaping adoption. From free-year promos to telco deals, AI providers are using every lever to gain market share.
3. Expect more integrations, fewer silos
Google is leaning on its ecosystem by embedding Gemini into Gmail, Docs, and Drive. Marketers should watch for which AI services integrate most smoothly with their existing workflows, rather than just comparing standalone apps.
4. India is a blueprint for regional AI plays
How these pricing experiments play out in India may guide launches in Southeast Asia, LATAM, and Africa. Marketing leaders should anticipate similar bundles and partnerships rolling out in other price-sensitive markets.
Google’s AI Plus launch in India shows that the AI subscription space is moving fast and getting cheaper. For marketers, the bigger trend is not just model access but how companies are packaging value through integrations, family plans, and strategic bundling.
This is the time to experiment. With powerful AI tools available at a fraction of last year’s prices, smart marketers and creators should dive in early while adoption costs are low. Flexibility and platform alignment will matter more than brand loyalty as the AI stack continues to evolve.
