Starting November 4, OpenAI is offering Indian users a free one-year subscription to ChatGPT Go. But there’s a catch: to claim the offer, users will likely need to provide a payment method—credit/debit card or UPI, during signup or upgrade. OpenAI uses these details to verify accounts and to automatically resume billing once the promotional period ends.
ChatGPT Go provides quicker responses, increased usage limits, file uploads, and image creation on the GPT-5 platform, which are features that many users depend on for academic, professional, and creative endeavors.
To activate the free ChatGPT Go plan, you’ll need to select it under “Upgrade Plan” and add a payment method—credit/debit card or UPI. OpenAI requires this for verification, and billing will automatically resume after the free year unless you cancel. While it’s a great way to enjoy premium features at no cost, remember to treat it like a promotional trial and disable renewal before your 12 months end.
Once you activate ChatGPT Go, navigate to Manage Subscription to disable auto-renewal, or set a reminder 10 to 15 days before your complimentary year concludes. Some users have mentioned encountering UPI verification during registration, although OpenAI might still ask for a payment method in some situations.
OpenAI is offering Indian users a free year of ChatGPT Go, but you’ll need to follow a few simple steps to activate it.
Visit chat.openai.com or open the ChatGPT app, then sign in or create an account.
Go to Profile → Upgrade Plan or Settings → Subscription, and select ChatGPT Go when the India promotion appears.
Add a payment method — credit/debit card or UPI — even though the plan is free for a year.
Complete verification via email or phone OTP. Once activated, your account will show ChatGPT Go access for 12 months.
Why Payment Details Are Needed: Payment information helps OpenAI verify users and prevent misuse of the free offer.
After the complimentary year, OpenAI can continue with standard billing without any additional actions. This is why it's typical to provide a payment method initially for offers with time constraints. Previous OpenAI free trials, such as Plus trial invitations, have also necessitated card information for similar reasons.
