Google Introduces Low-Cost AI Plus Subscription in India Amid Competitive AI Pricing

Google’s New AI Plus Plan Targets Indian Consumers

Google announced the rollout of its AI Plus subscription in India, positioning the service as an affordable gateway to the company’s advanced generative‑AI capabilities. New users can enroll at a promotional rate of ₹199 per month for the first six months, after which the price increases to ₹399 per month. The plan is designed to provide higher usage limits for Google’s flagship models, including Gemini 3 Pro and the image‑editing model Nano Banana Pro.

In addition to increased model limits, AI Plus subscribers gain access to video‑generation features within the Gemini and Flow applications, expanded deep‑research tools in NotebookLM, and a shared storage allocation of 200 GB that spans Google Photos, Drive, and Gmail. The subscription also allows users to extend access to family members, enhancing its appeal for household usage.

Pricing Context and Comparison to Existing Offerings

Prior to AI Plus, Google’s most affordable AI subscription in India was AI Pro, which was priced at ₹1,950 per month. The new plan therefore represents a substantial price reduction, aligning Google more closely with the low‑cost tier introduced by competitors. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go plan, launched in India at a sub‑$5 price point, offers ten times higher limits than its free tier for messaging, image generation, and file uploads. Google’s AI Plus pricing aims to compete directly with that benchmark while offering a broader suite of Google‑specific AI tools.

International Rollout and Market Timing

AI Plus was first introduced in Indonesia in September and subsequently made available in other markets later that month. Its launch in India follows that international debut, indicating Google’s strategy to stagger pricing introductions across regions. The timing coincides with a broader industry push to capture India’s large and rapidly growing internet user base, where AI services are seeing heightened demand.

Competitive Landscape and Promotional Partnerships

The AI subscription market in India is currently characterized by aggressive promotional tactics. Perplexity partnered with telecom provider Airtel to deliver its Pro plan free for a year to all Airtel customers. OpenAI offered a one‑year free access period for both existing and new ChatGPT Go users. Google, in turn, collaborated with Reliance Jio to provide its AI Pro plan at no cost for 18 months to users on a specific carrier plan. These partnerships underscore a race among AI firms to secure user adoption through cost‑effective or free offerings.

Implications for the Indian AI Ecosystem

Google’s entry into the low‑price AI subscription segment signals an intensifying competition that could drive broader accessibility of advanced generative‑AI tools across India. By bundling model access, video generation, research capabilities, and substantial cloud storage, the AI Plus plan seeks to differentiate itself from pure‑chat‑based services while still appealing to price‑sensitive consumers. The move may also pressure other AI providers to adjust pricing or enhance feature sets to remain competitive in a market where user acquisition is increasingly tied to affordability and value‑added services.