The AI race in India has officially begun — and the real winners are the users. In a groundbreaking move, OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity AI have kicked off a full-scale AI price war in India by offering their premium plans completely free.
OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT Go will be free for one year. Google is providing Gemini Pro free for 18 months to Jio users, and Perplexity AI is offering Perplexity Pro free for 12 months to Airtel customers.
Let’s break down about free ai tools, what each plan includes, how you can get them, and why these tech giants are fighting so hard for India’s AI market
ChatGPT Go: OpenAI’s Premium Chatbot Plan Goes Free
What is ChatGPT Go?
ChatGPT Go is OpenAI’s mid-tier subscription plan powered by the GPT-5 model. It offers significantly higher usage limits than the free version — including 10 times the message capacity, larger uploads, more image generations, and extended chat memory for continuous conversations.
Normally priced at ₹399/month (~₹4,788/year), ChatGPT Go helps with coding, writing, and long-form Q&A — all without running into the daily usage caps of the free tier.
Free Features
Starting November 4, 2025 (aligned with OpenAI’s DevDay Bengaluru), Indian users can get ChatGPT Go free for one year.
All existing ChatGPT Go users will automatically be upgraded to the free plan for 12 months.
You’ll have full access to:
- GPT-5 chat
- DALL·E image generation
- File and image uploads
- Advanced data analysis tools
- Extended conversation memory
Essentially, everything ChatGPT Go offers will be completely free in India for a period of one year.
How to Access free Chatgpt?
Simply sign up via the ChatGPT app or OpenAI’s website after Nov 4, 2025.
No telecom tie-in needed — just log in with your OpenAI account, verify with a phone number, and select the ChatGPT Go plan.
Your account will display the “Go” badge, unlocking all premium features.
Google Gemini Pro (AI Pro): Free for Jio Users
What is Gemini AI?
Gemini AI Pro (Gemini 2.5 Pro) is Google’s top-tier AI assistant, offering multimodal capabilities including text, image, and video generation. It integrates seamlessly with Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Workspace, making it ideal for professionals.
The plan also includes 2 TB of Google Cloud storage, and normally costs around ₹35,100 for 18 months.
Free Features
In October 2025, Reliance Jio announced a partnership with Google to provide Gemini Pro free for 18 months to Jio 4G/5G subscribers.
Currently, it’s rolling out to users aged 18–25 on unlimited 5G plans (₹ 349 and above), and will soon expand to all Jio customers.
The offer includes:
- Full access to Gemini 2.5 Pro
- Veo 3.1 video generation
- Nano Banana image generation tools
- NotebookLM (Google’s AI research assistant)
- 2 TB of Google storage
How to Access Free Gemini?
Jio users can claim the offer via the MyJio app:
- Log in with your Jio number.
- Tap on the Google Gemini banner.
- Sign in using your Google account.
After activation, open the Gemini app on Android or iOS — your account will automatically display “Pro” access.
Perplexity AI Pro: Free via Airtel Thanks App
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is a next-gen AI-powered search and research engine, designed for real-time, citation-based answers.
Unlike chatbots, it blends live web data with multiple AI models (GPT-4.1, Gemini, Claude, etc.) to give factual, source-backed responses.
The Pro plan (normally ₹17,000/year) includes:
- Up to 300 AI searches/day
- Document uploads (PDFs, PPTs, etc.)
- Image generation tools (DALL·E, Stable Diffusion)
- Perplexity Labs for data analysis and code tasks
Free Features
From July 2025 to January 2026, Airtel is offering Perplexity Pro free for 12 months to all its users — including prepaid, postpaid, and broadband subscribers.
You get full access to:
- 300 AI queries daily
- Document and file uploads
- Image generation
- Perplexity Labs features
- Model switching (GPT-4, Gemini, Claude, etc.)
How to Access Free Perplexity?
To activate:
- Open the Airtel Thanks app.
- Go to Rewards & OTTs
- Tap Perplexity Pro and sign in with your Google or Apple ID
No special plan required — any Airtel user can claim the offer instantly.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature / Tool | ChatGPT Go (OpenAI) | Gemini Pro (Google + Jio) | Perplexity Pro (Airtel) |
| Normal Price | ₹4,788/year | ₹35,100 / 18 months | ₹17,000/year |
| Free Access | 12 months (All users) | 18 months (Jio 5G users) | 12 months (All Airtel users) |
| Base Model | GPT-5 | Gemini 2.5 Pro | GPT-4.1 + Gemini + Claude |
| Core Features | 10× usage, image gen, long memory, file uploads | Image & video gen, 2 TB storage, NotebookLM | Live search, citations, document upload, Labs |
| Best For | Chat, coding, creative tasks | Workspace users, media creation | Research, factual Q&A, analysis |
Why This AI Price War Is Happening Now?
India is the world’s second-largest internet market, with over 1 billion users, and tech giants are competing to dominate it.
As Reuters reports, these free offers mirror how Netflix and Amazon Prime initially grew in India — build users first, monetize later.
Key Drivers:
- Huge growth potential: India’s digital economy is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2030.
- Government focus on AI: India’s new AI regulations and digital policies encourage innovation and infrastructure.
- Strategic partnerships: Google with Jio, OpenAI with Indian edtech firms, and Airtel with Perplexity — all vying for long-term dominance.
Analysts believe these offers aim to capture user data, loyalty, and developer mindshare. While it benefits Indian users, it also puts pressure on local AI startups struggling to compete with global giants offering free, world-class tools.
What It Means for Developers & Tech Professionals?
For India’s tech community, this is a massive leap forward. Developers, students, and startups can now access GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Perplexity Pro — tools previously locked behind expensive subscriptions.
Benefits:
- Build AI apps or prototypes without subscription costs.
- Test and integrate APIs with top-tier models
- Research faster using tools like Perplexity Labs and NotebookLM.
- Create media and visuals using Gemini’s video and image tools.
But there’s also a flip side. Experts warn that this wave of “AI freebies” could stifle India’s budding AI startups, which can’t match Big Tech’s scale or pricing. Government support may be necessary to strike a balance between innovation and fair competition.
Which Free AI Tools Should You Use?
| Use Case | Best Tool | Why |
| General Chat & Coding Help | ChatGPT Go | Great for writing, brainstorming, and debugging code with long conversation memory |
| Research & Data-backed Queries | Perplexity Pro | Best for real-time answers with sources, citations, and document analysis |
| Google Workspace & Media Creation | Gemini Pro | Perfect for professionals using Gmail, Docs, and Drive; also supports image & video generation |
Since all three are free in India, the best advice is: try them all. See which feels most natural for your workflow.
The Big Picture
This AI price war signals a new chapter for India’s digital future. For the next 12–18 months, every Indian user — from students to startups — can access world-class AI tools for free.
From ChatGPT Go’s GPT-5 power to Gemini’s creative intelligence and Perplexity’s factual precision, India now stands at the center of a global AI revolution.
Pro Tip: Don’t just use these tools — build with them.
Explore integrations, create AI-powered apps, and prepare for when these offers eventually end. Early adopters will have the edge.
Final Thoughts
The AI price war in India is reshaping how millions experience technology. Whether you’re a developer, creator, or business professional, this is the perfect time to dive into AI — while it’s still free.
Best Free AI Tools : ChatGPT Go. Gemini Pro. Perplexity AI. One massive opportunity — for India’s tech ecosystem to lead the world.
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