OpenAI has announced ChatGPT Go, the popular AI chatbot’s cheaper subscription tier that offers a handful of benefits over the free tier. At the same time, however, the Sam Altman-led company will begin testing ads in ChatGPT for both mobile and web users (in the coming weeks).
Initially, OpenAI launched its cheaper ChatGPT Go subscription in India (last year). However, as of January 16, 2026, it is available worldwide, including in the US, where it costs $8 per month. For the price, the subscription offers 10x more messaging, file uploads, and image creation than the free version.
Higher conversation and image generation limits for $8 per month
More importantly, it provides access to the latest GPT 5.2 model, which provides improved reasoning, stronger adherence to facts, faster responses, and safer responses. Last but not least, the latest version of ChatGPT also has larger memory for more context.
ChatGPT Go ($8 per month) falls below the Plus ($20 per month) and Pro ($200 per month) subscription tiers, which are primarily aimed at data analysts, researchers, scientists, or other professionals. Basically, ChatGPT Go is a low-cost upgrade with higher usage limits and more creative control.
Interestingly, OpenAI has offered ChatGPT Go free for 12 months to eligible Indian users as part of a limited time promotional offer. Even otherwise, the subscription tier costs a little less than $5 when converted from Indian currency.
Elsewhere, OpenAI will soon begin testing “Free Tier Ads and ChatGPT Go” for users in the United States. The more expensive tiers will remain ad-free, at least for the foreseeable future. Honestly, this was bound to happen sooner or later; Advertisements could provide the company with a significant source of revenue.
To begin, the platform tests “end-of-reply ads in ChatGPT,” particularly when there is a relevant sponsored product or service based on the user’s current conversation. OpenAI clarifies that the ads will be labeled and separated from the organic responses.
Most importantly, we were promised that our conversations with ChatGPT would not be shared with advertisers and that ads would not influence the chatbot’s responses. Consider this a soft launch of advertising in one of the most popular chatbots in the world.
This seems a bit counterintuitive at first, as the purpose of such chatbots is primarily to have a focused conversation without the distraction of advertising. In any case, users over 18 should start seeing ads in the US soon.
