OpenAI is bringing its budget-friendly ChatGPT Go subscription to 16 additional countries across Asia, making GPT-5 access more affordable for potentially millions in the region. The expansion was announced following strong growth in Southeast Asia, where weekly active users jumped fourfold since the initial launch.
ChatGPT Go is now available in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam. This follows earlier rollouts in India and Indonesia, where paid subscriptions doubled after launch. For users in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan, OpenAI offers local currency billing to make signup easier.
The plan costs under $5 monthly and delivers access to GPT-5, OpenAI’s latest model. Subscribers get higher daily limits for messages, image generation, and file uploads compared to the free tier. Additionally, ChatGPT Go offers twice the memory context, which helps the AI maintain continuity across conversations and provide more personalized responses. Users also gain access to advanced data analysis and image-based queries, features previously reserved for higher-priced plans.
ChatGPT vs. Google AI Plus
OpenAI isn’t alone in the budget AI race. Google launched its similarly priced AI Plus plan in September, expanding to over 40 countries. While both plans cost around $4-5 monthly, they target different user needs. ChatGPT Go focuses on chat capabilities, creative tools, and file analysis. Meanwhile, Google AI Plus integrates deeply with Workspace apps like Gmail and Docs, includes 200GB of cloud storage, and supports family sharing for up to five people.
For users embedded in Google’s ecosystem, AI Plus might feel like the natural choice. However, ChatGPT Go appeals to those prioritizing conversational AI, data analysis, and broader file support. The competition benefits everyone, pushing both companies to improve features while keeping prices accessible. With ChatGPT reaching 800 million weekly active users globally, the battle for Asia’s next billion AI users is heating up.