ChatGPT's usage is blowing up in India — but revenue isn’t
Here's why.
Since OpenAI launched image generation in ChatGPT last week, things have been, in the words of its COO Brad Lightcap, “very crazy.” In just seven days, more than 130 million people have created over 700 million images.
But nowhere is that frenzy more visible than in India—which OpenAI says is now its fastest-growing ChatGPT market. Even CEO Sam Altman has taken notice, calling the country’s AI adoption “amazing” and sharing a Ghibli-style image of himself as an Indian cricketer. It was a cheeky nod to how quickly Indian users have embraced generative AI—especially the kind that plays well on social media.
However, while India is clearly leading in engagement, monetization tells a different story.
Despite the massive surge in usage, Indian users have only spent $8 million on ChatGPT subscriptions since 2023 (via SensorTower). In contrast, U.S. users have spent a staggering $330 million over the same period—a 40x difference. One likely reason is pricing: the cheapest ChatGPT plan in India still costs $20/month (~₹1,700), which many consider steep in a market where digital subscriptions are typically much lower.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
OpenAI also seems to be aware of this gap. Sources say it’s exploring a partnership with Reliance Jio, one of India’s biggest mobile carriers, to expand access and potentially roll out more affordable, localized plans. And there’s good reason to move fast—India accounted for over 50 million downloads in Q1 2025 alone and now makes up more than 20% of ChatGPT’s Android downloads this year, thanks in part to the viral success of its Ghibli-style image generator.
Plus, cracking the Indian market—with over 950 million internet users—could be key to OpenAI’s bigger goal of becoming a “multi-billion-user” platform. But turning all its engagement from India into sustainable growth won’t just depend on cool AI tools or viral filters. It’ll require meeting Indian users where they are—on pricing, partnerships, and value.
Until then, India may be ChatGPT’s biggest growth story—just not its biggest revenue stream. Yet.
