OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Go Plan to New Asian Markets

OpenAI is actively expanding its ChatGPT Go plan, a budget-friendly subscription priced under $5, to 16 more countries across Asia. This includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam. Notably, users in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan can now pay in their local currencies, while others will continue to pay in USD, subject to local taxes.

The ChatGPT Go plan provides increased daily limits for messages, image generation, as well as file uploads, and offers twice the memory of the free plan, allowing for more personalized interactions. This expansion aligns with OpenAI’s observation of a significant increase in its Southeast Asian user base, which has grown up to four times recently.

OpenAI’s move is part of a strategic effort to improve its competitive edge against rivals like Google, which has also introduced a comparable AI chatbot plan. At the recent DevDay 2025 conference, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT has now achieved 800 million weekly active users globally, reflecting substantial growth since August.

Furthermore, the company is advancing its platform by introducing apps within ChatGPT, transforming the chatbot into a versatile ecosystem similar to an app store, with partners including Spotify, Zillow, and Coursera. This development aims to evolve ChatGPT into a more comprehensive operating system where users can access various applications tailored to different needs.

Despite facing a $7.8 billion operating loss in the first half of 2025 due to significant investments in AI infrastructure, OpenAI views its affordable subscription options like ChatGPT Go as crucial steps towards profitability. This approach is particularly focused on maximizing its presence in high-growth Asian markets, where competition with Google is intensifying.