OpenAI and Google are intensifying their competition in the budget-friendly artificial intelligence subscription market, with new offerings designed to attract a wider global user base.
OpenAI recently rolled out “ChatGPT Go” in a key Southeast Asian market, priced at approximately $7.10 per month. This new tier offers enhanced access to GPT-5, expanded image creation capabilities, and increased capacity for file analysis.
Subscribers also gain more frequent use of Python for data tasks, improved conversational memory, and access to organizational tools like Projects, Tasks, and Custom GPTs. OpenAI noted that service features may adjust to ensure system stability.
Google countered with its “Gemini Plus” package, which launches at an introductory rate of roughly $2.60 per month for the first six months, then increasing to about $5.18 monthly. This offering includes expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, compared to the free version’s 2.5 Flash.
Gemini Plus also features tools for email drafting, document summarization, and limited deep research capabilities. It offers limited video creation through Veo 3 Fast, providing 200 credits per month, alongside developer-focused tools like Gemini Code Assist and Gemini CLI.
A significant bonus for Gemini Plus subscribers is a 200 GB allocation of Google One storage, covering Google Drive, Photos, and Gmail.
These budget-conscious plans sit below their more premium counterparts. ChatGPT Go provides fewer usage allowances and file support compared to ChatGPT Plus, and lacks the unlimited features and advanced research models of ChatGPT Pro.
Similarly, Gemini Plus offers a more restricted experience than Google AI Pro, which provides full Gemini Advanced access and 2 TB of Google One storage. The top-tier Google AI Ultra delivers unlimited deep thinking, full Veo 3 video creation, and 30 TB of Google One storage, plus YouTube Premium.
The introduction of these more affordable AI subscriptions signals a strategic effort by both tech giants to broaden AI adoption beyond power users, making advanced AI tools more accessible to everyday consumers and professionals.