For several years, U.S.-based technology companies have leveraged India’s vast and expanding internet user base to drive growth. OpenAI is also following this trend. However, while the AI lab claims that India is one of its fastest-growing markets for ChatGPT, data from third-party sources suggests that OpenAI may be facing challenges in converting this growth into revenue.

According to analytics firm SensorTower, Indian users have spent approximately $8 million on ChatGPT subscriptions through in-app purchases since 2023, which does not account for purchases made via the ChatGPT web app. In comparison, SensorTower estimates that U.S. users have spent around $330 million on ChatGPT in-app subscriptions.

One possible factor contributing to this disparity is the lack of localized pricing for India. OpenAI’s most affordable ChatGPT plan in the country costs $20 (over ₹1,700) per month, which is considered expensive for a digital subscription in the Indian market.

When contacted, OpenAI did not provide specific details about its growth in India but referred to a recent post on X by COO Brad Lightcap, which states that India is ChatGPT’s fastest-growing market.

Although the current revenue may be low, India could still become a significant driver of growth for OpenAI. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, has expressed a desire for OpenAI to become a multi-billion-user platform. Tapping into India’s over 950 million internet users could help achieve this goal.

OpenAI appears to be exploring this opportunity, as the company is reportedly seeking an alliance with Reliance Jio, one of India’s largest mobile carriers, to increase ChatGPT’s user base.

In the meantime, ChatGPT continues to grow organically in India.

Data from app tracker Appfigures shows that over 20% of ChatGPT Android app downloads this year have come from India. The recently released revamped image generator in ChatGPT, which has gone viral for its ability to create realistic Ghibli-style art, has contributed to this growth.

For perspective, ChatGPT has more than 500 million weekly users globally.