Which cloud providers offer free India-region server trials for Step 1?

Beyond Amazon Lightsail (which I used) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), other providers with free tiers or credits and Indian regions include Microsoft Azure (though setup can be more complex) and sometimes specific local Indian hosting providers. Lightsail and GCP are generally the easiest for quick setup.

Why do I need to switch my region from India to the EU (like France) for PayPal?

This workaround is necessary because the system is looking for an Indian payment method but often accepts international methods (like non-Indian PayPal) if the geographic check is bypassed. Switching to an EU country after initially selecting India seems to trigger the PayPal option while keeping the "Go" promotion pricing.

What exactly is the ChatGPT Go plan and what benefits does it offer?

The ChatGPT Go plan is a mid-tier subscription (originally ₹399/month), positioned between the Free and Plus tiers. It includes GPT-5 access, faster response times, higher message limits, increased image generation capacity, file/image uploads, and extended memory for personalized responses.

Do I need an Indian phone number to register for this promotion?

No, based on most reports. While some sources mention needing an Indian phone number for full eligibility, the easiest method (using a new account registration on the web with an Indian IP) usually only requires an email address and a valid payment method (credit card/UPI) to finalize the $0 transaction.

Why does it still ask for a payment method (Card/UPI) if the promotion is free?

OpenAI requires a payment method (Credit Card or UPI) for enrollment purposes and to set up the automatic renewal at the standard Rs 399/month rate after the 12 free months are over. You are not charged during the promotional period (though UPI users might see a refundable ₹1 charge per cycle for verification).

Strategy

November 6, 2025

The Ultimate Guide: Snagging the ChatGPT Go (12-Month Free) India Promotion

Shawn Shen

Founder of Selofy

min read

Claim the ChatGPT Go promotion for 12 months free! Follow this smooth, step-by-step guide on setting up an Indian IP, registering a new account, and using the PayPal region switch trick.

Watch Video Tutorial

If you’ve heard about the limited-time ChatGPT Go promotion offering a free plan for 12 months for India.

I've kept my original, personal voice and tips intact, including the crucial payment step where you jump countries—it sounds complicated, but it's actually super smooth.

Step 1: Set Up Your Indian Network Environment

The first, non-negotiable step is to have an Indian IP address.

I personally used Amazon Lightsail with a Mumbai node, which offers a generous 3-month free tier. Google Cloud (GCP) also works, as they have free credits you can utilize. I simply spun up my own server in an Indian region.

Of course, if you're using other VPN services, just check if they offer an India location IP.

Step 2: Register on ChatGPT via an Incognito Browser

For maximum security and a "silky smooth" experience, I recommend these steps:

Open an Incognito/Private Browser window.
Go to the ChatGPT website.
Register a new account using an email address. This part was super smooth—no credit card or mobile phone verification required! (I still remember the early days of ChatGPT registration where the +86 issue was a massive headache for newcomers.)

Once registered, you should immediately see the prompt encouraging you to upgrade for free.

Step 3: Switch Regions Based on Your Payment Method (Crucial!)

This is the tricky but necessary step if you're using international payment methods like non-Indian credit cards.

chatgpt go 12 month free billing area setting

If you are using PayPal (even non-Indian PayPal works):
- Go to the plan selection interface.
- First, select India, and then immediately switch the country dropdown to any EU country (I chose France as an example).
If you have an international credit card or virtual card:
- You can try proceeding directly with the credit card payment on the India screen. Alternatively, select the country where your credit card is registered and proceed with payment.

I used the Non-Indian PayPal + France switch method as my example.

Step 4: Complete the Payment

Now it's time to finalize the transaction.

Billing Address: I just used a random Indian address for the billing details. Honestly, I think you could probably use a random French or Chinese address too, just to get past the form.
PayPal Redirect: You'll be redirected to PayPal. Here, you need to switch the PayPal regional environment to match the country your PayPal account is registered in (e.g., China/CN, UK/GB).
Final Confirmation: PayPal requires you to have a credit card linked or select an existing one. Just click through the steps and confirm the subscription.

Step 5: Done! Enjoy Your Free Year

Congratulations! You should now have the ChatGPT Go plan activated with 12 months of free access.

⚠️ A Critical Tip You MUST Read

This promotion does NOT renew on a yearly basis. It is a 12-month free period, billed monthly at $0.00.

Under normal circumstances, we usually cancel a subscription immediately after getting a free trial to prevent being charged in the next billing period. DO NOT CLICK CANCEL HERE! If you cancel the subscription, you will lose the free plan next month.

Therefore, please make a note and be absolutely sure to monitor this in 12 months to prevent unwanted charges!

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