Google just brought its premium AI plus subscription to India. Google AI Plus, previously called Google One AI Premium, is now available for Indian users who want access to the company's most advanced AI features.

The subscription costs ₹199 per month. That's not pocket change, but it unlocks Gemini Advanced, Google's most powerful AI model.

What makes it different from free Gemini?

Free Gemini works fine for basic queries. But Gemini Advanced, available only through AI Plus, handles more complex tasks. It can process longer conversations, understand nuanced context better, and tackle coding problems more effectively.

The model also integrates deeply across Google's ecosystem. You get AI assistance directly in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Not as a separate tool, but embedded where you already work.

For example, Gemini can draft emails based on brief instructions, summarise lengthy documents, analyse data in spreadsheets, or help create presentation content. It's designed to save time on repetitive tasks.

The 200GB storage sweetener

AI Plus isn't just about Gemini Advanced. The subscription includes 200GB of Google One storage. That's substantial space for photos, videos, documents, and backups across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

For context, the standard 200GB Google One plan alone costs nothing. So you're essentially paying ₹200 monthly for Gemini Advanced access.

Whether that's worth it depends entirely on how much you'd actually use the AI features.

Who should consider this?

Professionals who spend hours writing emails, creating documents, or analysing data might find genuine value. Students working on research projects or complex assignments could benefit from the advanced reasoning capabilities.

Developers already get significant utility from AI coding assistants. Gemini Advanced can help debug code, explain complex functions, and suggest optimisations.

But casual users who occasionally ask an AI simple questions? The free version probably suffices.

The ChatGPT comparison

OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus costs $20 monthly, roughly ₹1900. Google's offering is slightly very affordable but includes the storage bonus and native integration across Google's products.

ChatGPT still has name recognition and a massive user base. But Google's integration advantage matters. If you already live inside Gmail and Google Docs, having AI natively embedded feels more seamless than switching between apps.

Google AI Plus is here, it works, and the pricing is relatively competitive. But India's market is price sensitive. Whether enough users will pay ₹199 monthly for AI features remains the big unknown Google needs to answer.