Anthropic Localizes Claude Pricing for India, Its Second-Largest Market After the US
Anthropic has started adapting its pricing model to suit Indian users, a crucial step in expanding its presence in the country. This move comes as global AI companies increasingly tailor their offerings to win over users in India’s vast market.
In recent days, some users in India have begun seeing local prices on Claude’s website and mobile apps. However, it appears that payments via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a widely used instant payment network in India, are not yet enabled. Users still need to pay by card or through Apple’s and Google’s app store billing systems.
The introduction of rupee-denominated subscriptions is significant for Indian users, who have long sought this option due to the added friction caused by dollar pricing and currency conversion. This change is particularly notable given that India accounts for 5.8% of global Claude usage, making it the service’s second-largest market after the US.
Anthropic has listed various plans on its website in India, including Claude Pro at ₹2,000 (about $21) a month when billed annually, compared to $17 a month in the US. The prices for other plans, such as Claude Max and Team, also vary significantly from those offered in the US.
The Indian rupee pricing includes local taxes, which may affect the overall cost for users. Interestingly, prices on Claude’s mobile apps differ slightly from those listed on its website.
Anthropic has been expanding its focus on India, with significant developments over the past few months. In February, it opened an office in Bengaluru after announcing plans to do so in October. The company also appointed Irina Ghose, former Microsoft India managing director, as head of its business in the country in January.
Anthropic has partnered with Indian IT services giants Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services in recent months as part of its efforts to scale enterprise AI deployments. However, this expansion faced a setback when Anthropic abruptly suspended access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for non-US entities in June, prompting some developers and startup founders to consider alternatives.
The restriction on Fable 5 has since been lifted, but access to Mythos 5 remains limited. This incident highlights the challenges AI companies face when expanding into new markets, particularly in a price-sensitive market like India where converting widespread usage into paid subscriptions can be difficult.