Gemini free tier is Flash-Lite only from October 9
The Gemini free tier means using the Gemini app on a personal Google account without a Google AI plan. From October 9, 2026, that tier has one model: Flash-Lite. Google's help page sets out which models each plan keeps after the change.
The app offers three models today: Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro. Google counts Pro among the premium options that use up your allowance faster. For what the newest Flash model does, see Gemini 3.6 Flash Pricing, Benchmarks vs 3.5 Flash.
Free accounts lose Gemini Flash and Pro on October 9
On October 9, free accounts stop seeing Flash and Pro in the model picker. Only Flash-Lite remains. The page is written for personal accounts and does not mention work or school accounts.
Google's US plans page still promises free users "Access to 3.6 Flash" and "Varying access to 3.1 Pro" as of October 7. Those two lines describe the setup that ends on October 9. Google also does not say which Flash-Lite version free users will get.
"Starting in October 2026, there will be changes to model availability for Gemini Apps when you use a personal account."／"These changes will start to take effect for users without an AI subscription on October 9th."— Gemini Apps HelpView official source →
AI Plus loses Pro on a date sent by email
Google AI Plus keeps Flash-Lite and Flash but drops Pro, and the date differs by account. Google has not set one cutoff for Plus. Each subscriber gets an email with their own date, so some Plus users will still see Pro after October 9.
Until that email arrives, Plus works as it does today. After the switch, anyone on Plus who needs Pro has to move up to AI Pro.
"For users with an AI Plus subscription, you should receive an email that explains when these changes will take effect for you."— Gemini Apps HelpView official source →
Gemini plans and pricing after the change
After October 9, Flash starts at $4.99 a month and Pro starts at $19.99 a month. The table pairs Google's US prices with the model access each plan keeps.
Gemini app models by plan after October 9
Prices from Google's US plans page on October 7, 2026. Model access from the Gemini Apps Help table.
| Plan | Price per month | Flash-Lite | Flash | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No plan (free) | $0 | Yes | No | No |
| Google AI Plus | $4.99 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google AI Ultra | From $99.99 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If Flash covers your work, AI Plus is enough. If you rely on Pro, the choice is between AI Pro and Ultra.
Google AI Pro is the cheapest way to keep Gemini 3.1 Pro
At $19.99 a month, Google AI Pro is the lowest-priced plan that still includes Pro after the change. It keeps all three models and gives 4x the free usage limit. AI Plus costs $15 less but gives 2x the free limit and no Pro.
"Get 4x higher usage access than Free"— Google AI plans (US)View official source →
Google AI Ultra differs only in usage limits
Google AI Ultra has the same three models as AI Pro, so what you pay extra for is a larger allowance. The $99.99 tier gives 5x the AI Pro limit, and the $199.99 tier gives 20x. Ultra makes sense only if you keep hitting the AI Pro limit.
"5x higher usage limits vs. AI Pro"／"20x higher usage limits vs. AI Pro"— Google AI plans (US)View official source →
Deep Think stays with Ultra on Google's English help page
Deep Think is the Gemini app mode that runs several lines of reasoning in parallel before answering. Whether AI Pro gets it depends on which Google page you read.
Reports on October 4 and 5 said AI Pro gains Deep Think
Several tech news reports published on October 4 and 5 said AI Pro would gain Deep Think. They described it as a feature moving down from Ultra to the $19.99 plan.
Only the Japanese help page lists AI Pro for Deep Think
As of October 7, the English help page lists Deep Think only for AI Ultra subscribers. Google's US plans page also lists Deep Think only in the Ultra column, "in select countries".
The Japanese edition of the same help page says AI Pro or AI Ultra, and that page carries a notice that it may contain AI-translated text with errors. Until Google's English page names AI Pro, treat Deep Think as an Ultra feature.
"If you have an AI Ultra subscription you’ll also have access to the Deep Think option for maximum parallel reasoning."— Gemini Apps HelpView official source →
Gemini usage limits reset every 5 hours up to a weekly cap
Gemini usage limits are compute-based: they refresh every 5 hours until you reach a weekly cap. Prompt complexity, the features you use and chat length all count toward them. This system started on May 17, 2026, for users over 18 and reached users under 18 on July 24.
The October change adds an effort setting with low, medium and high levels for each model. It does not change how limits are counted.
Paid plans raise usage limits, not just model access
AI Plus gives 2x the standard free limit, AI Pro 4x, and AI Ultra 5x or 20x the AI Pro limit. Some features draw down the allowance faster than plain text prompts:
- Media generation (images, videos and music)
- Deep Research
- The Pro model
- Extended thinking and Deep Think
"Premium models and features require more usage and may cause you to reach your limit faster."— Gemini Apps HelpView official source →
Higher effort burns the free limit faster on Flash-Lite
Raising the effort level gives more thorough answers but uses more of your limit. On the free plan the model stays Flash-Lite at every effort level. High effort does not unlock Flash; it only spends the standard allowance faster.
"This will increase the model’s ability to complete tasks and provide more thorough answers to queries, but will also use more of your limit."— Gemini Apps HelpView official source →
Free users keep Flash-Lite; Flash now needs a plan
From October 9 the Gemini free tier is Flash-Lite only, Flash starts with AI Plus at $4.99 a month, and Pro starts with AI Pro at $19.99. AI Plus subscribers keep Pro until the date in their email.
Google's English help page lists Deep Think for Ultra only, despite reports that AI Pro gets it. To compare Gemini's prices with ChatGPT and Claude before you upgrade, see AI Comparison: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini Pricing.
FAQ
- Is Gemini still free after October 9?
- Yes. Personal accounts without a paid plan can still use the Gemini app, but the only model they can pick is Flash-Lite. Usage stays at the standard free limit.
- When does Google AI Plus lose Gemini Pro?
- Google has not given one date. Each AI Plus subscriber gets an email that says when the change reaches their account. After it does, AI Plus keeps Flash-Lite and Flash.
- Does the change affect the Gemini API or Workspace accounts?
- Google's page only covers the Gemini app on personal accounts. It says nothing about the Gemini API, Google AI Studio or work and school accounts, so it does not tell you whether those change.
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