Google to Restrict Gemini Model Access for Free and AI Plus Users Starting October
Google will limit free and AI Plus subscribers to lower-tier Gemini models from October 9, while higher-paid plans retain access to advanced features.
Google announced that, beginning Oct. 9, users of the Gemini app who do not have a paid Google AI subscription will be restricted to the Flash-Lite (3.5) model. Free users will lose access to the Flash (3.6) and Pro (3.1) versions. AI Plus members, who pay $4.99 per month, will retain Flash-Lite and Flash but will no longer be able to use the Pro model; they will receive an email detailing the change.
The higher-priced AI Pro ($19.99/month) and AI Ultra ($99.99 and $199.99/month) tiers will not be affected. AI Ultra subscribers will gain the Deep Think option for “maximum parallel reasoning,” previously limited to the top-tier plans.
Google also plans to introduce “low,” “medium,” and “high” effort levels for each available model in the Gemini app, mirroring settings in Google AI Studio and Antigravity. These levels will allow more thorough responses but will consume more of a user’s usage limit.
The company has hinted that the upcoming Gemini 4 Argon model will initially be available to AI Ultra users, though it has not clarified whether Argon will be classified as a Pro model or placed in a new tier.