Google To End Free Gemini Flash And Pro Access October 9
Free Gemini users will be limited to Flash Lite, while Google AI Plus subscribers will also lose access to Pro.
Google will remove access to its Gemini Flash and Pro models from free accounts on October 9, leaving Flash Lite as the only model available without a subscription, according to The Verge and Engadget. The change also affects paying customers: subscribers to Google AI Plus will lose access to Pro.
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How Gemini access is changing
Free users can currently choose among Flash Lite, Flash and Pro. After October 9, their Gemini requests will use Flash Lite, Engadget reports. Access to the standard Flash model will require a Google AI Plus subscription, according to The Verge.
The Verge lists AI Plus at $4.99 a month, while Engadget describes it as $5 a month in the US. The Verge says Google plans to email AI Plus subscribers to tell them when their Pro access will end. Engadget identifies the model being removed from that tier as Gemini 3.1 Pro.
Pro access and effort settings
Users who want continued access to Pro will need a higher-priced plan. The Verge says Google AI Pro costs $19.99 a month and AI Ultra costs $99.99 a month; Engadget rounds those prices to $20 and at least $100, respectively. Engadget says Ultra comes with higher usage limits.
The reports differ on access to Deep Think, an advanced reasoning option. The Verge says it will be available with either AI Pro or Ultra, while Engadget says Ultra subscribers will get access to it.
Google is also adding low, medium and high “effort level” settings for each model, both outlets report. Higher settings are intended to produce more thorough responses but can use up a subscriber’s Gemini limit faster.
What it means for coding and study tasks
The change may matter to people who use Gemini for technical work or learning. Engadget says Pro is designed for advanced reasoning and complex tasks, and cites Google’s description of its strengths in math, coding and handling text, files, images and videos. Someone relying on those capabilities through a free account or AI Plus may need a higher-priced subscription to keep using Pro.
Neither report gives subscription prices for Israel or describes a separate timetable there. The reported change is to which Gemini models each plan can access, rather than an end to free use of Gemini altogether.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.