Google limits free and AI Plus access to some Gemini models

Google will soon add limits to which Gemini models free and AI Plus members are able to access.

As spotted by 9to5Google, the tech giant has updated its support page to mention these new limitations. Starting Oct. 9, free Gemini users will only be able to use Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, while AI Plus subscribers will be limited to Flash-Lite and Flash (newer models like Pro not included).

Naturally, those who pay for the more premium Gemini AI Pro or Ultra subscriptions won’t have these restrictions. Additionally, Google says Gemini users will be able to choose between low, medium and high-effort options for models.

Unfortunately for people on the cheaper AI Plus plan, these changes mean reduced access to some Gemini features, though the distinctions remain muddy thanks to Google’s use of meaningless terms. For example, the company’s feature breakdown notes that AI Plus subscribers get “more” access to capable models, while AI Pro and AI Ultra get “higher” and “highest” access, respectively.

Check out the Google support doc for a full breakdown of all the changes.