Google will limit people who use the Gemini app without a paid plan to its Flash-Lite model starting Friday, October 9, and subscribers to its entry-level Google AI Plus plan will lose access to Gemini Pro, according to an updated Google support page.
The notice, titled “Changes to Gemini model access and limits,” covers Gemini Apps on personal Google accounts. The changes take effect for users without an AI subscription on October 9, while AI Plus subscribers “should receive an email that explains when these changes will take effect for you,” Google wrote. Free users can currently choose among Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro, The Verge and Engadget reported.
Once the switch lands, Google’s table lists Flash-Lite as the only model for users without a plan. AI Plus keeps Flash-Lite and Flash. Pro stays with Google AI Pro and AI Ultra. AI Plus costs $4.99 a month, AI Pro $19.99 and AI Ultra $99.99, according to The Verge. Engadget described Flash-Lite as Google’s most cost-effective model.
Google is also adding low, medium and high effort levels for each available model. Higher effort “will increase the model’s ability to complete tasks and provide more thorough answers to queries, but will also use more of your limit,” the notice says. The app now offers Standard and Extended thinking settings, according to Google’s help center, and India Today noted that the new levels bring it closer to the controls in Google AI Studio and Antigravity.
Reports differ on Deep Think, Google’s parallel reasoning option. The Verge reported that it would be limited to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers, and 9to5Google, which reported the support page update on Saturday, said AI Pro would gain the option. Google’s notice, as AI Tech Daily read it Tuesday, ties Deep Think to AI Ultra.
The model cuts follow a May 17 change that moved Gemini Apps to compute-based usage limits, which refresh every five hours up to a weekly cap, according to the same Google page. AI Plus gets twice the standard limit and AI Pro four times. The notice does not give a reason for the October change.
Engadget reported that AI Ultra subscribers will get Gemini 4 Argon when it reaches the general public. Google began rolling out Argon to trusted cyber defenders through its Fairwind Program last week.
The change narrows what Gemini gives away free. Rival OpenAI said Monday it would test image-based ads in ChatGPT, which The Verge said will not appear for subscribers to its Plus, Pro or Enterprise plans.
Sources
- Google Gemini Apps Help: Changes to Gemini model access and limits (accessed October 6, 2026)
- The Verge: Google is about to remove free access to Gemini Flash and Pro (October 6, 2026)
- Engadget: Google removes free access to Gemini Flash and Pro on October 9 (October 6, 2026)
- 9to5Google: Gemini app limiting what models free and AI Plus users can access, AI Pro adding Deep Think (October 3, 2026)
- India Today: Google is changing Gemini AI plans from October 9, here is what it means for you (October 5, 2026)
- Google Gemini Apps Help: Gemini Apps limits and upgrades for Google AI subscribers (accessed October 6, 2026)