Google is changing which AI models people can use in the personal Gemini app, tying them to the Google AI plan each user holds. Users without a plan will be limited to the lightweight "Flash-Lite" model from October 9. The higher-tier models they could previously choose from will require a paid subscription.
Free users get Flash-Lite only
The change applies to the Gemini app on personal Google accounts. For users without a Google AI plan, it takes effect on October 9, 2026, and Flash-Lite becomes the only selectable model. Flash and Pro will no longer be available on the free tier.
Which models each plan can use
After the change, available models are split by plan as follows.
| Plan | Monthly price | Available models |
|---|---|---|
| No plan (free) | 0 yen | Flash-Lite |
| AI Plus | 725 yen | Flash-Lite, Flash |
| AI Pro | 2,900 yen | Flash-Lite, Flash, Pro |
| AI Ultra | from 14,500 yen | Flash-Lite, Flash, Pro |
AI Plus subscribers will be told by email when the change applies to them, so they will not all switch on October 9 as free users will.
Effort levels and Deep Think
For each available model, users can choose an effort level of Low, Medium, or High. Raising the effort improves processing power and the level of detail in answers, but it also uses up the usage limit faster. AI Pro and AI Ultra users can also select Deep Think, which makes maximum use of parallel reasoning.
Usage limits changed back in May
Since May 17, the Gemini app has used a different usage-limit system for users aged 18 and over. It now combines a compute-based limit that resets every five hours with a weekly limit. Usage varies with prompt complexity, the features used, and chat length.
The baseline is the no-plan tier, with AI Plus at 2 times, AI Pro at 4 times, and AI Ultra at either 5 or 20 times the AI Pro allowance depending on the contract. Heavy tasks such as media generation, Deep Research, the Pro model, extended thinking, and Deep Think can hit the limit sooner than usual.
Summary
From October 9, the free Gemini tier is limited to Flash-Lite, so anyone who wants Flash or Pro will need a paid plan. The structure is tiered: AI Plus at 725 yen a month reaches Flash, and Pro requires AI Pro or above. People who currently use Gemini's higher-tier models for free should check whether Flash-Lite covers their needs before the switch.
