Gemini app limiting what models free & AI Plus users can access, AI Pro adding Deep Think
9to5google.com Oct 3, 2026

Gemini app limiting what models free & AI Plus users can access, AI Pro adding Deep Think

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Google announced that, beginning October 9, the Gemini app will restrict model access for non‑subscribing users. Free users will be limited to the Flash‑Lite (3.5) model, losing access to Flash (3.6) and Pro (3.1). AI Plus subscribers ($4.99/month) will retain Flash‑Lite and Flash but also lose Pro. In contrast, AI Pro ($19.99/month) and AI Ultra ($99.99–$199.99/month) retain all existing models, and the higher‑tier plans will gain the new Deep Think capability, described as “maximum parallel reasoning.” The app will also introduce “low,” “medium,” and “high” effort levels for each model, mirroring options in Google AI Studio and Antigravity, to let users trade response depth for higher usage limits. The changes follow a May shift to compute‑based usage limits.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · By tiering model access, Google pushes casual users toward paid plans while giving premium subscribers advanced reasoning tools, reshaping how consumers engage with its AI ecosystem.