Using Gemini for Free? Read This Before October 9

Just came across this and felt I had to share it, because so many people use Gemini every day without paying for it.

From October 9, Google is changing which models you can use in the Gemini app

If you're on the free version, you'll only get 3.5 Flash-Lite. Flash and Pro won't be available anymore.

I read about it on 9to5Google, which spotted the change in an updated Google support page. It comes after the compute-based usage limits Google introduced in May.

Here's the simple breakdown:

• No plan: Flash-Lite only
• AI Plus ($4.99/mo): Flash-Lite + Flash, no more Pro
• AI Pro ($19.99/mo): Flash-Lite, Flash, Pro + Deep Think
• AI Ultra: no change

In short, the free tier will still handle everyday tasks. But for deeper reasoning or complex work, you'll now need a paid plan.

If you're on AI Plus, Google says you'll get an email explaining when the change applies to you.

There's some good news too. Deep Think, Google's most intensive reasoning mode, was only on the $99.99 and $199.99 plans. Now AI Pro users at $19.99 get it as well.

Google also looks set to add low, medium and high effort levels for each model this month. Higher effort should give more thorough answers, but it uses up your limit faster.

Honestly, my first reaction was: free AI is getting thinner. It's not disappearing, but the best models are moving behind a paywall, and that makes sense given how much compute they need.

If you rely on free Gemini, here's what I'd do:

1. Before Oct 9, try your usual tasks on Flash-Lite. Emails, notes, summaries, quick research. See what still works and what doesn't. It won't take more than half an hour.
2. Write down the tasks that really need a stronger model. That list will tell you whether paying is worth it for you.
3. Keep an eye on the new effort settings. Choosing how hard the model "thinks" will soon matter almost as much as choosing the model.

My personal take: putting Deep Think in the $19.99 plan is a smart move by Google to pull serious users toward Pro.

One thing to keep in mind: the prices above are US prices as reported. Plans and pricing can be different in India and other countries, so check what applies to you.

Sharing this so nobody gets caught off guard mid-task once Oct 9 comes around. If it helps someone in your network, feel free to pass it on.

Are you using free Gemini or a paid plan right now?