Gemini

Gemini is Google’s AI assistant and model family. You can use it in the Gemini app and website, inside Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive, and through the Gemini API for developers. It accepts text, images, audio and video.

Quick facts

• Made by: Google
• Free plan: Yes, with daily usage limits
• Paid plans: Google AI Plus, AI Pro and two AI Ultra tiers, plus Workspace plans for organisations
• Works on: Web, iOS, Android, with an API for developers
• Pricing last checked: October 2026, using several recent published sources. Prices and tiers vary by country, so confirm on Google’s official plans page.

What Gemini is best at

• Working inside Google apps: help in Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive for people already on Google Workspace.
• Research: Deep Research reports that gather and summarise sources.
• Long and mixed inputs: analysing long documents, images, audio and video.
• Creative media: image and video generation on supported plans.
• Learning and notes: Google’s source-grounded notebook tool, NotebookLM (reported to have been renamed Gemini Notebook in July 2026), sits alongside the Gemini app and shares its Google AI plans.

Plans and pricing

At Google I/O in May 2026, Google cut the former $249.99 Ultra price and split it into $100 and $200 tiers. Google also moved to usage limits based on compute that refresh roughly every five hours rather than fixed daily prompt counts. Workspace plans that include Gemini are priced per user. Confirm all figures on Google’s official page.

Best for

• People and teams who already live in Gmail, Docs and Drive.
• Researchers who want source-gathering reports.
• Users who want one subscription that bundles AI, storage and media perks.

Less suited to

• Anyone who wants fixed, predictable usage limits, since limits are usage-based.
• Users who need to be sure of a price, as regional pricing and plan names change.

How to get started

1. Sign in to the Gemini app or website with a Google account.
2. Try a real task, such as summarising a long document or planning a project.
3. If you use Google Workspace, check whether Gemini features are already included in your plan.
4. Review privacy and activity settings before sharing sensitive information.
5. Upgrade to AI Pro if you need higher limits, Deep Research or video tools.

Prompt ideas to copy

Research [topic] for me. Give a short summary first, then the key findings with the sources you used, and note where sources disagree.

Read the attached document and give me a one-page briefing: purpose, key points, risks and recommended next steps.

Help me plan [project]. Break it into phases with owners, deadlines and the main risks for each phase.

Limitations and things to watch

• Answers can be wrong or out of date, so check important facts.
• Plan names, prices and limits change often and differ by country.
• Features such as agents and some creative tools are limited to higher tiers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gemini free?

Yes. Gemini has a Free plan with daily usage limits and a small number of Deep Research reports per month.

How much does Google AI Pro cost?

Google AI Pro was $19.99 per month when we last checked in October 2026. Prices and tiers vary by country, so confirm on Google’s official plans page.

Does Gemini work inside Gmail and Google Docs?

Yes. Gemini can help inside Google Workspace apps such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive. Check whether it is already included in your Workspace plan.

Can Gemini handle images, audio and video?

Yes. It accepts text, images, audio and video, and can generate images and video on supported plans.

Why do Gemini’s usage limits change?

Google moved to usage limits based on compute that refresh roughly every five hours, rather than fixed daily prompt counts. Plan names, prices and limits change often.

Alternatives

Compare ChatGPT and Claude. For research with cited answers, see Perplexity, and for questions about your own documents, NotebookLM.