Free Gemini drops to Flash-Lite on 9 October

Free Gemini users lose the Flash and Pro models this week, while Google's Singapore sales page still sells AI Plus with Pro. A Gemini Apps Help page says personal accounts without an AI plan will be limited to Flash-Lite from 9 October 2026.

AI Plus subscribers keep Flash-Lite and Flash but lose Pro. Google says they "should receive an email" explaining when the change takes effect for them.

The Verge reported on 6 October that free users can currently choose Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro.

Which plan gets which model

The help page table sets model access after the change.

  • Without a plan: Flash-Lite only
  • AI Plus: Flash-Lite and Flash
  • AI Pro: Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro
  • AI Ultra: Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro, plus the Deep Think option

Every plan can still set each model's effort to low, medium or high. Google warns that higher effort "will also use more of your limit."

Google's plans page names Gemini 3.1 Pro, which reached the Gemini app in preview in February. See Google ships Gemini 3.1 Pro in preview across app, Vertex, and Copilot.

Keeping Pro costs four times the Plus price

In Singapore, Google's plans page lists AI Plus at S$6.98 a month and AI Pro at S$28.99. For an AI Plus subscriber, keeping Pro means moving to a plan that costs about 4.2 times as much. The Verge gives US prices of $4.99 for AI Plus and $19.99 for AI Pro.

The cut lands on top of compute-based usage limits Google introduced on 17 May. Those limits refresh every five hours until a weekly cap. The help page says premium features, including the Pro model and extended thinking, may make users reach the limit faster.

Paid plans buy more of that limit. AI Plus gets twice the standard limits and AI Pro four times, the help page says.

OpenAI says it will test a new ad format inside ChatGPT image generation later this month. See OpenAI will test a visual ad format in ChatGPT image generation later this month in the US.

The sales page still sells Plus with Pro

  • At 03:13 SGT on 7 October, the Singapore plans page still listed AI Plus with "More access to Gemini 3.1 Pro and Deep Research in Gemini."
  • The help page gives AI Ultra the Deep Think option. The Verge reported that Pro and Deep Think will be restricted to AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.
  • Google gives no date for AI Plus. Its help page only promises an email.
  • The help page does not name the model versions behind Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro after the change.
  • The page covers personal accounts. It does not describe Workspace business accounts.

Plus buyers should wait for the email

  • Free users who rely on Flash or Pro should finish or copy that work before 9 October.
  • Anyone buying AI Plus for Pro access should hold off. Google's help page says Plus loses Pro, whatever the sales page says.
  • AI Plus subscribers should look for Google's email with their date and check whether Flash at twice the free limit covers their use.
  • Teams that need Pro on personal accounts should budget for AI Pro, at S$28.99 a month in Singapore.