The model availability details are from Google’s own support page. The prices and other details attributed to 9to5Google are that outlet’s reporting, not Google’s page. This publication verified none of it independently.
Google’s own support page says that from 9 October 2026 Gemini app users without an AI subscription will be limited to the Flash-Lite model, AI Plus subscribers to Flash-Lite and Flash, and only AI Pro and AI Ultra to Pro as well. This publication read that page, labels the prices and other details from 9to5Google as that outlet’s own reporting, and verified none of it independently.
Google’s support page “Changes to Gemini model access and limits” says that starting in October 2026 there will be changes to model availability for Gemini Apps when you use a personal account. It says the changes start to take effect on 9 October for users without an AI subscription, and that AI Plus subscribers should receive an email explaining when the changes reach them.
The page’s table shows which of three models each plan can use. Without a plan, only Flash-Lite is available. AI Plus gets Flash-Lite and Flash. AI Pro and AI Ultra get Flash-Lite, Flash and Pro.
This publication’s own arithmetic: that is 9 available cells out of 12 across four plans and three models, with 1 of 3 for users without a plan and 2 of 3 for AI Plus.
Google’s support page table, counted by this publication: users without a plan can use 1 of the 3 models, AI Plus 2 of 3, AI Pro and AI Ultra all 3, once the changes take effect from 9 October 2026.
Effort Levels and Deep Think
The page says that for each available model you can also select an effort level of low, medium or high, which “will increase the model’s ability to complete tasks and provide more thorough answers to queries, but will also use more of your limit.”
It says AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers also get the Deep Think option for maximum parallel reasoning. It does not say here which plans have Deep Think today.
The Usage Limits Behind It
The page’s “previous changes” section says that starting 17 May 2026 Gemini moved to compute-based usage limits that refresh every 5 hours until a weekly limit is reached, with usage calculated from prompt complexity, features used and chat length.
It lists the multipliers: users without a plan get standard limits, AI Plus 2x higher than standard, AI Pro 4x higher than standard, and AI Ultra 5x or 20x higher than AI Pro depending on the subscription. It says premium models and features such as media generation, Deep Research, the Pro model, extended thinking and Deep Think use more of a limit.
What 9to5Google Adds
9to5Google, reporting on 3 October, says users who do not pay for Gemini will no longer be able to reach Flash or Pro, and that AI Plus costs $4.99 a month and AI Pro $19.99 a month. It says Deep Think is currently only on the $99.99 and $199.99 a month plans.
Those prices, the claim about what free users can use today and the model version labels in its article do not appear on Google’s page as this publication read it. 9to5Google also says it is not clear where Gemini 4 Argon fits.
What Is Not Established
Google’s page gives no date for AI Plus users, no prices, no description of what the free tier had before 9 October, and no usage numbers. This publication did not seek a response from Google and did not test the app.
Everything above is Google’s own published page, with 9to5Google’s additions labelled as its own reporting. None of it was independently verified. Nothing in this piece is investment advice.
This piece draws on Google’s support page “Changes to Gemini model access and limits” and on 9to5Google’s report of 3 October 2026. The prices and other details attributed to 9to5Google are that outlet’s own reporting. This publication verified none of it independently and did not seek a response from Google.The 9-of-12 count is this publication’s own arithmetic. Nothing above predicts anything, and nothing here is investment advice.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
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