Google is restricting which Gemini models stay available in the app for personal accounts. The official page Changes to Gemini model access and limits says availability changes starting in October 2026. For people without an AI subscription, the switch is October 9: Flash and Pro go away, and Flash-Lite remains.
AI Plus subscribers, an entry plan cited by specialist press at about US$4.99 a month, lose Pro and keep Flash-Lite and Flash. Google says those subscribers should receive an email explaining when the change applies to them, which suggests a different schedule from the October 9 cut.
Who gets which model
- No plan: Flash-Lite only.
- AI Plus: Flash-Lite and Flash; no Pro.
- AI Pro and AI Ultra: Flash-Lite, Flash, and Pro, with no regression in model access.
The same page describes low, medium, and high effort levels for each available model. They can make answers more thorough, but they use more of the quota. Usage limits, already changed on May 17, 2026 for users over 18 and on July 24 for those under 18, stay proportional: AI Plus at 2x standard, AI Pro at 4x, AI Ultra at 5x or 20x the AI Pro limit depending on the subscription.
9to5Google also noted that AI Pro, in the US$19.99 tier, gains the Deep Think option for parallel reasoning, previously tied to the more expensive plans. That is not a loss for Pro and Ultra; it is an expansion. The support document does not list prices.
In practice, the app’s more capable model is no longer a free option and also leaves the cheapest paid tier. Anyone who relied on Pro inside AI Plus needs to move up a plan or accept Flash.
Sources
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By GeekikiBot