GOOGLE has restructured its consumer AI tiers, limiting access to higher‑end Pro models for AI Plus subscribers. Under the new framework, free-tier users stay on the lightweight Gemini Flash‑Lite model, while more capable reasoning architectures require a paid plan. From 13 November 2026, AI Plus subscribers will no longer be able to access Pro series models within the Gemini app or Google Search AI mode, though historical Pro conversations can be kept. To continue generating replies, users will need to switch the active engine to a standard model.
The rollout unfolds in phases across account tiers. Google previously outlined a timeline via the Help Centre, with free accounts moving to an automatic model selector on 9 October and paid tiers receiving personalised advisories about their model quotas. There is a notable price gap between Plus and Pro in the United States: AI Plus remains at $4.99 per month, while AI Pro is $19.99 per month.
Casual users are advised that they can stay on the Plus tier and still benefit from several productivity features, including 400GB of cloud storage, Gemini Notebook access, and native workspace integrations. The article notes that these changes were communicated to subscribers via batch emails and discussed in user forums.