AIBRIEF
On October 9, free users lose Gemini Flash (Google's mid tier model) and Pro (the most capable), leaving only Flash Lite (the smallest, fastest) on the free tier.
On October 9, Google stops offering Gemini Flash and Pro to anyone on a free account, leaving only Flash-Lite (Google's smallest, fastest Gemini model) available without payment, per Google's statement on the r/GeminiAI thread and Engadget's re-report.
The new ladder is $0 free, $5 Google AI Plus, $20 Google AI Pro, and $100+ Google AI Ultra. AI Plus at $5 loses Gemini 3.1 Pro in the same change, so the $5 plan is no longer the cheap way to get Pro. Pro and Ultra keep Flash, Flash-Lite, and Pro; Ultra adds Deep Think and the new Gemini 4 Argon flagship. The tier table is reflected on Google's Gemini support page, with Android Headlines and Notebookcheck matching the same lineup.
Every model now ships with a low / medium / high "effort level" dial that trades thoroughness and response length against usage limits. Higher settings eat quota faster, so a free user leaning on heavier reasoning may hit limits sooner than the tier name suggests. Google's help docs describe the control qualitatively; the exact budget mechanics are not yet published.
For a free user, coding help and long document digestion now need Pro at $20; quick study questions and image queries still fit free. The $5 plan is the new weak spot for anyone who actually relied on Pro. Gemini 4 Argon remains gated to Google's Fairwind Program — a closed track for governments and trusted partners — and will roll out to AI Ultra subscribers first.