Is Google Gemini free? Yes and no. While Google AI, also known as Gemini, offers paid plans, many of its widely used features can be accessed without charge.

As one of the largest technology firms worldwide, Google holds a significant edge over its AI competitors: it possesses the financial resources to sustain the technology while it seeks to monetize it. Furthermore, Google enjoys unmatched access to a crucial AI asset — data.

“The data is their biggest immediate powerhouse,” remarked AI researcher and consultant Jack Teitel in an email to Mashable. “Rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI have excellent talent and can raise considerable capital, plus they benefit from being first to market, which helps in capturing a ‘piece of the pie.’ But with YouTube and Google at their disposal, Google has access to an unparalleled repository of data that they are certainly utilizing to train models.”

What do these advantages result in? Google Gemini provides a wealth of advanced AI features at no cost, and although this could evolve as Google explores ways to monetize its AI investment, for the time being, a variety of impressive AI features are available to you for free without needing to subscribe to Google AI Pro ($19.99 a month) or Google AI Ultra ($249.99 a month).

That being said, figuring out which Gemini features are complimentary and which require payment can be perplexing. Certain features, such as the innovative Google Veo 3 AI video generator, are not accessible to free users. Across the web, the Gemini app, and Android OS 16, here’s a rundown of activities you can engage in for free using Google Gemini.

Create images

Gemini can produce images from text prompts with a free account, setting it apart from many other AI platforms. All you need to do is describe the visual you wish to see, and Gemini will generate it for you utilizing the Imagen 4 model, Google’s latest image generation innovation. Although when we compared the top AI image generators, Gemini didn’t quite make the list, it continues to improve consistently.

An image created by Gemini based on the prompt, “Generate a sketch of a futuristic Tokyo skyline at sunset, featuring flying cars, illuminated advertisements in Japanese, and Mount Fuji in the background.” (AI-generated image) Credit: Gemini

The image generation functions quite well for a no-cost tool. The AI accommodates various artistic styles — indicate if you desire something photorealistic, cartoonish, or even in the style of a renowned artist. Just keep in mind that content restrictions prevent it from generating images of real individuals or inappropriate material. While the quality isn’t as high as certain other AI image creators — I have found OpenAI’s GPT-4o to be the most effective thus far — it is still very competent for most applications.

The primary constraint of the free version is a capped rate limit, although Google doesn’t specify these limits. Essentially, you might be prompted to wait before producing additional images compared to having a paid subscription.

Deep Research

Deep Research is among Gemini’s most remarkable features, allowing you to acquire thorough reports on intricate subjects without needing to conduct extensive groundwork yourself. You pose a research question to Gemini, and it will spend a few minutes systematically scouring the web, evaluating sources, and compiling everything into a detailed, organized report. It’s akin to having a researcher who can sift through numerous sources in mere minutes.

Due to its operational method, Deep Research is likely to be more precise than standard AI searches — yet, as with all AI, it’s advisable to verify crucial information and remain vigilant for any inaccuracies in the results.

Deep Research is accessible to free users, albeit with some limitations. According to Google, free users can utilize Deep Research a few times per month, while Gemini Advanced subscribers have significantly expanded access. Free users also have the basic version powered by Gemini 2.0 Flash, whereas paid subscribers can take advantage of a more robust version using Gemini 2.5 Pro, which produces even more informative and insightful reports.

Create Gems

Gems represent one of Gemini’s most exciting features — custom AI assistants that you can design for specific purposes. They are essentially Google’s equivalents of ChatGPT’s custom GPTs. Creating and using Gems comes at no cost and without restrictions. Google recently made them available to all users, placing them ahead of competitors like OpenAI, which charges $20 monthly for custom GPTs.

You can begin with Google’s existing Gems, which are worth exploring, or craft your own from scratch. The process of creating a custom Gem is user-friendly. Simply click the “Explore Gems” button in the left sidebar, then select “New Gem.” You will provide instructions, upload relevant files for reference, and then you can start using it. Once created, your Gems will appear in the sidebar, and you can interact with them just like standard Gemini.

The only restriction is that Gems can only be created and edited on the web, though you can utilize…