Google removes free Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.1 Pro models
Google ended free access to its higher‑tier Gemini models on Oct 9. Free users now only see Gemini 3.5 Flash‑Lite, a lightweight version that can handle about 32,000‑token context and is metered by compute. The new free tier is limited to a 5‑hour refill and a weekly cap, and users are throttled first when servers are busy.
Key points
- Google removed free access to Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.1 Pro on Oct 9, leaving only Gemini 3.5 Flash‑Lite for free users.
- AI Pro $20/month unlocks Gemini 3.1 Pro, 1M‑token context, 5 TB storage, and higher Antigravity limits.
Paid tiers have shifted. AI Pro, $20 a month, unlocks Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini 3.8 Flash, a 1 million‑token context window, 5 TB storage, and higher usage limits in Antigravity. Ultra, $100 a month, adds the AI Ultra reasoning mode and is aimed at heavy users.
The change means that casual users who relied on the free Gemini 3.6 Flash for coding or long‑form tasks will need to upgrade or switch to lighter use. For most people, the $5 AI Plus plan offers the best balance of cost and capability.
Model page: Gemini 4 Argon →
The story so far
3 episodes →- Google removes free Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.1 Pro modelsthis story
Google pulled the best Gemini models from free users; here's the cheapest fix
androidpolice.com · 13 October 2026
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