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Google to limit free Gemini access to Flash-Lite from October 2026

Starting October 2026, Google will restrict free Gemini users to the smallest model, Flash-Lite, while Flash and Pro become paid-only. The change may precede the more resource-intensive Gemini 4 Argon.

First seen 4 Oct, 07:28 UTC on The Decoder2 sourcesLast update 1h ago

What the sources say

Linked, never rewritten. Official means the lab itself.

Official0

No word from Google DeepMind yet.

Press2

The Decoder· 4 Oct, 07:28Google's new Gemini tiers cut free users to its weakest model and lock $5/month subscribers out of ProThe Verge· 6 Oct, 13:19Google is about to remove free access to Gemini Flash and Pro

How it unfolded

Every source in the order it appeared. Times in UTC.

4 Oct 07:28The Decoder Google's new Gemini tiers cut free users to its weakest model and lock $5/month subscribers out of Pro6 Oct 13:19The Verge Google is about to remove free access to Gemini Flash and Pro

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