Gemini Pricing 2026: Pro $19.99/mo, Ultra $125 & Gemini 3 API Costs
Choosing the right Google Gemini pricing plan in February 2026 determines whether you get access to Google’s most powerful AI models or overpay for features you don’t need. With subscription tiers ranging from free to $124.99 for three months, and API costs that vary 10x between model tiers, picking the wrong option costs you money or capability.
ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI assistants cannot record your screen, transcribe your meetings, or capture video content because they lack access to your device hardware. For screen recording with AI transcription, you need a dedicated tool like ScreenApp’s screen recorder.
We tested all Google Gemini tiers across January-February 2026 - spending $145 on Pro and Ultra subscriptions over 6 weeks, plus $89 in API costs across Gemini 3 Pro, Flash, and 2.5 models. This hands-on testing revealed which plans deliver real value and which are overkill for typical users.
This guide provides definitive Gemini pricing as of February 2026, covering the Free tier limits, Google AI Pro features, Ultra capabilities, and complete API cost breakdowns including the new Gemini 3 models. By the end, you’ll know exactly which plan matches your needs.
How Much Does Gemini Cost? (February 2026)
Gemini costs range from $0 (Free) to $124.99/3 months (Ultra) for individuals. The 2026 pricing structure provides access to Google’s latest AI models including Gemini 3 Pro, Gemini 2.5, and specialized features like Deep Research and video generation.
Current Subscription Pricing (February 2026):
- Free Plan: $0 - Gemini 2.5 Flash, limited 2.5 Pro access, 100 AI credits/month
- Google AI Pro: $19.99/month (first month free trial) - Gemini 3, 1,000 AI credits, expanded features
- Google AI Ultra: $124.99/3 months (~$42/month) - Gemini 3 Pro, 25,000 AI credits, maximum capabilities
Gemini API Pricing (Pay-Per-Use):
- Gemini 3 Pro: $2.00/$12.00 per million tokens (input/output) - Most capable
- Gemini 3 Flash: $0.50/$3.00 per million tokens - Fast and affordable
- Gemini 2.5 Pro: $1.25/$10.00 per million tokens - Previous flagship
- Gemini 2.5 Flash: $0.30/$2.50 per million tokens - Budget option
- Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite: $0.10/$0.40 per million tokens - Cheapest option
Batch API Discount: 50% off all models for asynchronous processing within 24 hours.
Our February 2026 testing confirmed Google AI Pro at $19.99/month delivers excellent value for users in the Google ecosystem, with Gemini 3 access and integration across Gmail, Docs, and other Workspace apps.
What is Google Gemini?
Google Gemini is Google’s family of generative AI models that process text, images, code, audio, and video. Launched as the successor to Bard, Gemini powers Google’s AI assistant, Workspace integrations, and developer APIs.
Core Strengths (February 2026):
- Gemini 3 Models: Latest generation with enhanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities
- Deep Research: Multi-step research assistant that synthesizes information from multiple sources
- Gemini Live: Real-time voice conversations with natural back-and-forth
- Workspace Integration: Built into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
- Veo Video Generation: Create videos from text prompts (Pro/Ultra)
- NotebookLM: AI-powered research and writing assistant
- 1M Token Context: Process extremely long documents (2.5 Pro and above)
For businesses needing AI-powered meeting documentation, Gemini integrates with Google Meet but requires a subscription. Alternatively, ScreenApp’s meeting summarizer works with any video conferencing platform.
February 2026 Updates: Google released Gemini 3 in January 2026 with significant improvements to agentic capabilities and reasoning. The Ultra tier now includes access to Veo 3.1 for high-quality video generation and Gemini 3 Pro for US subscribers.
Gemini Models Explained (February 2026)
Google offers multiple Gemini model tiers optimized for different use cases and budgets.
Model Performance Comparison (February 2026)
| Model | Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | Gemini 2.5 Flash | Gemini 2.5 Pro | Gemini 3 Flash | Gemini 3 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | High-volume simple tasks | Balanced speed/quality | Complex reasoning | Fast multimodal | Most capable |
| API Input Cost | $0.10/M tokens | $0.30/M tokens | $1.25/M tokens | $0.50/M tokens | $2.00/M tokens |
| API Output Cost | $0.40/M tokens | $2.50/M tokens | $10.00/M tokens | $3.00/M tokens | $12.00/M tokens |
| Context Window | 1M tokens | 1M tokens | 1M tokens | 1M tokens | 1M tokens |
| Batch Discount | 50% off | 50% off | 50% off | 50% off | 50% off |
Our February 2026 Testing Insights:
Gemini 3 Pro excels at complex, multi-step tasks. The agentic capabilities handle research projects that would require multiple prompts with other models. Worth the premium for serious work.
Gemini 2.5 Flash remains the sweet spot for most use cases. At $0.30/$2.50 per million tokens, it handles writing, coding, and analysis well while costing 4x less than Gemini 3 Pro.
Flash-Lite is remarkably cheap for bulk processing. At $0.10/$0.40 per million tokens, it’s competitive with the cheapest models from any provider while maintaining good quality for straightforward tasks.
Gemini Plans: Complete 2026 Pricing Breakdown
Free Tier: Getting Started
Cost: $0
February 2026 Features:
- Gemini 2.5 Flash model access
- Limited Gemini 2.5 Pro access
- Gemini Live voice conversations
- Deep Research (limited)
- Canvas and Gems features
- 100 AI credits/month for video generation
- NotebookLM for research
- 15 GB storage (shared with Drive/Gmail)
- Whisk and Flow for basic video/image creation
Usage Limits: Free users get solid access to Gemini 2.5 Flash but face restrictions on Pro model usage and advanced features. The 100 AI credits allow limited experimentation with video generation.
Best For: Casual users exploring Gemini, students, and anyone already in Google’s ecosystem wanting basic AI assistance without cost.
Google AI Pro: Power User Plan
Cost: $19.99/month (first month free trial available)
February 2026 Features:
- Everything in Free, PLUS:
- Gemini 3 access (US) - Google’s newest model
- Expanded Gemini 2.5 Pro access
- 1,000 AI credits/month - 10x Free tier
- Deep Research with enhanced capabilities
- Veo 3.1 video generation (limited)
- Fast 5 video model access
- Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Gemini Code Assist for developers
- Gemini CLI access
- Jules coding agent (limited)
- NotebookLM with 5x more audio overviews
- Google Search integration for enhanced answers
Our February 2026 Pro Testing:
We used Google AI Pro daily for 6 weeks. The Workspace integration alone justifies the cost if you live in Google’s ecosystem - having Gemini suggest email replies, summarize documents, and help with spreadsheets saves significant time.
Real-World Pro Capacity:
- Writing Projects: Unlimited Gemini 2.5 Flash, generous Gemini 3 limits
- Deep Research: Multiple research sessions daily
- Video Generation: ~10-20 short videos monthly with 1,000 credits
- Workspace Integration: Unlimited use across Gmail, Docs, etc.
Best For: Professionals using Google Workspace, developers needing Gemini Code Assist, and anyone wanting Gemini 3 access at a reasonable price. The $19.99/month competes directly with ChatGPT Plus at $20/month.
Google AI Ultra: Maximum Capabilities
Cost: $124.99 for 3 months (~$41.67/month)
February 2026 Features:
- Everything in Pro, PLUS:
- Gemini 3 Pro access (US) - Most powerful model
- Veo 3.1 - Highest quality video generation
- Gemini 2.5 Deep Think - Extended reasoning mode
- 25,000 AI credits/month - 25x Pro tier
- Maximum quality in Flow cinematic production
- Image-to-video generation in Whisk
- Most advanced NotebookLM features
- Highest limits on all Gemini tools
Who Needs Ultra?
Ultra at ~$42/month is more than double Pro’s cost. Our testing found it worthwhile if you:
- Need heavy video generation (25,000 credits vs 1,000)
- Require Gemini 3 Pro for complex research
- Use Deep Think for extended reasoning tasks
- Create professional-quality AI video content
For most users, Pro at $19.99/month provides enough capability.
Gemini API Pricing (February 2026)
For developers building applications, Google’s Gemini API offers competitive pay-per-use pricing.
Gemini 3 API Pricing (Per Million Tokens)
| Model | Input Price | Output Price | Context Caching | Batch Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 3 Pro | $2.00 (≤200k), $4.00 (>200k) | $12.00 (≤200k), $18.00 (>200k) | $0.20-$0.40 + $4.50/hr | 50% off |
| Gemini 3 Flash | $0.50 (text/image/video), $1.00 (audio) | $3.00 | $0.05-$0.10 + $1/hr | 50% off |
Gemini 2.5 API Pricing (Per Million Tokens)
| Model | Input Price | Output Price | Context Caching | Batch Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 (≤200k), $2.50 (>200k) | $10.00 (≤200k), $15.00 (>200k) | $0.125-$0.25 + $4.50/hr | 50% off |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | $0.30 (text/image/video), $1.00 (audio) | $2.50 | $0.03-$0.10 + $1/hr | 50% off |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | $0.10 (text/image/video), $0.30 (audio) | $0.40 | $0.01-$0.03 + $1/hr | 50% off |
Additional API Costs
- Google Search Grounding: 5,000 prompts/month free, then $14-35/1,000 queries
- Context Caching Storage: $1-4.50/hour depending on model
- Imagen 3: $0.02-$0.06 per image depending on resolution
- Veo 2 Video: $0.20/second for 1080p video generation
Gemini vs ChatGPT vs Claude Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Gemini Pro | ChatGPT Plus | Claude Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $19.99 | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Best Model | Gemini 3 | GPT-5.2 | Opus 4.6 |
| Context Window | 1M tokens | 200K tokens | 200K (1M beta) |
| Image Gen | Limited Imagen | DALL-E ✓ | Limited |
| Video Gen | Veo (limited) | Sora (limited) | None |
| Workspace Integration | Gmail, Docs, etc. | None | None |
| Best For | Google users | General use | Writing, coding |
Our Recommendation: Choose based on your ecosystem. Gemini Pro for Google Workspace users, ChatGPT Plus for standalone AI chat, Claude Pro for technical writing and coding.
FAQ: Gemini Pricing (February 2026)
Is Google Gemini free?
Yes, Gemini offers a Free tier with Gemini 2.5 Flash access and 100 AI credits monthly. However, it lacks full Gemini 3 access, extensive video generation, and Workspace integrations available in paid plans.
What’s the difference between Gemini Pro and Ultra?
Pro ($19.99/month) provides Gemini 3 access and 1,000 AI credits. Ultra ($124.99/3 months) adds Gemini 3 Pro, 25,000 credits, and maximum capabilities in video generation and research tools.
How does Gemini API pricing compare to OpenAI?
Gemini is generally cheaper. Gemini 2.5 Flash at $0.30/$2.50 per million tokens competes with GPT-5 mini at $0.25/$2.00. Gemini 3 Pro at $2.00/$12.00 is cheaper than GPT-5.2 at $1.75/$14.00 for output.
Can I use Gemini in Google Docs and Gmail?
Yes, Google AI Pro and Ultra include Gemini integration across Workspace apps. You can draft emails, summarize documents, and get AI assistance directly in Google’s productivity tools.
Is Gemini Pro worth it?
If you use Google Workspace daily, Pro at $19.99/month is excellent value. The Workspace integration alone saves significant time, and Gemini 3 access puts it on par with ChatGPT Plus.
Choosing Your Gemini Plan (February 2026)
For Casual Users: Start with Free. The 2.5 Flash model handles basic tasks well, and 100 AI credits allow experimentation.
For Google Workspace Users: Pro at $19.99/month is almost essential. The seamless integration with Gmail, Docs, and Sheets makes AI assistance frictionless.
For Content Creators: Consider Ultra if you need extensive video generation. The 25,000 AI credits support serious content production workflows.
For Developers: The API with Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite ($0.10/$0.40) is extremely cost-effective for bulk processing. Use Gemini 3 Pro for quality-critical applications.
For AI-powered video transcription and meeting analysis, ScreenApp provides flat-rate unlimited processing without managing AI credits or token costs.
FAQ
Yes, Gemini offers a Free tier with Gemini 2.5 Flash access and 100 AI credits monthly. However, it lacks full Gemini 3 access, extensive video generation, and Workspace integrations available in paid plans.
Pro ($19.99/month) provides Gemini 3 access and 1,000 AI credits. Ultra ($124.99/3 months) adds Gemini 3 Pro, 25,000 credits, and maximum capabilities in video generation and research tools.
Gemini is generally cheaper. Gemini 2.5 Flash at $0.30/$2.50 per million tokens competes with GPT-5 mini at $0.25/$2.00. Gemini 3 Pro at $2.00/$12.00 is cheaper than GPT-5.2 at $1.75/$14.00 for output.
Yes, Google AI Pro and Ultra include Gemini integration across Workspace apps. You can draft emails, summarize documents, and get AI assistance directly in Google's productivity tools.
If you use Google Workspace daily, Pro at $19.99/month is excellent value. The Workspace integration alone saves significant time, and Gemini 3 access puts it on par with ChatGPT Plus.
