---
title: "Free Gemini users now get Google’s lightest model"
description: "9to5Google reports that from October 9, the free Gemini app uses Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and no longer offers the Flash and Pro models."
author: Graham
date: 2026-10-09
url: https://powerofai.ca/news/2026-10-09-gemini-free-tier-change
---

# Free Gemini users now get Google’s lightest model

9to5Google reports that from October 9, the free Gemini app uses Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and no longer offers the Flash and Pro models.

October 9, 2026 · Heads up

9to5Google reports that from October 9, the free Gemini app uses Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and no longer offers the Flash and Pro models. Paid AI Pro and Ultra subscribers keep full access. We have not seen this confirmed on a Google page.

**Why it matters to you:** If free Gemini answers feel weaker lately, this is the likely reason. It matters when you compare free assistants.

**Try this:** Ask the same question in two free assistants and compare the answers side by side.

> Explain the difference between a TFSA and an RRSP for someone earning $55,000 in Ontario, with one example of when each makes more sense.

Source: [9to5Google](https://9to5google.com/2026/10/03/gemini-model-limits-oct-26/)

## More from Today in AI

- [Canada adds $500 million to help businesses adopt AI](/news/2026-10-13-canada-500-million-ai-adoption) · October 13, 2026
- [Apple’s smarter Siri comes to Apple TV and HomePod mini](/news/2026-10-13-siri-ai-apple-tv-homepod) · October 13, 2026
- [GPT-6 reaches every ChatGPT user, including free accounts](/news/2026-10-07-gpt-6-for-everyone) · October 7, 2026
- [ChatGPT turns class notes into flashcards and quizzes for teens](/news/2026-10-07-chatgpt-study-tools-teens) · October 7, 2026
- [OpenAI publishes hundreds of new math results produced by AI](/news/2026-10-06-openai-math-results) · October 6, 2026

[All of Today in AI](/the-signal/today). [Where AI is heading](/the-signal/horizon).