Google Gemini: what you get free and paid, and the right setup for each task
Gemini is Google's assistant, and its strength is the link to everything you already have at Google: Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets and Chrome. This guide shows what you really get for free, what is worth paying for, and for 20 common tasks the best free and paid way.
01What Gemini is and who it suits
Gemini is Google's AI assistant: a chat app at gemini.google.com, desktop and phone apps, and it is also built into Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Chrome. Around it sits a family of tools: Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) for working on your own documents, Deep Research for sourced research, Canvas for drafts and small apps, Nano Banana for images and Flow for video.
It suits people who already live inside Google: an office running on Gmail and Drive, an engineer who writes in Docs and analyses in Sheets, a student who wants to learn from their own material. The app is available in Israel, Hebrew is a supported language, and Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra are sold in Israel.
The product changes fast: Gems are being replaced by skills in November 2026, NotebookLM is now Gemini Notebook, video moved to Gemini Omni, and free use of Gemini CLI ended in favour of Antigravity CLI. This guide is current as of October 2026.
02In plain words
Think of Gemini as an assistant sitting inside your Google office. For free it answers the phone and helps with any question. Even for free it can peek into Gmail and Drive when you allow it. When you pay, it gets a desk inside the cabinets themselves: it writes straight into Gmail, Docs and Sheets. Either way, you sign the final calculation, not it.
03Free vs paid: what you really get
Gemini for free (a regular Google Account)
- Deep Research: a research report with web sources
- Canvas: edit documents and create web pages and small apps
- Nano Banana 2: create and edit images
- Gemini Notebook: answers only from your PDFs, plus Audio Overviews
- Gemini Live: voice and camera conversation
- Skills: saved instructions you call with /
- Google AI Studio and Antigravity no-cost tiers for building code
Limit: Only a 32k-token context, the 3.6 Flash model with varying access to 3.1 Pro, no video, and usage limits that refresh every 5 hours up to a weekly cap.
Google AI Plus or Google AI Pro
Google AI Plus: 4.99 USD per month. Google AI Pro: 19.99 USD per month. US prices; annual and ILS prices were not shown, check the plan page.
- AI Pro: 1M-token context and up to 1,500 pages of uploads
- AI Pro: Gemini inside Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Vids (Plus: Gmail, Vids and more)
- Video generation in the app with Gemini Omni Flash, plus Flow credits
- 2x (Plus) or 4x (Pro) the Free usage limits
- Storage: 400 GB on Plus, 5 TB on Pro, and family sharing with up to 5 others
- AI Pro: the Gemini Spark agent, more Jules tasks and higher Antigravity limits
When paying is worth it: Worth it when you work with long PDFs, want Gemini inside Gmail and Docs, or hit the limits every week. For an office with its own domain: Workspace Business Standard.
04The weak sides
In the free version
- Only 32k tokens: a long document is cut and Gemini answers about part of it.
- No video generation in the app; only limited access in Flow.
- No fixed message count: limits are compute-based, refresh every 5 hours with a weekly cap, so capacity is hard to plan.
- No Gemini inside Docs and Sheets on a free personal account.
- With Keep Activity on, chats can be used to train models and a subset is read by human reviewers.
- Gemini CLI is no longer free since 18 June 2026; for the terminal, move to Antigravity CLI.
Even when paying
- Even Ultra has a weekly cap, and Google does not publish exact numbers.
- Several flagship features are region-limited: Gemini Agent and the inbox AI Overview are US only, Chrome auto browse is a US-first preview, Spark is not in the EEA or UK.
- Automatic meeting notes in Meet do not support Hebrew.
- Names and features change fast, so older guides online are already out of date.
- AI Plus does not include Gemini in Docs and Sheets, and Workspace Business Starter covers only Gmail and Vids.
- Engineering calculations still need checking in dedicated software and against the standard itself.
05Plans and prices
| Plan | Price per month | For whom | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD | Light everyday use and trying Deep Research, Canvas and images | 32k tokens, no video, 15 GB shared storage |
| Google AI Plus | 4.99 USD | Budget users who want more than Free, and Gemini in Gmail | 2x Free limits, 128k tokens, 200 Flow credits; no Docs or Sheets |
| Google AI Pro | 19.99 USD | Professionals and small offices using Gemini daily | 4x Free limits with a weekly cap; Chrome auto browse is a US preview |
| Google AI Ultra | From 99.99 USD (199.99 USD tier) | Heavy video creators and developers; overkill for most offices | 5x or 20x Pro limits, still with a weekly cap |
| Workspace Business Starter | Check the plan page (from Israel shown in EUR: 6.80 EUR per user, excl. tax) | Small business needing email on its own domain with basic AI | Gemini only in Gmail and Vids; no Docs, Sheets or Meet; 30 GB per user |
| Workspace Business Standard | Check the plan page (from Israel: 13.60 EUR per user, excl. tax) | Engineering office wanting Gemini in Docs, Sheets and Meet with business privacy | Up to 300 users; Meet notes without Hebrew |
| Workspace Business Plus | Check the plan page (from Israel: 21.10 EUR per user, excl. tax) | Office that needs Vault and stronger security | Same AI as Standard; up to 300 users |
| Gemini Enterprise Business | From 21 USD per seat | Teams wanting agents connected to Microsoft 365, Jira and HubSpot | Up to 300 seats; 25 GiB per seat |
| Full comparison of all assistants | AI Price Comparison: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot | Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT and Copilot side by side | All prices in one table |
06The best setup for each task
Write an email or letterA clear email in Hebrew or English, in the right tone, ready to send.5
Free way
- Gemini appFast drafts in Hebrew and English; ask for two tone versions and pick one.
- Connected Apps: GmailGemini pulls context from an existing email thread inside the chat, no copy-paste.
- SkillsSave your tone, signature and standard phrasing once and call it with /.
Paid way
- Gemini in Gmail (AI Plus / AI Pro)Writes and replies right in the Gmail side panel, with Hebrew support.
- Workspace Business (any plan)Gemini in Gmail for your office domain mailbox, with business privacy.
'Write a polite Hebrew email to a contractor confirming anchor model M12 and delivery on Sunday; 5 lines; formal tone.'
Write a technical reportA well-structured report by sections, with blanks for the numbers you fill in and check.5
Free way
- CanvasEdit the draft next to the chat: change tone, expand or shorten a section. Editing only on desktop web.
- Gemini NotebookUpload the project documents and answers come only from them, with citations.
- Deep ResearchFor the background section: a review of public sources with links.
Paid way
- Gemini in Docs (AI Pro / Workspace Business Standard)Writes directly in Google Docs, using your Drive files as context.
- Google AI Pro: 1M contextLong appendices fit in full, up to 1,500 pages of uploads.
Open Canvas and type: 'Draft a technical report with sections Scope, Standards, Calculation, Results, Conclusions; leave [ ] wherever a number goes, I will fill them in.'
Summarise long documents and PDFsA summary faithful to the source, with clause numbers and no 'fill-ins' from memory.5
Free way
- Gemini NotebookAnswers only from the sources you uploaded, with citations you can check.
- Gemini appFine for short documents. On Free the context is 32k tokens, so long files get cut.
Paid way
- Google AI Pro1M-token context and up to 1,500 pages of uploads.
- Google AI PlusThe budget option: 128k tokens, 4 times the Free context.
- Gemini Notebook on Workspace Business Standard5x notebooks and 20 Audio Overviews a day, with business privacy.
In Gemini Notebook upload the PDF and ask: 'List every requirement with its clause number in a table.'
Translate documentsA fluent translation that keeps units, tables and standard numbers intact.4
Free way
- Gemini appTranslates text and uploaded files in 70+ languages, including Hebrew.
- CanvasShow the translation as a document and edit it on the side, paragraph by paragraph.
Paid way
- Gemini in Docs / Drive (Workspace)Works on files already in Drive; Hebrew is supported in the side panel.
- Google AI ProLong context: a whole manual fits at once instead of in pieces.
'Translate to English; keep units, table layout and standard numbers (EN 1992-4) unchanged; list at the end any terms you were unsure about.'
Solve an engineering problem with a checked calculationA step-by-step solution with units, a second-method check, and verification in your own software.6
Free way
- Gemini app (limited 3.1 Pro access)Explains each step and shows the work, not just a result.
- CanvasAsk for a small calculator in code: you see the formula and can test it.
- ADIT AAS / ARS calculators (partner)For anchors and rebar: free dedicated software, a reliable way to check what Gemini computed.
Paid way
- Gemini Notebook: code executionRuns code on a cloud computer and actually computes instead of guessing. Ultra now, Pro rolling out.
- Deep Think (AI Ultra)Deeper reasoning mode for hard problems; only on the top plan.
- Google AI ProMore access to the 3.1 Pro model.
'Solve step by step, state units at each step, then verify the result with an independent method and say if they differ.' Always re-check in your own calculation software.
Analyse Excel data and make chartsClear insights from the table and a chart you can drop into a report.4
Free way
- Gemini app: file uploadUpload a spreadsheet and ask for trends, outliers and a chart.
- CanvasTurns data into an infographic or an interactive page to share.
Paid way
- Gemini in Sheets (AI Pro / Workspace Business Standard)Visualisations and insights inside Sheets itself, on your real data.
- AI function in SheetsA formula that runs Gemini on each row; Hebrew is supported.
In the Sheets side panel: 'Create a column chart of monthly sales per product and flag the months below average.'
Create a presentationA deck with one idea per slide, fitting images and a clear structure.5
Free way
- Gemini app: deck outlineA weak spot on Free: draft the outline, then paste it into Google Slides yourself.
- CanvasTurns content into a web page or infographic; export to slides is not confirmed on the official page.
- Nano Banana 2Images and illustrations for the slides.
Paid way
- Gemini in Slides (Workspace Business Standard and up)Helps build slides and AI images inside Google Slides.
- Google VidsWhen a short explainer video works better than a deck.
'One idea per slide, max 5 bullets, and suggest an image for each slide.'
Draw an image or illustrationA clean illustration that fits the topic, with readable text, ready for a site or deck.4
Free way
- Nano Banana 2 in GeminiImage creation and editing, text inside the image, up to 2K.
- Google Flow (limited)Limited access to Nano Banana Pro even on Free.
Paid way
- Nano Banana 2.1 and Redo with ProBetter text accuracy; needs a paid plan.
- Google Flow: credits200 credits on Plus, 1,000 on Pro, far more on Ultra.
'Clean flat illustration of a chemical anchor in a concrete slab, cross-section, white background.' Note: images carry a visible watermark and SynthID, and Hebrew text inside images was not verified.
Technical drawings, diagrams and flowchartsA clear flowchart or diagram. For scaled drawings: CAD.4
Free way
- CanvasGenerates interactive diagrams as code (HTML, SVG, Mermaid).
- Your CAD software (partner)Gemini cannot produce true CAD or DWG drawings; precise drawings stay in CAD.
Paid way
- Canvas with 3.1 Pro (AI Pro)Larger, more accurate diagrams.
- Nano Banana 2.1 / ProFor an explanatory, not-to-scale illustration of a detail or process.
'In Canvas, create a Mermaid flowchart of the anchor selection process: base material, load, environment, result.'
Video and animationA short, professional clip with sound, for a product or an explainer.5
Free way
- Google Flow (limited access)The only way to try for free; the Gemini app has no video generation on Free.
- Nano Banana 2: storyboard stillsPrepare key frames before paying for video.
Paid way
- Gemini Omni Flash (AI Plus and up)10-second clips with native audio, right in the app; replaces Veo 3.1.
- Google Flow: creditsA studio for cinematic video; more credits on Pro and Ultra.
- Google VidsEdit explainer and training videos inside Workspace.
'10-second product shot: a drill installs an anchor into concrete, slow push-in camera, workshop sound.'
Web research with sourcesAn organised report with a link for every claim, so you can check it.5
Free way
- Deep ResearchBrowses hundreds of sites and writes a cited report, in 45+ languages.
- Gemini in ChromeSummarises and compares several open tabs.
- CanvasTurns the report into a web page, infographic, quiz or Audio Overview.
Paid way
- Deep Research on AI ProHigher limits, 1M context, and it can include Gmail and Drive.
- Chrome auto browse (AI Pro / Ultra)Completes tasks in the browser on its own; a preview, US first.
Review and edit the research plan before you start; ask for 'official sources only, with links'.
Search standards and regulationsAn answer with clause and page from the official document, not a paraphrase from memory.4
Free way
- Gemini NotebookUpload a standard you legally own; answers are grounded in it, with clause references.
- Deep ResearchTo find public regulations and documents online.
Paid way
- Google AI ProA whole standard fits in the 1M-token context.
- Gemini Notebook on Workspace Business StandardExpanded Gemini Notebook limits, with business privacy.
EN and SI standards are paywalled and Gemini may paraphrase from memory. Always ask to 'quote the clause number and page' and check against the document.
Write code or a small engineering toolA small working tool, with input validation and units shown.7
Free way
- CanvasGenerates small working apps you can share.
- Google AI StudioPrototype with Gemini models at no cost to start; on the free tier content is used to improve products.
- Jules (base)A coding agent that works on your GitHub repo and opens PRs; 15 tasks a day.
- Antigravity (no-cost tier)Agentic coding app and Antigravity CLI, with basic weekly limits.
Paid way
- Antigravity on AI Pro / UltraHigher limits for IDE and terminal work.
- Jules on AI Pro / Ultra100 tasks a day on Pro, 300 on Ultra.
- Gemini CLISince 18 June 2026 only with a paid API key or Code Assist; for consumers it was replaced by Antigravity CLI.
In Canvas: 'Build a single-file HTML calculator for bolt shear capacity with input validation and units shown.'
Build a website or landing pageA responsive Hebrew right-to-left landing page you can preview and share.4
Free way
- CanvasGenerates a web page, previews it and gives a share link.
- Google AI StudioFor a fuller app, free to start.
Paid way
- Google AI Studio (expanded limits on AI Pro)Build and deploy fuller apps.
- AntigravityFor a multi-page site and code you maintain over time.
'Create a responsive Hebrew landing page (dir=rtl) for a fastening product with a hero, 3 benefits and a contact form.'
Organise files and folders on the PCA logical folder structure, and first a list of proposed moves to review before anything moves.4
Free way
- Gemini app (advice only)Suggests a folder structure and a script; the free app does not touch local files.
- Gemini desktop appQuick access with Alt+Space on Windows 10+ or Option+Space on macOS 15+ (Apple Silicon).
Paid way
- Gemini Spark in the Mac desktop appConnect local folders to organise and summarise files; macOS only, AI Pro / Ultra.
- Gemini Spark: availabilityNot available in the EEA, UK, Switzerland or Nigeria; requires Keep Activity on.
On Windows this is a weak spot: ask for a PowerShell script that only lists the proposed moves (dry run), and run it only after you check.
Meetings: transcription and minutesMinutes with decisions, owners and dates, in a table.4
Free way
- Gemini NotebookUpload a recording or transcript and get source-grounded minutes.
- Gemini appFor short recordings or a ready transcript.
Paid way
- Meet: Take notes for meAn automatic notes Doc in the organiser's Drive. Does not support Hebrew.
- Google Workspace StudioA no-code automated flow for meeting follow-ups.
For Hebrew meetings: record, upload the audio and ask for 'minutes with decisions, owners and dates in a table'.
Customer service and repeated repliesConsistent replies in the same tone and policy, without rewriting each time.4
Free way
- Skills (formerly Gems)Save instructions once and call them with /name; up to 100 skills, SKILL.md import supported.
- Gems to skills transitionGems are removed in November 2026 for personal accounts and auto-migrated; here is how.
Paid way
- Google Workspace StudioNo-code flows that detect emails and draft replies in Gmail.
- Gemini in GmailPolish and send the reply from the side panel.
Create a skill called reply-customer with your tone, pricing policy and FAQ; then type /reply-customer and paste the email.
Learn a new subject (tutor)A graded explanation, check questions and review material from your own sources.5
Free way
- Gemini Notebook: Audio OverviewsTurns your sources into a podcast, a study guide and a quiz.
- Canvas: quizzesAn interactive quiz from your study material.
- Gemini LiveReal-time voice and camera conversation; Hebrew voice support not verified.
Paid way
- Google AI Pro for studentsAI Pro free for one year for eligible college students; the offer terms name US students, so check whether it applies in Israel.
- Google AI Plus / ProHigher limits and more Audio Overviews and notebooks.
'Teach me EN 1992-4 anchor failure modes step by step; ask me one question after each part.'
Marketing and SEO contentA Hebrew article with headings, FAQ and meta description, based on research.5
Free way
- Deep ResearchResearch the topic before writing.
- Gemini appDraft the article in Hebrew to a structure you define.
- Nano Banana 2Hero image and illustrations for the post.
Paid way
- Google AI Pro: Gemini in DocsWrite and edit in Docs with your Drive files.
- Google Flow / Google VidsImages and videos for social posts.
'Write a 900-word article on chemical anchors, H2 headings, an FAQ with 5 questions, and a meta description under 155 characters.'
Automate a repeating workflow (agents)A process that runs on its own and leaves you only to approve and check.5
Free way
- SkillsFixed instructions for a repeating process; scheduled actions where your account has them. Full agent features need a plan.
- Gemini in ChromeSummarise and compare tabs as part of a manual routine.
Paid way
- Gemini Spark (AI Pro / Ultra)A personal agent that runs scheduled multi-step tasks, up to 15 at once; personal accounts only.
- Google Workspace Studio (Business)No-code flows across Gmail, Drive and Sheets, with connectors to Asana, Jira and Salesforce.
- Gemini Enterprise BusinessNo-code Workflow Builder and connectors to Microsoft 365, HubSpot and Jira.
In Workspace Studio: 'When an email has a PDF invoice, save it to the Drive folder Invoices and add a row to the Invoices sheet.'
07Privacy and Hebrew
Training on your chats
On a personal account with Keep Activity on, Google uses your activity to improve services, including training models, and a subset of chats is reviewed by people and kept up to 3 years. Turn off Keep Activity in Gemini Apps Activity or use a temporary chat; chats are still kept for 72 hours.
Business plans
On Workspace Business your data is not used for training without permission, is not human reviewed and stays in your organisation. Gemini Enterprise also does not train on your data. Gemini Notebook for individual use does not train on your data unless you send feedback.
Hebrew
Hebrew is supported in the app and in the side panel of Gmail, Docs, Drive, Sheets and Slides, and in the Sheets AI function. Meet's automatic meeting notes do not support Hebrew. Right-to-left display quality and Hebrew voice in Gemini Live were not tested.
Israel and regions
AI Plus, Pro and Ultra are sold in Israel, and Workspace prices show in EUR from Israel. Gemini Agent and the inbox AI Overview are US only, Chrome auto browse is US first. Google AI plans and Gemini in Gmail and Docs are 18+ only.
08Set it up in 10 minutes
- 1
Sign in with a Google Account
Open gemini.google.com and sign in. For office work a Workspace work account is better, because of business privacy.
- 2
Decide on privacy
In Gemini Apps Activity choose whether to keep Keep Activity on, and set auto-delete (3, 18 or 36 months). For a sensitive document: a temporary chat.
- 3
Install the apps
Install the desktop app (Windows: Alt+Space, Mac: Option+Space) and the phone app for Gemini Live.
- 4
Connect Connected Apps
Allow Gemini to use Gmail, Drive and Calendar inside chats. Some connections stop working when Keep Activity is off.
- 5
Create your first skill
At gemini.google.com/skills create a skill with your tone, signature and office details, and call it with /.
- 6
A first real task
Open a notebook in Gemini Notebook, upload a specification or standard you own, and ask for a requirements table with clause numbers. Check three rows against the source.
- 7
Choose a plan after a week
If you hit limits or long documents, try Google AI Pro. If the whole office is on business Gmail, compare with Workspace Business Standard.
09FAQ
Is the free version enough for a small office?
For emails, short research, images and summaries of short documents, yes. But 32k tokens is not enough for a long PDF, there is no Gemini inside Docs and Sheets, and chats may be used for training unless you turn off Keep Activity.
Which plan for a team of 3?
If you have email on the office domain, Workspace Business Standard gives Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Meet with business privacy. If everyone uses a personal account, Google AI Pro per person.
What happened to Gems and NotebookLM?
Gems are being replaced by skills: on personal accounts they are removed in November 2026 and migrated automatically, on business Workspace in March 2027. NotebookLM has been called Gemini Notebook since July 2026, at notebook.google.
Can I trust Gemini with engineering calculations?
Not without checking. Ask for a step-by-step solution with units and a second-method check, then verify in dedicated software, for example ADIT's free AAS and ARS calculators for anchors and rebar, and against the standard itself.
Does Gemini take meeting notes in Hebrew?
Meet's Take notes for me does not support Hebrew. The workaround: record, upload the file to Gemini Notebook or the app and ask for minutes with decisions and owners.
Is Gemini CLI still free?
No. Since 18 June 2026 Gemini CLI works only with a paid API key or Code Assist. For personal terminal use Google points to Antigravity CLI, which has a no-cost tier with weekly limits.