NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook): what it is, how to use it, and what is free
Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook in July 2026, but it is the same tool: you give it your own documents and it answers only from them, pointing to the exact passage. This page explains what it is, how to use it (including in Hebrew), how to get slides, audio overviews and mind maps out of it, what the free plan really gives, and what happens to your files.
01What is NotebookLM? A librarian who read only your file
Picture a librarian you hand a project binder to: the spec, the standards, the installation manuals, the meeting minutes. They do not search the internet and do not make things up. They answer only from the binder and point to the page and paragraph every time. That is Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM): a chat grounded only in your sources, which makes it easy to check.
02How it works, in five steps
- 1NotebookOne notebook per project or subject
- 2SourcesPDF, Word, PowerPoint, Google Docs, websites, YouTube, recordings
- 3QuestionAsk in plain language in the Chat panel
- 4CitationsEvery claim links to its source passage
- 5StudioAudio, video, slides, mind map, report, flashcards
03What you can create from your sources (the Studio panel)
Audio Overview: a podcast
Two AI hosts discuss your material (Brief uses a single speaker). Formats are Deep Dive, Brief, Critique and Debate, and you can download the file.
Video Overview: an explainer
A video that pulls in images, diagrams and quotes from your documents, in several visual styles. Cinematic is English only and 18+.
Slide Deck: a presentation
A Detailed Deck or Presenter Slides, short, default or long. Download as PDF or PowerPoint (PPTX).
Mind Map
A branching diagram of the topics in your sources; click a node to ask about it. Not in the mobile app yet.
Reports
A structured text report or an interactive report from a template, such as a learning overview or a project summary.
Flashcards, quizzes, infographics
Practice questions and flashcards based only on your material, plus a one-page infographic summary.
04NotebookLM free vs paid
Free: any Google account
- All the main features: cited chat, audio, video, slides, mind maps and reports
- Up to 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook
- Each source up to 500,000 words or 200MB
- Works in the browser and in the Android and iPhone apps
- Google Workspace for Education accounts: included at no cost when the school admin turns it on
Limit: Standard usage that refreshes every 5 hours up to a weekly cap, fewer sources per notebook, and advanced sharing only on paid plans
Paid: a Google AI subscription
Google AI Plus about 4.99 USD a month, Google AI Pro about 19.99 USD a month, Ultra from 99.99 USD (US prices, October 2026)
- Plus: 2x usage, 200 notebooks, 100 sources per notebook
- Pro: 4x usage, 500 notebooks, 300 sources per notebook, watermark removal
- Ultra: up to 600 sources per notebook, much higher usage, and code execution for data analysis grounded in your sources (Google said in July 2026 it would also come to Pro on the web)
- Pro also includes full Gemini, storage and other Google features
When paying is worth it: When you work daily on projects with dozens of standards and documents, or keep running out of free usage mid-week
05NotebookLM vs similar chat-with-your-documents tools
Best at: Answers only from your sources with a citation for each claim, and turns them into audio, slides and mind maps.
Almost every feature, 100 notebooks, 50 sources per notebook, standard usage
Google AI Plus, Pro or Ultra: more sources and usage, watermark removal from Pro
Add-ons that help 4
- SettingOutput LanguageSet your output language once in Settings and every output follows it.free
- ModeDeep Research in SourcesSearches the web for sources on a topic and adds them to the notebook (18+).included
- ConnectorGoogle DriveFiles imported from Drive update automatically when the document changes.free
- Add-onNotebooks in the Gemini appThe same notebooks appear in Gemini and sync between both apps.free
Claude Projects
AnthropicBest at: A project with files and standing instructions; strong at writing, analysis and producing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
Up to 5 projects on the free plan
Claude Pro about 20 USD a month: unlimited projects and more usage
Add-ons that help 2
- ConnectorGoogle DriveReads Drive files straight into the conversation.free
- Skillpptx, docx, xlsxBuilds a real deck, report or spreadsheet from the project material.free
ChatGPT Projects
OpenAIBest at: A folder with files, instructions and project memory, and it can add web search when needed.
Up to 5 files per project on Free
Go or Plus: up to 25 files per project; Plus about 20 USD a month
Add-ons that help 2
- ModeDeep researchA sourced research report from the web and your files.included
- SettingImprove the model for everyoneTurn it off in Data controls so your content is not used for training.free
Copilot Notebooks
MicrosoftBest at: Gathers files, notes and chats as one context; natural if you live in OneDrive and Microsoft 365.
Not part of free Copilot
Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, Premium or a suitable business license
Add-ons that help 1
- ConnectorOneDriveBrings project files in from Microsoft's cloud.included
06Limits by plan (Google help center, October 2026)
| Plan | Notebooks | Sources per notebook | Usage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Standard) | 100 | 50 | Standard | 0 |
| Google AI Plus | 200 | 100 | 2x | about 4.99 USD a month |
| Google AI Pro | 500 | 300 | 4x, no watermark | about 19.99 USD a month |
| Google AI Ultra | 500 | 500 to 600 | 5x or 20x Pro | from 99.99 USD a month |
| Workspace for Education | By edition | By edition | By license | Included at no cost |
| Workspace for business | By license | By license | By license | Part of the company plan |
07How to use NotebookLM in 5 minutes
- 1
Open the site
Go to notebook.google and sign in with a Google account. We found no official desktop program, so you work in the browser; on phones there is an app called Gemini Notebook.
- 2
Set your language
Click the Settings icon at the top right, choose Output Language and pick your language (Hebrew is on the list). The default is your Google account language.
- 3
Create a notebook and add sources
Create new notebook, then Upload a source: PDFs of standards, the spec, a manufacturer's manual, a web link or a captioned YouTube video.
- 4
Ask with citations
Type a question in Chat and click the citation numbers to see the original passage. Ask for clause numbers in a table.
- 5
Generate in Studio
In Studio pick Slide Deck, Audio Overview, Video Overview or Reports; a mind map comes from the Mind Map chip in the chat. The pencil icon next to an output lets you add a prompt: audience, length, focus.
- 6
Check and download
Review the output against the sources, then download: slides as PDF or PPTX, audio as a file, the mind map as a file.
08Engineer: a project's specs and standards in a private notebook
09NotebookLM slides: from documents to a presentation
10When NotebookLM shines and when it does not
Great for
- Questions about long documents you already have: standards, specs, contracts, manuals
- Answers you can verify, with a link to the clause
- Studying: summaries, flashcards, quizzes and a podcast for the commute
- A first-draft deck or briefing from existing material
Less suited for
- Engineering calculations and design: answers must be checked by a qualified engineer
- Fresh web information, unless you add it as a source
- A deck in your company template: see Task: presentation
- Documents your contract or company policy says must not go to the cloud
11Privacy, licensed standards and school accounts
According to Google, notebook content is not used to directly train its foundation models unless you give feedback (thumbs up or down). Feedback sends that content to Google and may be seen by trained human reviewers, so on a personal account avoid those buttons in sensitive notebooks. On Workspace and Education accounts content is not human-reviewed or used for training.
Standards you bought under license stay in a private notebook; do not share it by public link. That is the strongest engineering use: one notebook per project, as explained in Context that stays, and to find the right standard in the first place see Standards, no guessing.
Students and teachers: Gemini Notebook is included at no cost in all Google Workspace for Education editions when the school admin turns it on. Google lists daily caps there, for example up to 50 chat questions and up to 3 audio or video overviews a day. Under-18 users get a more restricted experience, and Google's help pages list features such as Slide Deck, Deep Research and Cinematic video as 18+. If your school account does not show it, ask your IT coordinator.
12FAQ
What is NotebookLM?
A free Google tool, now called Gemini Notebook, that answers questions only from documents you upload, cites each claim, and turns the material into audio, video, slides, mind maps and reports. More on Gemini itself at Gemini guide.
Does NotebookLM work in Hebrew?
Yes. Hebrew is on the output language list, set in Settings, Output Language. You can upload Hebrew documents and ask in Hebrew. Some features, such as longer audio, interactive audio and Cinematic video, are English only for now.
Can NotebookLM make a presentation?
Yes, with Slide Deck in the Studio panel. Choose a detailed deck or presenter slides, length and language, and download as PDF or PowerPoint. The feature is for users 18+, and you should check it against the sources.
Is there a NotebookLM desktop download?
We found no official desktop program. Use it in the browser at notebook.google; on phones there is an official Gemini Notebook app for Android and iPhone.
Is NotebookLM free?
Yes. A regular Google account gets almost every feature with 100 notebooks and 50 sources per notebook. Google AI subscriptions raise the limits; see the full price comparison at AI Price Comparison: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot.
Can students use NotebookLM with a school account?
It is included at no cost in Google Workspace for Education accounts when the school turns it on, with extra safeguards for under-18 users. We found no specific official guidance from Israel's Ministry of Education, so ask your school's IT coordinator. For a structured way to learn AI tools see Free AI course.