Google is introducing new AI-based pricing options for it’s Google One cloud storage subscription … More service.<\/p>\n
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\nAt A Glance<\/p>\n
Google is working on new AI subscription plans that could offer alternative ways to purchase access to the company\u2019s Gemini Advanced option, which enables Google\u2019s most capable AI models and premium features.<\/p>\n
April 25 Update Below: This article was originally published on April 23<\/p>\n
There\u2019s currently only one way to buy Gemini Advanced, and that\u2019s to purchase a Google One AI Premium plan<\/a> for $19.99 per month. However, this looks likely to change according to a recent Android Authority<\/a> report that reveals two new secret subscription plans hidden within the code of the latest Google Photos app.<\/p>\n Gemini Advanced AI Subscription Tiers \u2014 How Are They Changing?<\/p>\n The potential subscriptions, currently named \u201cPremium Plus AI\u201d and \u201cPremium AI Pro,\u201d sit alongside the existing \u201cPremium AI\u201d option and Google\u2019s other non-AI subscription tiers, including the recent \u201cLite\u201d tier that was revealed by the same method<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n The report finds no further information about the pricing or capabilities of these two new plans. Indeed, even the names may change before release. However, we can speculate that both \u201cPremium Plus AI\u201d and \u201cPremium AI Pro\u201d will offer more than the current \u201cPremium\u201d plan and, therefore, most likely cost more. Those hoping for a significantly cheaper way to buy Gemini Advanced will probably be out of luck.<\/p>\n Google has already revealed, via X<\/a>, plans to offer a discounted annual version of the current Google One AI Premium subscription. However, this is unlikely to align with either of the new tiers, as the company typically keeps the same name for both monthly and annual versions of each subscription. This promised annual subscription will most likely remain the only way to pay less for Gemini Advanced than you do right now.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s New Gemini Advanced AI Subscription Tiers \u2014 Why Do They Matter?<\/p>\n Adding new subscription plans would give Google increased flexibility in how it charges for computing power and features.<\/p>\n In addition to access to Gemini Advanced, the current Google One AI Premium package includes 2 TB of cloud storage, as well as Gemini in Gmail and Docs<\/a>, NotebookLM Plus<\/a>, and enhanced AI-powered features in Google Photos. The new tiers could add extra features to this list or even remove some of them.<\/p>\n What Extra Features Could Google Include In Its New Gemini Advanced Premium And Pro Tiers?<\/p>\n Google recently added support<\/a> for its Veo 2 AI video generation tool to the Gemini app for Gemini Advanced users. However, users are limited in terms of the number of eight-second video clips they can create per month. Google\u2019s new subscription tiers could provide higher limits, longer videos, or increased resolution, for example.<\/p>\n The new tiers would also create a significant sales opportunity for Google: Premium smartphones, such as the Pixel 9 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S25 Series, come bundled with free Google One AI Premium subscriptions of up to 12 months. Google\u2019s new higher-level tiers would enable the company to upsell AI plans to those users who would otherwise spend nothing on Google AI for up to a year, or even longer if the company continues to offer free subscriptions with future flagship smartphones.<\/p>\n You can expect to find out more about Gemini Advanced at Google I\/O<\/a> next month.<\/p>\n April 23 Update: Added possible upgrade scenarios and subscription advice<\/p>\n Google\u2019s New AI Subscription Plans \u2014 What Could They Offer?<\/p>\n For now, we can only speculate as to what Google\u2019s new Gemini AI Premium Plus and AI Premium Pro subscription tiers could offer over the current Gemini Advanced offering.<\/p>\n Likely upgrades include:<\/p>\n Google’s Google One Premium 5TB plan is the only way to purchase Gemini Advanced on a yearly plan.<\/p>\n GOOGLE One possibility, although I feel it\u2019s unlikely, is that Google\u2019s AI Premium Plus and AI Premium Pro tiers won\u2019t offer anything new at all.<\/p>\n When Google first made Gemini Advanced available through its 2TB Google One AI Premium plan, customers who had already subscribed to the company\u2019s most expensive \u201cPremium 5TB,\u201d \u201cPremium 10TB,\u201d and \u201cPremium 20TB\u201d subscription tiers were left out. None of these costly options included Gemini Advanced, and the only way to get it was to downgrade to the 2TB AI Premium plan.<\/p>\n Google has now added Gemini Advanced to these higher-capacity plans, but their names are now somewhat anomalous, as none of them reference AI in the title.<\/p>\n It would make sense then for Google to add some Gemini AI branding to these plans. The names’ AI Premium Plus\u201d and \u201cAI Premium Pro\u201d would certainly fit. However, I expect that we\u2019ll see additional AI features included in the new subscription plans, rather than just increased storage capacity.<\/p>\n Google One AI Premium \u2014 Don\u2019t Buy An Annual Subscription<\/p>\n Interestingly, Google One Premium 5 TB is currently the only option that allows customers to purchase a discounted annual subscription to Gemini Advanced. However, I recommend against buying any annual AI subscription for now, unless you can get it at a hefty discount.<\/p>\n There\u2019s simply too much competition in the AI space right now, with compelling offerings available from other services, such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude, to name just a few, all vying for your subscription fees. New features are being added all the time, with competing services often leapfrogging each other in terms of capability.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that Google has a habit of eventually making premium AI features available to free users, potentially devaluing paid subscriptions. Notable premium features that are now available free include Gemini Live camera and screen sharing<\/a>, Deep Research<\/a>, and Gemini 2.5 Pro<\/a> (experimental), although lower usage limits may apply.<\/p>\n With this in mind, it\u2019s sensible to stick to a monthly subscription to avoid becoming locked into a service that may no longer feel like the best option long before your subscription ends.<\/p>\n Follow @paul_monckton<\/a> on Instagram.<\/p>\n ForbesGoogle Photos Update Unlocks Stunning Ultra HDR For All Your PicturesBy Paul Monckton<\/a>ForbesAndroid Receives Next-Gen AI Upgrade While iPhone Misses OutBy Paul Monckton<\/a>\n
\nGoogle\u2019s New AI Subscription Plans \u2014 A Simple Renaming?<\/p>\n
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