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Bonus shelf · AI models

Google Gemini and the Gemini API

Google's assistant in a standalone app, with paid plans that add usage and storage, plus the Gemini API for building Google's models into your own product.

No-codeFree plan
Visit gemini.google (opens in a new tab) ↗

Our take Kratuva

Best for
Teams already on Google accounts that want a cheap entry plan, and builders who want to prototype on a free API tier.
Not for
Anyone testing with client or personal data on the free API tier outside the EEA, UK and Switzerland.

Price

From
$4.99/month(Google AI Plus, US); Google AI Pro $19.99/month; API Gemini 3.8 Flash $0.75 per 1M input and $3.75 per 1M output tokens through Dec 31, 2026
Model
per user per month for app plans; free API tier, then pay per token
Free plan
Yes
Checked
9 Oct 2026

Prices change. Check the vendor page before you buy.

What Google Gemini and the Gemini API is good at

  • The Free plan includes Gemini 3.6 Flash, varying access to 3.1 Pro, Deep Research, Gemini Live and 15 GB of storage.
  • Paid plans start low: Google AI Plus is $4.99/month in the US and Google AI Pro is $19.99/month, both bundling Google storage.
  • The API has a free tier through Google AI Studio, and paid tier content is not used to improve Google products.

Where Google Gemini and the Gemini API breaks

  • Free API tier and AI Studio content is used to improve Google products and may be read by human reviewers, so Google says not to send sensitive or confidential data (EEA, UK and Swiss users get paid tier terms instead).
  • In the Gemini app, chats reviewed by humans are kept for up to three years even if you delete your activity; turning off Keep Activity stops future review.
  • API spend is capped per tier ($250/month on Tier 1) with a rolling 10 minute spend limit that returns 429, and Gemini 3.8 Flash prices double on January 1, 2027.

When a custom build beats Google Gemini and the Gemini API

When you need the model inside your own workflow, such as sorting inbound email or reading forms, a paid tier API call beats copying text into the app by hand, and keeps the data out of product improvement.

Setup

No-code. Someone comfortable with spreadsheets can set it up. No code needed.

Sources

  1. gemini.google/us/subscriptions/
  2. support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961
  3. ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
  4. ai.google.dev/gemini-api/terms
  5. ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/rate-limits

Price checked 9 Oct 2026. If something here is out of date, email indra@kratuva.com and we will fix it.

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Checked 9 Oct 2026

Every price and claim links to its source. Prices change often, so check the vendor's page before you buy. No affiliate links: nobody paid to be here. Logos belong to their owners and are shown only to name each tool, not as an endorsement.