Gemini: what it does, what it costs, where it struggles
Google's assistant, built into Chrome, Gmail, Docs and Android, that can also run browsing tasks on paid plans.
- Made by
- Kind
- general assistant
- Free to try
- Free plan with limits
- Where
- web, Android, iOS, Chrome, inside Gmail, Docs and Google Messages
What it does
Gemini chats, writes, makes images and helps with Google's own apps. On Google AI Plus and up, it works inside Gmail, Docs and other Google apps.
Gemini in Chrome can read the page you are on, and on Google AI Pro and Ultra its 'auto browse' can click through websites for you; this is rolling out to US subscribers first.
Tasks in Gemini run jobs and schedules for you, in your Chrome or a remote cloud browser, and pause when a site needs you to sign in. Google requires a paid plan, age 18+, a personal account and certain settings, and it is not offered in the EEA, UK, Switzerland or Nigeria.
On Android, you can chat with Gemini inside Google Messages.
Main features
- Built into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps (Plus and up)
- Gemini in Chrome, with auto browse on Pro and Ultra
- Tasks and schedules run in Chrome or a cloud browser
- Chat with Gemini in Google Messages on Android
- Personalization from your Google activity
- Large context window on Pro and Ultra (1 million tokens)
What it costs
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 32k-token context; limits refresh every 5 hours up to a weekly limit |
| Google AI Plus | $4.99/month | 128k context; Gemini in Gmail and Docs |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99/month | 1 million-token context; Chrome auto browse; Tasks |
| Google AI Ultra | From $99.99/month (5x Pro) or $199.99/month (20x Pro) | Highest limits; first access to new agent features |
Who it's for
- People who already live in Gmail, Docs and Chrome
- Android users who want an assistant in their texting app
- Families or small teams already paying for Google storage plans
Where it struggles
- Tasks need Pro or Ultra, age 18+, a personal account and Keep Activity turned on, and are not offered in the EEA, UK, Switzerland or Nigeria (Google help: Tasks).
- Google warns that a scheduled task running while you are offline cannot be stopped until you are back (Google help: Tasks).
- Chrome auto browse is only on Pro and Ultra and reaches US subscribers first.
- The free plan has a much smaller context window (32k tokens) and 5-hour and weekly limits (Google help: limits).
- Gemini in Google Messages is Android-only, needs RCS turned on and age 18+, and is rolling out gradually.
At a glance
| Gemini | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Google's assistant, built into Chrome, Gmail, Docs and Android, that can also run browsing tasks on paid plans. |
| Price | Free: $0; Google AI Plus: $4.99/month; Google AI Pro: $19.99/month |
| Free to try | Free plan with limits |
| Does the task itself | yes on Pro and Ultra it browses and runs scheduled tasks; Free and Plus mostly answer and draft |
| Its own email address | no it works inside your Gmail, with no address of its own |
| You can text it | partly on Android you can chat with it inside Google Messages (RCS); no SMS number |
| Its own computer and browser | partly Tasks can use a remote cloud browser; auto browse uses your Chrome |
| Remembers you | Can remember things you tell it and use your Google activity for personalization, if you turn it on |
| Where it lives | web, Android, iOS, Chrome, inside Gmail, Docs and Google Messages |
How it compares
If you want an assistant that does the work itself rather than helping you do it, see how Gemini stacks up: ChatGPT vs Gemini.
Listed in: The best AI email assistants in 2026, The best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026.
Questions people ask
- Is Gemini free?
- Yes, with limits that refresh every 5 hours up to a weekly cap. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and Google AI Pro $19.99 a month.
- Can Gemini browse websites for me?
- Yes, on Google AI Pro and Ultra: auto browse in Chrome and Tasks can click through sites, pausing for you to sign in.
- Can I text Gemini?
- On Android you can chat with Gemini inside Google Messages if RCS is on. There is no SMS number.
Checked 2026-11-08 on Google's own pages: Google AI subscriptions, Gemini agent, Gemini in Chrome, Gemini Apps limits & feature availability (Google help), Manage your tasks & workflows in Gemini Apps (Google help), Customize your Gemini in Chrome experience (Google help). Prices change; check the maker's pricing page before you buy.
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