r/GooglePixel • u/FA_Nibbler • 1d ago
Google Ai plan Plus changes November 13th
Basically to Access a pro model I need to Pay 4x of my current plus subscription. I wonder for what I pay now? Google cloud storage?
I can't add a picture so here is the body text:
Hi Xxxxx,
We wanted to let you know about changes to the models that you can access with your Google AI Plus plan.
Starting on 13 November 2026, the ability to select Pro models in both the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search will only be available to Google AI Pro subscribers and above. You'll still have access to our latest Flash-Lite model and Flash, built for speed and intelligence. Your previous chats using the Pro model can be continued with a different model.
To learn more about these changes, you can visit our Help Centre article for additional details. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time.
Thank you for being a Google AI Plus subscriber.
– The Google One team
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u/jashsu 1d ago
Nobody should be surprised. Big tech is running the same playbook they always have: subsidize with VC money at the start to hook people on it cheap, then jack the price up when they inevitably have to actually make money.
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u/ContributionFormer95 1d ago
The Plus plan didn't even come out til this year. The AI Pro plan was $20 when it was hyped as a free perk during the Pixel 9 era and is still $20 today with more features than in 2024.
- 2TB => 5TB
- YouTube Premium Lite included
- Home Premium added
Seems like some people just like to rage bait here.
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u/DeadEyesSmiling Pixel 9 Pro 1d ago
The only "baiting" going on was a) Google finally coming out with decent mid-range storage options that also offered limited access to the pro level models, b) selling those tiers with annual options, c) then waiting just long enough for people to likely get comfortable with their new storage allowance to reneg on the contract and yoink a highlighted feature.
The topic isn't "look at what the Pro plan offers now!"; it's "Google is taking away features that users already paid for at their current tier, and they've done it in a way that makes it very inconvenient for users to easily step back down to a lower tier."
There's no reason that Google couldn't have sent out a notice that said: "Past your plan term, your current tier will no longer be offering access to the pro models. If you'd like to retain access to the pro models, that will require upgrading to the Pro plan after your term ends." But they're not doing that, and instead pulling some major anti-consumer, breach-of-contract horseshit.
It's unconscionable and indefensible.
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u/StimulatorCam Pixel 8 Pro 1d ago
What are you currently using it for that specifically requires the AI Pro models?
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u/cjsv7657 1d ago
Not OP but I'm in the process of relearning calculus and the pro models are significantly better at math. It burns through your allotment fast though.
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u/Psyjotic 1d ago
Not OP, but I use AI to find sources that support/oppose my ideas. Pro tends to give a more logical and organized summary than Flash model, in my experience. Especially when it comes to philosophical and mathematical problem.
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u/bobloadmire 1d ago
manage a selfhosted stack, the pro models are substantially mroe thorough and capable.
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u/FA_Nibbler 1d ago
I use it to get the most reliable answers for my topics im interested in. When I reflect on it I do not need it, but I was willing to pay the plus subscription to get access to a good Pro model. When I can't trust it, I will simply not use it, but currently we get spoon fed Ai especially with Google.
Data Centers are expensive and RAM companies need to keep their 90% profit margins
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u/StimulatorCam Pixel 8 Pro 1d ago
How different are the answers using the Pro model vs the Flash model?
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u/CoarseRainbow 1d ago
Jumping in but i use Gemini a lot for image analysis and categorising.
Ive found Flash often gets a location wrong with great certainty whereas Pro is correct far more often. Ditto species of wildlife.
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u/RogLatimer118 1d ago
"We are writing you to tell you about our enshittification, and how we want to extract more money from you"
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u/guccigreene 1d ago
I just want an option between 100gb and 2tb with useless AI features. Please Google!!!
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u/cjsv7657 1d ago
There's a 200 and 400gb option. You have to go in to the app, membership plans, then see more
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u/guccigreene 1d ago
Oops, I feel dumb. I didn't see the "see more options" text. I'll look into it! Thank you.
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u/hardinho 1d ago
You're not alone, iirc it was also very well hidden for a while or didn't even pop up on the phone app.
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u/doommaster Pixel 8 Pro 20h ago
My Jio plan, for pennies a year comes with free AI Pro and 5TB of storage.
At the same time getting the plan alone costs 8x more per month than the mobile plan costs per year.
It's like dealers handing out free crack.
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u/DeadEyesSmiling Pixel 9 Pro 1d ago
I just got my email, and read it as them telling me: please save some money by going back down to the lower tier, because there's no longer any incentive to keep what you've got now."
Thanks, Google!
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u/IntrepidHero42 1d ago
From $5 to $20 is insane. They can royally get fucked.
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u/ContributionFormer95 1d ago
The $20 plan has always been around. The $5 plan wasn't even a thing til early this year. I don't get why people are so upset. The $5 plan was always meant to be an intro plan.
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u/Nathannywhole 1d ago
You pay annually for a list of services you were provided, and less than a month in they change the plan specifics but you are still locked in for a year. That is fucking terrible and a reason why people hate Google. I hope Qwen 4 is amazing, fuck online models unless you really need it.
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u/StimulatorCam Pixel 8 Pro 19h ago
The $10 2TB plan used to not have any AI included at all, then they added it later for no extra cost.
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u/Low-Independence7077 1d ago
It ain't wven much good keeos changing biases or leading you to wrong answer
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u/Dragon_Fisting Pixel 9 Pro 1d ago
Scummy to not give you the option, but 3.8 Flash is more or less computationally superior to 3.1 Pro and a lot more efficient, so given their current lineup it makes sense.
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u/FA_Nibbler 1d ago
If this is the case I agree with you, but it does not change the point that I paid my yearly subscription to access the Pro model what I will not be able to anymore
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u/Advanced-Leave-4755 1d ago
Exactly! But if Flash is better than Pro, what made it better in the first place? Flash got the update, Pro didn’t. Both didn't get updates at the same time, and the Pro is still playing catch-up with the competition. So now it's like calling a toy car a Ferrari!
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u/ContributionFormer95 1d ago
Yeah honestly Flash since 3.5 has been extremely capable, which is why it's computationally more intense. The Flash since 3.5 is more equivalent to a Pro than the old 2.5 Flash era.
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u/zkarabat Pixel 8 1d ago
Can they let me buy my cloud space and AI separately? I'd love to save the money and have no access to Gemini and give me lowly Google Assistant instead....
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u/farmtownsuit Pixel 8 19h ago
Yes. You have to look for like a more options button or something. It's kinda hidden and very much intentional, but you can pay for just cloud storage without AI
For now...
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u/zkarabat Pixel 8 19h ago edited 18h ago
Really? I'll have to look again because it's been a minute.
Is that at all tiers? I pay for 2TB level and didn't see an option
UPDATE: Nevermind ... Google already killed it at 2TB and above....
"Google has updated its lineup, and all tiers at 2 TB and above now include AI features by default. The classic, non-AI 2 TB Premium plan has been completely phased out."
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u/farmtownsuit Pixel 8 18h ago
Sorry I guess it's not all tiers. Looks like it is in fact all AI bundled after 200 GB
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u/zkarabat Pixel 8 18h ago
Hey, no worries bud! Got me to double check and I appreciate you trying to help me out.
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u/LinkAnxious1792 1d ago
Bro what do you mean I just start my plus subscription few weeks ago and now they removed the very feature I mostly use in this tier 😑 why scam your old subscribers man , just make changes for new subscribers but atleast those who already have purchased the subscription before that change let them have what they actually paid for, there should be a legal policy that a brand or company can never downgrade something which users have already paid for
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u/StudyInevitable322 1d ago
I got this like last month. I should have like 2 more months to go with less features now. I might as well cancel.
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u/Lautaurus 21h ago edited 21h ago
I think google did an account wipe or change recently specifically to Workspace accounts. All my account’s suddenly required relogging. I lost a years old domain account and all the drive files.
I figured time to pay for the service, a balance between storage and AI tools works for me.
Exactly when my yearly subscription finishes the free trial month this shows up. They absolutely thought about this. I didn’t even want the AI stuff i just wanted 2TB of space and easy access for clients. Now i’m getting features removed and no price decrease for ir nor a seperate just drive space plan.
F business. They should be required to have a notice period of 365 days since announcing to actually being allowed to implement the changes, a yearly plan paid for things i will not receive
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u/A_BulletProof_Hoodie 21h ago
This is bullshit. You got rid of Google Assistant which was perfectly fine. There was nothing wrong with it.
This is standard bait and switch. So yeah I'll be canceling this whole plan and I'm going back to storing all my photos and all my things here locally because I do not trust y'all anymore.
Getting rid of pro, especially when you know the flash versions can be incredibly inaccurate because they're allowed to be. Just to create a new tears fucking stupid.
Once again the enshitification continues
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u/Mean_Variation6298 1d ago
Better to just build your own NAS and use the free tier AI if needed. People with lots of data on googles servers are kinda hooked on.
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u/MastarPete 1d ago
I only had a One plan for the storage. I got a pixel phone last year and activated the free year of Gemini which ends on the first. I used and abused the pro model because I had access but it's only been amusing at best. I found a use for it but still have no real need for it though. So, FINE BY ME.gif!
Give us a mix 'n match, let us pick the options we actually use. I'd gladly give up Gemini access entirely if it meant I could get a better tier of YouTube.
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u/LordNewning 1d ago
I got the AI pro trial with my P10PXL last November. I cancelled it yesterday to be certain that it doesn't auto-renew.
I don't think that I ever used it for anything. If that's what's powering the Gemini Assistant, then I don't need that. I can just set my own alarms.
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u/Otherwise_Cattle3981 16h ago
On my second free year of Pro, and honestly, to me, its worth the $20.
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u/MrRolandGil 1d ago
Partially off topic, but don't you guys feel extremely confused by 1) all this models (3.1 pro, 3.8 flash etc, where "pro" is superior to "flash", but 3.8 sounds way better than 3.1 etc?), and all this plans (plus, pro, ultra... plus compared to what? Free? And why is plus inferior to pro?)?? + Last but not least, as far as a few days ago the 3.1 pro was accessible on the free plan, a few days after a 3.1 old model not even accessible for 10$ per month??
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u/SillySin 12h ago
They gave me 6 months free with phone, I cancelled it 2 mins later so it doesn't renew in 6 months, fuck AI
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u/Tuna_no_crusts 1d ago
I run an AI platform at a major organization. Nobody realizes is how freaking expensive all this shit really is. You can easily burn through $100 a day just doing basic things with 3.1 Pro. These companies are all losing tons of money and now it's time to recoup their investment.
All that said, honestly, $20 a month for what you get for Pro is totally worth it. That's actually pretty heavily subsidized based on usage I've seen in a corporate environment.
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u/bblzd_2 S25 1d ago