Gemini

Consumer Free Tier Ratings

Last Reviewed: 2026-07-14

Public content with low sensitivity. Acceptable even with training enabled.

Imagen and Nano Banana image models available. Public content is low risk.

No sensitive data involved in public research queries.

Safe for public-facing educational materials.

Safe only if source content is already public and contains no PII.

Yes

Chats may be used to improve Google services and train AI models. Gemini Apps Activity settings control whether data is used for AI improvement, but even with activity off, Google uses chats to respond and may use them to protect services.

Yes

Users can manage Gemini Apps Activity settings to opt out of data being used for AI training. However, turning off activity also removes chat history access and only stops future chats from being used to train models; reviewed chats remain retained. Human review of some data may still occur.

By default

Human reviewers (including trained reviewers from service providers) review some data. Google advises: 'Please don't enter confidential information that you wouldn't want a reviewer to see.' Reviewed chat data is retained up to 3 years even if you delete your activity, per the Gemini Apps Privacy Hub (updated June 29, 2026).

18 months default (user-configurable: 3, 18, or 36 months)

Default auto-delete is 18 months; users can change to 3 months, 36 months, or indefinite. Chats reviewed by human reviewers are retained up to 3 years and are NOT deleted when you delete your activity. Confirmed current as of the June 29, 2026 Gemini Apps Privacy Hub update.

Consumer grade

Standard Google account security. No enterprise certifications apply to consumer accounts.

Workspace for Nonprofits is still FREE — and pricing/features are unchanged since March 2026

Unlike competitors offering 20-75% discounts, Google provides Gemini with enterprise-grade protection completely free for up to 2,000 nonprofit users. This includes Deep Research, Gemini Live, Audio Overviews, Google Vids, Gems, NotebookLM, and more. This remains the best nonprofit AI deal available as of July 2026.

Google's consumer AI lineup expanded to five tiers at I/O 2026 — none offer nonprofit protections

At Google I/O on May 19, 2026, Google restructured its consumer subscriptions: a new 'Google AI Plus' tier launched at $7.99/month (the first sub-$10 tier available in the US), AI Pro held steady at $19.99/month but now runs Gemini 3.1 Pro, and the AI Ultra tier split into a new $100/month developer tier and the existing top tier cut from $249.99 to $200/month. All five consumer tiers — Free, AI Plus, AI Pro, AI Ultra $100, and AI Ultra $200 — use identical consumer data policies: chats may be reviewed by humans and used for training. None offer nonprofit discounts.

Gemini 3 model family now powers all tiers

Since Gemini 3 Pro's general release on November 18, 2025, Google has rapidly iterated: Gemini 3.1 Pro (Feb 2026) and Gemini 3.5 Flash (GA May 19, 2026, now the default fast model in the free tier's AI Mode and across paid plans). This is a generational model upgrade from the Gemini 2.5 series referenced in the March 2026 review.

NotebookLM's compliance gap is now explicitly documented

Google's official Generative AI in Google Workspace Privacy Hub now explicitly states that NotebookLM does NOT support ISO, SOC, HIPAA, or FedRAMP compliance and is not covered by the Workspace BAA — even though it's bundled free into Workspace for Nonprofits and other tiers. This is an important nuance for health-related nonprofits: don't upload PHI to NotebookLM regardless of which Workspace plan you're on.

Two distinct FedRAMP authorizations now exist for Google's AI offerings

The original FedRAMP High authorization (March 2025) for Gemini in Workspace apps and the Gemini app remains active and unchanged. Separately, Google certified a distinct 'Gemini for Government' offering at FedRAMP 20x (Class B / Low) effective January 21, 2026 — a lower assurance tier for a different government-focused bundle. Nonprofits relying on Gemini via standard Workspace continue to benefit from the FedRAMP High authorization, not the newer Low-tier certification.

HIPAA nuance: enterprise protections vs formal BAA (unchanged)

The free Workspace for Nonprofits plan includes enterprise data protections that Google says meet HIPAA compliance certifications for the Gemini app and Gemini in Workspace. However, signing a formal HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) requires a paid Workspace plan, and NotebookLM is excluded from BAA coverage entirely. Healthcare nonprofits that need a signed BAA should upgrade to paid Business or Enterprise plans and avoid NotebookLM for PHI.

2026-05-19

Google I/O 2026: Major consumer AI subscription overhaul. New 'Google AI Plus' tier launched globally (including US for first time) at $7.99/month running capped Gemini 3 Pro. AI Pro held at $19.99/month, now running Gemini 3.1 Pro. AI Ultra split into a new $100/month developer tier and the existing top tier, cut from $249.99 to $200/month. Gemini 3.5 Flash reached general availability as the new default fast model. Usage moved from fixed daily caps to a 5-hour rolling compute-credit model. None of the new/changed tiers offer nonprofit discounts or enterprise data protections.

2026-01-21

Google certified a distinct 'Gemini for Government' offering at FedRAMP 20x, Class B (Low) — separate from and lower-tier than the existing FedRAMP High authorization for core Gemini in Workspace apps (unchanged since March 2025).

2026-03

Google's Gemini for Education reaffirmed its Common Sense Privacy Verified Seal in ISTE-related announcements, building on the original June 2025 seal award.

2025-11-18

Gemini 3 Pro released — Google's most intelligent model at the time, rolling out same-day across the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, AI Studio, Vertex AI, and Google Antigravity. Represented a generational upgrade from the Gemini 2.5 series.

2026-02-09

Google confirms 10+ premium AI features included in free Workspace for Nonprofits: Deep Research, Gemini Live, Audio Overviews, Canvas, Google Vids, Gems, NotebookLM advanced features. Google explicitly states these meet 'HIPAA, GDPR, SOC, and other compliance certifications' for Gemini app and Gemini in Workspace (NotebookLM's own compliance gap later clarified in the May 2026 Privacy Hub update).

2025-09-05

Common Sense Media rated consumer Gemini 'High Risk' for under-13 and teen users due to content safety concerns (inappropriate content, mental health advice). Separate from the Workspace for Education Privacy Seal. Rating remains current as of July 2026.

2025-06-11

Google for Nonprofits expanded to 100+ new countries and launched 10+ new no-cost AI features in Workspace for Nonprofits. In first 3 months since AI feature launch, 180% more nonprofit staff used the Gemini app.

2025-06-29

Gemini in Google Workspace for Education earned the Common Sense Privacy Verified Seal — the most rigorous Common Sense rating, requiring 200+ privacy questions, quarterly check-ups, and annual policy updates.

2025-05-20

Google I/O 2025: 'Gemini Advanced' / Google One AI Premium rebranded to 'Google AI Pro' at $19.99/month. New 'Google AI Ultra' plan launched at $249.99/month (later cut to $200/month at I/O 2026). Neither offered nonprofit discounts; both retained consumer data policies.

For organizations with 5+ staff

Apply for Google for Nonprofits now and activate Workspace for Nonprofits. Free for up to 2,000 users, with enterprise-grade Gemini protection AND 10+ premium AI features including Deep Research, Gemini Live, Google Vids, and NotebookLM. The value is extraordinary and unchanged since March 2026 — no other AI vendor matches this for nonprofits. Just remember NotebookLM specifically isn't HIPAA/FedRAMP covered even within this free tier.

For organizations with fewer than 5 staff

Activate Gemini in Workspace for Nonprofits immediately. If you're already using Google Workspace, it's included with enterprise protection at no additional cost. This remains the easiest AI adoption path available for any size organization.

For health data or vulnerable populations

The free Workspace for Nonprofits tier includes enterprise data protections that Google confirms meet HIPAA compliance certifications for the Gemini app and Gemini in Workspace. However, if your organization requires a formally signed HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA), you must upgrade to a paid Workspace Business or Enterprise plan — and even then, NotebookLM remains excluded from BAA coverage entirely, so never upload PHI there. Contact Google for nonprofit Enterprise pricing with 70%+ discount.

Paying For Gemini Advanced

Stop. Cancel any paid consumer Gemini subscription — AI Plus ($7.99), AI Pro ($19.99), or either AI Ultra tier ($100 or $200) — and switch to Workspace for Nonprofits. You'll get better privacy protection AND more AI features for free. Consumer subscriptions at any of these five price points do not provide enterprise data protections; Google I/O 2026's price cuts and new tiers don't change this.

Already Using Google Workspace

Activate Gemini immediately. It's included with enterprise protection at no additional cost for nonprofits, and includes 10+ premium AI features. This remains the easiest AI adoption path available.

Not Yet On Workspace

Apply for Google for Nonprofits now. Free Workspace for up to 2,000 users, free Gemini with enterprise protection, plus Deep Research, Gemini Live, Google Vids, NotebookLM, and more. The value is extraordinary and unchanged since the last review.