What does Google's free year of Gemini actually give students?

A new semester starts and Google wants students using its AI tools. The company announced the offer on August 19, 2026. It runs until December 31, 2026.

Two different plans depending on where you study

U.S. students receive Google AI Pro at no cost for twelve months. The plan normally costs $19.99 per month. It includes four times the usage limits of a non-AI subscriber. It also unlocks Gemini Spark, Gemini inside Gmail and Google Docs, five terabytes of storage, and Google Health Premium.

Students outside the United States receive Google AI Plus instead. This plan is free for twelve months in more than 140 markets where Google AI Plus is available. The excluded markets are Bolivia, Albania, Canada, Macau, Hong Kong, and Tunisia. Google AI Plus provides access to Gemini Omni, two times the usage limits of a non-AI subscriber, and 400 gigabytes of storage.

A third option bundles Google AI Pro with YouTube Premium for up to 70 percent off. This bundle requires verification through SheerID. It is valid for up to four years and may renew automatically at the standard monthly price once student status ends. School-issued accounts cannot use this bundle. Individual use only.

What the student hub adds

The student hub lives at gemini.google.com/students. It works on mobile and web for all signed-in consumer accounts in every Gemini app language. School-issued accounts and users who meet minimum age requirements will get access in the coming weeks. Usage limits apply.

The hub collects Gemini's study tools in one place. Study notebooks launched in June. You upload lecture notes or other class materials. Gemini then builds a gameplan that breaks topics into bite-sized lessons. A diagnostic quiz identifies knowledge gaps. Custom quizzes and a real-time progress dashboard follow. Graphs and images will be added to lessons in the coming weeks. With permission, Gemini will also pull key dates like exams and assignment due dates from your syllabus into Google Calendar.

Interactive visualizations generate functional 3D simulations. Ask "show me how DNA works in 3D" and you can rotate and zoom a DNA structure. Ask to watch a pendulum trade energy back and forth. Ask to learn cash burn rates through an interactive table. These visualizations are available on mobile and web to consumer and school-issued accounts alike. Usage limits apply.

Talking through research with Gemini Live

Gemini Live now runs Deep Research. You ask Gemini to research a topic. It works asynchronously in the background. You can close the chat, lock your screen, or keep talking about other things. A notification arrives when the multi-step report is ready. Then you can chat through the results, ask follow-up questions, or refine details hands-free. The feature rolls out today. Compatibility, availability, and age restrictions vary.

What happens after the free year

Unless cancelled earlier, Google AI Pro automatically charges $19.99 per month after the trial ends. Google AI Plus automatically charges $4.99 per month or the local currency equivalent. Both can be cancelled anytime. A valid form of payment is required at sign-up for all offers. The announcement does not say how many students are currently eligible or how many have already claimed the offer.