What Changed for Gemini Subscribers?
Gemini, the AI assistant that millions use daily for coding, research, and creative work, underwent a major pricing shift on May 19, 2026. On that day, announced alongside the latest Google I/O keynote, both Pro ($20 per month) and Ultra ($200 per month) subscribers learned via email that the AI credits once included with their plans would no longer be available. The reaction was immediate: frustrated posts and sharp criticism appeared across social media and Reddit.
Emails forwarded and discussed on Reddit spelled out the new policy. Pro users lost their 1,000 monthly AI credits, while Ultra plan subscribers saw their price drop (from $249.99 to $199.99 per month) but also lost their 25,000 monthly credits.
How the New Compute Quotas Work
Instead of fixed credits, Google now enforces “usage limits based on compute”. The amount of your quota that each request consumes varies, depending on the complexity, features used, and conversation length. The system resets your usage counter every five hours, with a maximum weekly cap. Google tried to reassure customers in official emails that “the new model should allow you to maintain the same experience,” but many remain unconvinced.
One Pro subscriber illustrated the problem by sharing a screenshot: just two prompts had already consumed 27% of their quota. As they summed it up:
“What the hell is this?”
Another user, a developer relying on Gemini 3.1 Pro for daily coding, publicly canceled their plan, writing:
“They expect to keep the same price while giving less. Goodbye Gemini.”
This developer also complained about being switched automatically to Gemini Flash when demand was high, with no option to opt out.
What Remains the Same—and What’s New
Users still have access to Gemini’s suite of models (Flash, Pro, Deep Think), advanced features like Deep Research and video generation, and storage. But for those who exceed their quota, Google introduced pay-as-you-go “à la carte AI credits”—though users have no way of knowing in advance how much compute power a prompt will use. For professionals who depend on Gemini at work, this unpredictability has made the system difficult to rely on.
Strong Backlash Online
The backlash was swift. Social channels filled up with subscribers venting anger at the loss of included credits—especially with little drop in subscription cost for most users. Calls for cancellations and boycotts spread, as many felt the new quota system delivered less value for their money.
For now, Google maintains its position, but many former fans are already saying their own goodbyes to Gemini—frustrated by opaque quotas and diminished perks.
