Google Sets Gemini Usage Limits

Google has recently revised its Help Centre guidance, publishing a clear breakdown of the usage limits for its Gemini App. The update sets out restrictions on prompts, images, Deep Research, video generation, and context windows.

For the first time, Google has provided specific numbers for each tier of its service, replacing the previously vague explanations that left many users guessing about how much they could actually use. This shift is being welcomed by professionals and marketers who rely on Gemini to plan their workloads more effectively.

The new guidelines apply not only to the free version of Gemini but also to the paid tiers of Google AI. Each plan now has transparent limits that users can track, creating a more predictable experience compared with the broad “reasonable use” language Google had used before.

The caps cover a variety of features, including the number of prompts a person can submit in a day, the total volume of images they can generate, the extent of Deep Research functions, the ability to create videos, and the size of the context windows.

Subscription choice makes a key difference. While free-tier users get basic access, those on the Pro and Ultra plans receive higher daily allowances and significantly larger context windows. This means those handling bigger projects or requiring more complex outputs will benefit from upgrading.

However, Google has pointed out that these figures are not absolute. Actual limits can fluctuate depending on the type of task being performed. For example, simple prompts take up less capacity, while larger file uploads or highly detailed instructions can consume allowances more quickly.

This means that even if two users are on the same subscription level, their experience may vary depending on how they use the service. Someone running shorter, straightforward queries may get further within the daily cap than someone working on intensive research tasks or generating multiple large files.

To help customers manage their usage, Google has also introduced in-app alerts. These notifications appear when a person is nearing their daily limit, giving them a chance to slow down or adjust their activity before hitting the cap.

This is seen as a major step towards transparency. Since Gemini’s launch, many users had criticised the lack of clarity around what “reasonable use” actually meant. By setting out the numbers in black and white, Google has taken away much of the uncertainty.

For businesses in particular, this change is significant. Companies that rely on Gemini for research, marketing, or content creation can now better plan around the exact allowances they have, avoiding unexpected interruptions in workflow.

The limits on context windows are especially important. A larger window allows the system to process more data in a single conversation, making it easier to handle lengthy research, detailed creative work, or projects that involve multiple stages.

Pro and Ultra customers will especially benefit from these larger context windows. By being able to process more information at once, they can reduce the need to restart or break down conversations into smaller pieces, making their work faster and more efficient.

At the same time, users on the free plan now have a clearer picture of what they can achieve without paying. This may also encourage some to consider upgrading if they find the allowances too restrictive for their needs.

For Google, this is also a balancing act. The company needs to ensure that the service remains accessible to a wide range of users, while also protecting system performance and avoiding excessive demand that could affect reliability.

Ultimately, the new Help Centre update is about building trust. By being upfront about limits, Google is helping users plan better, manage expectations, and make informed decisions about which tier best suits their needs.

What’s New

Up until recently, Google’s official guidance on Gemini Apps was fairly vague, with references only to “limited access” and no clear explanation of what that actually meant in practice.

That has now changed. The company has updated its Help Centre pages to outline exactly what users can expect, setting out the different allowances for Gemini 2.5 Pro. These include specific limits on prompts, image generation, Deep Research sessions, and other functions.

Google has also made it clear that these allowances are not set in stone. Practical caps may still vary depending on factors such as the complexity of a prompt, the size of the files being used, and the overall length of a conversation.

The update stresses that these limits are there to ensure a smoother and more reliable service for everyone using Gemini Apps. In its own words, the Help Centre explains:

“Gemini Apps has usage limits designed to ensure an optimal experience for everyone… we may at times have to cap the number of prompts, conversations, and generated assets that you can have within a specific timeframe.”

In other words, while users now have more transparency about what they can do under each plan, there remains some flexibility built into the system. Google has suggested these limits could be adjusted in future depending on demand and how people interact with the tools.

Free vs. Paid Tiers

In the free tier, users have limited access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, with a cap of just five prompts each day.

Alongside this, the free plan also includes entry-level access to Gemini 2.5 Flash. This comes with an allowance of 100 image generations daily, 20 audio overviews per day, and up to five Deep Research reports each month.

However, Google points out that these figures are not absolute. The actual output a user gets will depend on the complexity of the prompts they create, the length of their conversations, and the number or size of any files attached.

For those who subscribe to Google AI Pro, the usage limits rise significantly. Subscribers are able to submit up to 100 prompts each day using Gemini 2.5 Pro. They also gain access to 1,000 daily image generations and as many as 20 Deep Research reports per day, this time powered by the more advanced 2.5 Pro model.

At the highest subscription level, Google AI Ultra offers the most generous allowances. Here, users are given a daily limit of 500 prompts and up to 200 Deep Research reports.

AI Ultra also introduces access to Deep Think, a specialised feature designed for more advanced problem-solving and complex reasoning tasks. Within this, subscribers can use 10 prompts per day, each benefiting from a large 192,000-token context window, allowing for far more detailed and extended analysis.

Context Windows and Advanced Features

The size of context windows varies depending on which plan you’re on. For free users, the limit is set at 32,000 tokens, whereas Pro and Ultra subscribers benefit from a much larger 1 million token allowance. This makes it far easier to handle extended conversations or process lengthy documents without interruption.

Ultra subscribers also gain access to a separate feature called Deep Think. This is independent of the 1 million token window and instead comes with its own 192,000-token cap, applied across 10 prompts each day. It is designed specifically for more advanced reasoning and problem-solving tasks.

Video generation is still in its preview stage and comes with model-specific restrictions. On the Pro plan, users currently have the option to create up to three videos per day using Veo 3 Fast (preview). For Ultra users, this allowance increases to five daily videos through Veo 3 (preview).

Google has also made it clear that certain features will either appear first or run more smoothly on its paid tiers, giving subscribers priority access compared with those on the free service.