Gemini’s new usage limits go live, frustrating users
▼ Summary
– Google introduced compute-based usage limits for Gemini, factoring in chat length, features used, and prompt complexity, with a weekly limit and a limit that resets every five hours.
– Paid tiers see the biggest shift: the AI Plus plan ($7.99/month) doubles free limits, AI Pro ($19.99/month) quadruples them, and higher Ultra plans offer 5x and 20x the Pro limits for $100 and $200 per month.
– Google’s email to users stated that limits refresh every five hours until the weekly limit, and AI Pro subscribers get a 4x higher limit than non-subscribers.
– Early reactions are mostly opposed, with users criticizing the wording for comparing Pro to the free plan instead of previous Pro limits, and some frustrated by stricter limits despite industry trends.
– Google partially acknowledged the tighter restrictions by permanently raising rate limits in Antigravity by 3x, and Gemini 3.5 Flash is more resource-intensive, with a single prompt using several percentage points of the five-hour limit.
Google’s rollout of new compute-based usage limits for Gemini has sparked frustration among users, just as the company unveiled a wave of AI-related announcements this week. The updated policy, effective May 20, marks a significant departure from the previous system where limits were less of a concern for most users.
Under the new framework, usage limits now depend on chat length, feature usage, and prompt complexity. In plain terms, the more computational power your request demands, the more it eats into your allowance. There is a weekly cap, along with limits that reset every five hours. Google explains this shift as a “better way to allocate limits, because a simple text prompt uses far less compute than a complex video or coding prompt.”
The free tier remains robust, but the biggest changes hit paid subscribers. The $7.99/month AI Plus plan doubles the free tier’s usage limits, while the $19.99/month AI Pro plan quadruples them. Higher-tier plans, AI Ultra, offer 5x and 20x the Pro plan’s limits for $100 and $200 per month, respectively. Previously, Google did not directly specify these figures, relying on vague terms like “more” and “higher” in its marketing.
In an email sent to users ahead of the change, Google stated: “Usage limits in the Gemini app: For the Gemini app, we’re introducing compute-based usage limits that factor in the complexity of your prompt, the features you use, and the length of your chat. Your limit refreshes every 5 hours until you reach your weekly limit. As an AI Pro subscriber, you’ll enjoy a 4x higher usage limit than non-subscribers.”
Early reactions have been largely negative. Some users criticize the wording, noting that the email compares Pro to the free plan rather than to what Pro previously offered, which was already a higher limit. Others question the value proposition, with AI Pro technically offering less usage per dollar than AI Plus, though Pro includes additional perks. For many, the core issue is simply that limits are now stricter, even if this aligns with broader industry trends.
Google’s support page reveals a stark contrast between the old and new limits, reflecting the growing strain on AI infrastructure as services expand. Hardware shortages, themselves driven by AI demand, compound the pressure. While the move is not unexpected, it represents a major adjustment for existing users.
To partially address the backlash, Google has permanently raised rate limits in Antigravity by 3x. Meanwhile, Gemini 3.5 Flash appears to be particularly demanding on usage limits. Early data suggests it is significantly more resource-intensive than its predecessor, with users reporting that a single prompt can consume several percentage points of their five-hour limit block.
You can check your current usage at gemini.google.com/usage. What’s your take on the new limits?
(Source: 9to5google.com)
