Notebooks are now available for free Gemini app users

At a glance:

• Free Gemini app users can now create and use notebooks directly in the web app
• Notebooks support up to 50 sources for free accounts, with higher limits for AI Plus, Pro and Ultra tiers
• Google plans to turn notebooks into personal knowledge bases shared across its products, with mobile and Mac support arriving in the coming weeks

What the update adds

Google has extended the notebook feature, previously limited to paid subscribers, to anyone using the Gemini app at no cost. The new “Notebooks” entry appears in the side panel above the Gems and Chats sections on gemini.google.com. These notebooks are the same engine that powers the standalone NotebookLM app, meaning users can generate video overviews, infographics and other Studio outputs without switching tools.

The rollout follows an earlier expansion that gave Google AI subscribers access to notebooks earlier this month. By opening a notebook, users see a source list above the prompt box and a scrollable list of chats underneath. The full suite of Gemini Tools and web search remains available, preserving the interactive experience that Gemini users expect.

How notebooks work in the Gemini app

Each notebook acts as a dedicated workspace where chats and files can be organized. Any conversation in the Gemini app can be added to a notebook via the three‑dot overflow menu. When a user asks a question, Google will “consider all chats in [a] notebook when responding,” unless the optional “notebook memory” setting is turned off. Users can also supply custom instructions that dictate tone and response format, giving a degree of personalization that mirrors enterprise knowledge‑base use cases.

The interface shows sources directly above the prompt area, allowing quick reference to the material that the model is drawing from. This design mirrors the NotebookLM experience, where source attribution is a core feature for transparency and trust.

Limits and subscription tiers

For free users, each notebook can hold up to 50 sources. The limits increase with Google’s paid tiers:

• AI Plus subscribers: 100 sources per notebook
• Pro tier: 300 sources per notebook
• Ultra tier: 600 sources per notebook

These caps affect how many documents, web results, or uploaded files can be referenced in a single notebook session. The tiered limits suggest Google is positioning notebooks as a productivity enhancer for power users while still offering a functional baseline for casual users.

Future roadmap and availability

Google describes notebooks as “personal knowledge bases shared across Google products,” hinting at deeper integration with services like Drive, Docs, and Photos. The company teases “even more helpful features” but has not disclosed specifics yet.

Current availability is limited to the web app; notebooks are not yet live in the mobile or Mac applications. Google promises full rollout across those platforms in the “coming weeks,” indicating a phased approach to ensure stability before broader distribution.

Why it matters for AI consumers

The move lowers the barrier to creating structured, source‑rich AI workflows, a capability that previously required a paid subscription. By democratizing notebook access, Google may accelerate adoption of its Gemini model for research, content creation, and personal knowledge management. Competitors will likely feel pressure to offer comparable features, potentially sparking a wave of notebook‑style integrations across AI chat platforms.

Overall, the expansion reflects Google’s strategy to embed its generative AI deeper into everyday productivity tools, turning the Gemini app into more than a conversational interface—it becomes a hub for organized, source‑backed AI assistance.