Google is reportedly narrowing Gemini's free model menu on October 9. Availability varies by plan and account, so a third-party comparison does not prove which models you can access.

With multiple AI tools and API bills to track, this is a good moment to distinguish services that save time from those kept only for occasional curiosity.

Action: inspect Gemini's current model selector and subscription options. Compare the same real task across services before paying for an upgrade.