Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) review: our take
Gemini Notebook, called NotebookLM until July 2026, is the tool to use when the answer must come from your own documents. You add sources to a notebook and it answers, summarizes or turns them into an Audio Overview, a spoken summary available in more than 80 languages. Code execution for data in your sources is rolling out to Ultra and then Pro users.
The free tier allows 100 notebooks with 50 sources each, which covers most students. Google AI Pro, at $19.99 a month, raises that to 500 notebooks and 300 sources and gives four times the standard usage. Limits now refresh every five hours. The mobile app lacks notes, mind maps and reports. For general questions beyond your files, use Gemini or Perplexity.
By the Prompt Hackers team · facts checked 4 Oct 2026
What Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) does
Gemini Notebook, renamed from NotebookLM on July 16, 2026, lets you upload sources into a notebook and then ask questions, get summaries and generate Audio Overviews grounded in those sources. Audio Overviews are available in 80+ languages. It now runs code to analyze data in your sources, rolling out first to Ultra and then Pro users. It is free with a Google account, and Google AI plans raise the limits.
Who Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) is for
Best for
- students and researchers working from a fixed set of documents
- people who want a podcast-style summary of their reading
Not for
- open-ended web research: answers come from the sources you add
- full use on a phone: notes, mind maps, reports and data tables are not yet in the mobile app
Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) features
- F1Answers grounded in your sources
- F2Audio Overviews in 80+ languages
- F3Code execution for data analysis
- F4Sync with the Gemini app
- F5Notebook sharing
- F6Usage limits that refresh every five hours
Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) pricing and plans
| Plan | Monthly | Billed yearly, per month | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (free) | $0 | — | 100 notebooks, 50 sources per notebook, standard usage limits |
| Google AI Plus | $4.99 | — | 200 notebooks, 100 sources per notebook, 2x the standard usage limits |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99 | — | 500 notebooks, 300 sources per notebook, 4x the standard usage limits, watermark removal |
| Google AI Ultra | $99.99 | — | 500 notebooks, 500 or 600 sources per notebook, 5x or 20x the AI Pro limits depending on tier |
Free plan: yes. Prices as listed by the vendor in USD, before tax; they change, so check the pricing page before you buy.
Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) FAQ
- How much does Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) cost?
- Paid plans start at $4.99/mo. Prices checked on 4 Oct 2026.
- Does Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) have a free plan?
- Yes, Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) has a free plan.
- What are the alternatives to Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM)?
- Tools that cover the same jobs include Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity.
Sources
- blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-notebook/notebooklm-gemini-notebook
- blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-notebook/new-flexible-usage-limits
- support.google.com/gemininotebook/answer/16213268
- support.google.com/gemininotebook/answer/17670842
- support.google.com/gemininotebook/answer/16296687
- support.google.com/gemininotebook/answer/16212820
- gemini.google/us/subscriptions