Google AI Pro Annual Plan Offers Big Savings

Love the Pro-level version of Gemini? Buy it for a whole year (Image credit: Shutterstock/Sadi Santos)

Google has just rolled out a new way to subscribe to its Google AI Pro service: an annual payment option. This marks a first for the service and comes with a significant perk – the yearly cost effectively gives you two months of access for free compared to paying month-by-month. Meanwhile, users of OpenAI's ChatGPT looking for similar annual deals will find they are not yet available.

If you're a dedicated user of Google Gemini AI and appreciate a good deal, there's exciting news. The Google AI Pro subscription is now available on an annual basis in addition to the existing monthly option. Opting for the yearly plan means you can save a notable amount of money.

Unpacking the Google AI Pro Annual Subscription Savings

This development, first highlighted by 9to5Google, allows users in the US to pay $199.99 for a full year of AI Pro. This compares favorably to the standard $19.99 monthly fee, which totals $239.88 over twelve months, making the annual plan $39.89 cheaper.

In the UK, the pricing structure is similar: £18.99 a month or £189.99 for the year, resulting in a saving of £37.89. While specific Australian annual pricing isn't immediately confirmed, the monthly fee there is AU$32.99. An annual plan would likely be around AU$329.99, saving approximately AU$65.89. For all regions, this effectively means getting two months of service free by paying upfront for the year.

How ChatGPT Subscription Tiers Compare

When we look at the competition, ChatGPT Plus continues to be priced at $20 / £20 per month (which is roughly AU$30.58). Currently, OpenAI does not offer an annual subscription option for ChatGPT Plus. For those seeking more advanced capabilities, the top-tier ChatGPT Pro plan is available for $200 / £200 (around AU$306) per month, also without an annual discount.

Here's a quick comparison of the available plans:

Comparing Top Tier AI Google AI Ultra and ChatGPT Pro

For users interested in Google's most powerful AI offering, the Google AI Ultra plan comes with a hefty price tag of $249.99 / £234.99 / AU$409.99 per month. As of now, there's no annual payment option for AI Ultra, though Google is offering an introductory deal of half price for the first three months for those wanting to try it out.

The Annual Commitment Factor Why Google Offers Savings

The primary trade-off with annual plans is the commitment. You are locked in for a full year and cannot opt out month-to-month. This is a common reason why annual subscriptions are often offered at a lower overall cost across various services, as they provide providers with more predictable revenue and user retention.

Googles Current Edge The Annual Discount

This means that for the more commonly subscribed-to AI plans, the monthly costs between Google Gemini AI Pro and ChatGPT Plus are quite similar. However, if you're prepared to commit to a full year and want to save some money in the process, Google's AI Pro is currently the only one offering that advantage.

It will be interesting to observe if OpenAI decides to introduce an annual plan for ChatGPT in response to Google's move. It's also important to remember that both Gemini and ChatGPT offer free versions, albeit with fewer features and more usage restrictions, for those who don't require premium access.

Further Reading on AI Developments

If you're interested in learning more about recent advancements in AI, you might find these articles insightful:

• Learn about Google's new Gemini AI model that lets robots run offline.
• Read about a new judge's ruling that could impact how OpenAI handles your ChatGPT chats.
• Discover Gemini's super-fast Flash-Lite 2.5 model and why you should switch.