Want to try Gemini Live? You don't need to subscribe to Gemini Advanced anymore, it's free for all Android users

Google Pixel 9 Pro in Obsidian black
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Gemini Live is now free for all Android users as Google begins the mass rollout of its impressive AI-powered voice assistant.

Previously, Gemini Live was only available as part of Google’s paid Gemini Advanced subscription, which cost $20 (£18.99, AU$30). Now, Android users will be able to use the voice assistant for free, but you’ll need to be patient as not all users have access just yet.

Gemini Live is a competitor to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode as well as the upcoming Siri redesign, powered by Apple Intelligence on the best iPhones.

TechRadar’s Senior Editor, AI, Graham Barlow, has been using Gemini Live for a few weeks now and had this to say about Google’s human-sounding AI companion: “Finally, I can chat with my phone as if it were a real person, which is all I've ever wanted to do since voice assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa became a thing.”

Yes, the monthly subscription gives you access to other perks like 2 TB of cloud storage and access to Gemini 1.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model. However, most casual AI users will have upgraded to Gemini Advanced to try the new swanky Gemini Live voice assistant, which was first demoed at Google’s Pixel event in August.

If you own a compatible Android device like the brand-new Google Pixel 9 or Google Pixel 9 Pro, you can access Gemini Live by simply launching Google Gemini and hitting the Live icon in the bottom right corner. Some of TechRadar’s UK team are yet to see Live in the Gemini app, so if it doesn’t appear yet, be patient and check back regularly.

Want to read about Gemini Live? Check out our Pixel 9 Pro review.

Siri 2.0 vs Gemini Live

Just this week, Apple announced the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro with A18 and A18 Pro chips ready for Apple Intelligence. Apple’s AI tools will arrive over the coming months but we’ll need to wait until 2025 to try some of the most anticipated Apple Intelligence features like Siri 2.0. The major update to Siri with on-screen awareness is set to rival Gemini and Gemini Live as smartphone companies enter into an AI-focused battle, trying to prove who has the best software to help you in your day-to-day tasks.

Until then, Gemini and its host of powers including Gemini Live is the best use of AI we’ve seen on a smartphone yet. If you’re interested to hear more about Apple Intelligence and the future of iPhone as it looks to compete with Google’s offering, read our early hands-on iPhone 16 review.

You might also like

TOPICS
John-Anthony Disotto
Senior Writer AI

John-Anthony Disotto is TechRadar's Senior Writer, AI, bringing you the latest news on, and comprehensive coverage of, tech's biggest buzzword. An expert on all things Apple, he was previously iMore's How To Editor, and has a monthly column in MacFormat. He's based in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar. John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade, and is an award-winning journalist with years of experience in editorial.

Read more
Man using Gemini Live on an phone.
Free Gemini Live update brings better conversation skills and understanding of accents
Google Gemini app on iPhone
Looking for Gemini on iOS? It’s now only in Google’s dedicated Gemini app – complete with the new research mode for subscribers
Pixel 9 Pro og Pixel 9 Pro XL
Gemini AI can see and talk to you about what's on your screen – which could be more helpful than it sounds
Gemini 2.0
What is Gemini: everything you need to know about Google’s AI chatbot
Gemini 2.0
You can now try Gemini 2.0 in 'Experimental Advanced' mode if you're a Gemini Advanced subscriber
Gemini on a smartphone.
Gemini just got an enhanced memory upgrade for all users and you’ll love what you can do with it now
Latest in Artificial Intelligence
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough
Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers remarks before the start of an Apple event at Apple headquarters on September 09, 2024 in Cupertino, California. Apple held an event to showcase the new iPhone 16, Airpods and Apple Watch models. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The big Siri Apple Intelligence delay proves that maybe we really don't know Apple at all
AI writer
Coding AI tells developer to write it himself
Apple Intelligence logo on an iPhone.
I believed in Apple Intelligence, but Apple let me down
DeepSeek on an iPhone
OpenAI calls on US government to ban DeepSeek, calling it ‘state-subsidized’ and ‘state-controlled’
Latest in News
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung's latest software upgrade could mean Galaxy phones beat iPhones for gaming – but you can't get it yet
person at a computer
Many workers are overconfident at spotting phishing attacks
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)