Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) review

Google now calls NotebookLM Gemini Notebook, and it is still at notebooklm.google. It works differently from a single-file chat: you build a notebook of sources and every answer is grounded in what you added. The free plan allows up to 50 sources per notebook, which is enough for a semester of lecture notes and readings. For students, the study outputs are the draw. Google's pages describe turning class material into an Audio Overview to listen to recaps, generating Flashcards before an exam, and building Mind Maps to connect topics. Paid tiers raise limits rather than change the product: Google AI Plus at $4.99 a month in the US doubles usage and allows 100 sources per notebook, and Google AI Pro at $19.99 allows 300. The trade-off is that the paid plans are only sold in specific regions, and the notebook model takes a minute longer to set up than dropping one PDF into a chat. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

students studying from class readings

Price

Free plan with up to 50 sources per notebook; Google AI Plus $4.99 a month in the US.

$4.99 / month Get 2x higher usage access than Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Responses are grounded in the sources you add
• Free plan allows up to 50 sources per notebook
• Audio Overviews and Flashcards from class material
• Mind Maps for connecting topics visually
• Google AI Pro raises the cap to 300 sources per notebook

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Cheapest paid upgrade on this list: Google AI Plus at $4.99 a month
• Strength: Free plan covers up to 50 sources per notebook
• Strength: Study outputs such as Audio Overviews and Flashcards are built in
• Weakness: Higher limits require a Google AI plan, available only in specific regions
• Weakness: Works inside notebooks rather than as a quick drop-a-file chat
• Weakness: Free plan has standard limits for chat and generated Slides and Audio Overviews

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, up to 50 sources per notebook
• Google AI Plus: $4.99 a month, up to 100 sources
• Google AI Pro: $19.99 a month, up to 300 sources
• Google AI Ultra: Up to 600 sources per notebook

Where it ranks

Gemini Notebook (NotebookLM) is No. 2 in our Best AI PDF Chat Tools verdict.