Is NotebookLM free? (And what it's good for)
Yes. NotebookLM, which Google now calls Gemini Notebook in its help center, is free with a regular Gmail account. The free plan allows up to 100 notebooks with up to 50 sources each, and Google AI plans raise those limits.
Prices checked Oct 2026.
What NotebookLM does
You add your own material, like PDFs, Google Docs, web links or notes, and NotebookLM answers questions using only those sources, with the source quoted. It can also turn them into reports, flashcards, slide decks and Audio Overviews, which are podcast-style recaps you can listen to.
That makes it great for a long contract, a stack of school readings, an instruction manual or meeting notes. It's on our lists for summarizing a PDF and research.
Free vs paid limits
From Google's plans page (Google says these can change):
Free: 100 notebooks, 50 sources per notebook. Google AI Plus: 200 notebooks, 100 sources each. Google AI Pro: 500 notebooks, 300 sources each. Ultra: 500 notebooks, 500 to 600 sources each.
Paid plans also add advanced sharing and earlier access to new features, and on Pro and Ultra Google removes the watermark. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and AI Pro is $19.99 a month (see Is Gemini free?).
Is my data safe?
Google says your uploads aren't used to train the model unless you send feedback. If you do send feedback, it may review that conversation. Still, keep very private documents out, and read what not to type into AI.
How to start
Go to notebooklm.google.com, sign in with Google, click Create new, and add one PDF or link. Then ask a question about it. Start with one source so you can see how it quotes its answers.
The bottom line
For most people, NotebookLM's free plan is more than enough: 100 notebooks is a lot, and 50 sources per notebook covers even a big project. It's the tool we recommend when you need answers you can trust from your own documents, because it shows you exactly where each answer came from.
The first thing to type
Summarize this document in 5 plain-English bullet points, then list anything I need to do or any deadlines it mentions.Common questions
Is NotebookLM completely free?
Yes, the standard plan is free with a Gmail account. Paid Google AI plans add higher limits.
How many sources can I add for free?
Up to 50 sources per notebook, and up to 100 notebooks.
Is NotebookLM the same as Gemini Notebook?
Google's help center now uses the name Gemini Notebook for it. The notebooklm.google.com address is the same product.
Does NotebookLM train on my files?
Google says your data isn't used to train it unless you send feedback.
Sources (checked 2026-10-20): support.google.com/notebooklm/answer/16213268, gemini.google/us/subscriptions