9to5Google's APK Insight team found code in the latest Gemini macOS app pointing to a new subscription tier codenamed "Neon" — currently labeled "Google AI Ultra Lite" as a placeholder name. The plan slots between the existing $20 AI Pro and $250 AI Ultra tiers, targeting power users who keep hitting Pro's usage limits but can't justify enterprise pricing.
A dedicated usage dashboard is also in development. Both are arriving at exactly the right moment.
Key Points
- Code found in the Gemini macOS app confirms a new "AI Ultra Lite" tier codenamed "Neon" — positioned between the $20 AI Pro and $250 AI Ultra plans
- No pricing officially confirmed — 9to5Google estimates $50-$150 is the likely range, with $100 the most probable figure to match Anthropic's Max and OpenAI's mid-tier plans
- The only confirmed difference over Pro is increased usage limits — no exclusive new features beyond what Ultra already offers are mentioned in the code
- A dedicated usage dashboard at gemini.google.com/usage is also in development — letting subscribers track remaining token budget in real time rather than hitting walls blindly
- The "AI Ultra Lite" name is explicitly a placeholder — final branding will almost certainly change before launch
The Gap Is Real and Painful
The jump from $20 to $250 is not a pricing ladder — it's a cliff. For developers, researchers, and content professionals who use Gemini heavily, the Pro plan's usage caps create constant friction. You're mid-project, hitting a limit, and the only upgrade option is a $250 enterprise tier built for large teams. Nothing fits in between.
Anthropic addressed this exact pain point with its $100 Max plan. OpenAI added a comparable $100 mid-tier last month. Google has been the conspicuous holdout among the three major AI providers — and the Neon project is clearly the response. The competitive pressure from both Anthropic and OpenAI offering identical $100 positioning makes Google's likely price point fairly obvious even without official confirmation.
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The Usage Dashboard Matters Equally
The companion feature — a real-time token budget tracker at gemini.google.com/usage — addresses a different but related frustration. Right now, Gemini's usage limits are opaque. You don't know how close you are to a cap until you're already hitting it mid-task. The same complaint has been loudly voiced by Claude users on social media as AI providers tighten limits under surging demand.
Giving subscribers a live view of their remaining quota changes the experience significantly. It lets users make informed decisions about when to push ahead versus when to conserve — rather than being surprised by a wall at the worst possible moment.
Code Doesn't Always Ship
Both features were found in app code — not announced by Google. App code discoveries are reliable signals of intent but not guarantees of launch. The Ultra Lite tier in particular has no confirmed timeline, pricing, or feature set beyond increased usage limits. Treat this as "coming soon" rather than "launching now."
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