Short answer: Yes. Galaxy AI’s basic features are free with no end date. Since January 2026, Samsung’s footnote says “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free,” replacing the old “through 2025” deadline. Live Translate, Interpreter, Photo Assist and Note Assist cost nothing. Only future “enhanced” Samsung features and third-party services, such as Google AI Pro, may cost money.
Updated for One UI 9 · Last checked October 11, 2026 · By Stephen Jacob
This page covers one question in depth: what Samsung’s Galaxy AI costs, now and later. If you want the bigger picture (what Galaxy AI is, which phones get it, privacy and Arabic support), start with our complete Galaxy AI guide. For what each feature actually does and which ones are worth using, see every Galaxy AI feature explained and ranked. Everything below is sourced to Samsung first, then Google, then reputable outlets. Where Samsung hasn’t said something, I say so.
Is Galaxy AI free? The answer at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I pay for Galaxy AI today? | No. Samsung charges nothing for Galaxy AI on any phone, tablet, watch or Galaxy Book |
| Is there an end date? | No. The “free until the end of 2025” deadline was removed in January 2026 |
| What’s guaranteed free? | Samsung’s “basic features”, which are the ones listed under “Advanced intelligence” in Samsung’s terms |
| What could cost money? | Future “enhanced” Samsung features and new services, plus anything provided by a third party |
| Is there a Galaxy AI subscription? | No. Samsung hasn’t announced one anywhere. Korea’s “Galaxy AI Subscription Club” is a phone trade-in plan, not a charge for AI features |
| Is Gemini free? | The Gemini app has a free tier on every Galaxy. Google’s paid plan is Google AI Pro, which some new Galaxy devices include for six months |
| Do I need a Samsung account? | For many features, yes. A Samsung account is free and doesn’t need a payment card |
| UAE price? | Galaxy AI is free in the UAE too. Google AI Pro is AED 76.99 a month after a Samsung trial ends |
How Samsung’s wording changed: a dated timeline
Samsung has never charged for Galaxy AI. What changed is the promise in its footnotes. Here is every shift, with the exact words.
| Date | What Samsung said | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January 18, 2024 (Galaxy S24 launch) | “Galaxy AI features will be provided free of charge until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices” | Samsung Newsroom Australia |
| September 2024 (Galaxy S24 FE launch) | “Fees may apply to certain Galaxy AI features at the end of 2025” | Samsung Newsroom Australia |
| 2024 to January 1, 2026 (US Galaxy AI page) | “Use of AI features is complimentary through 2025. Purchase may be required after complimentary period” | Android Authority, from a Wayback Machine capture |
| July 9, 2025 (Galaxy Unpacked, Z Fold7 and Flip7) | Samsung had “no plans” to charge for Galaxy AI experiences “provided by default”. Its footnote still said “until the end of 2025” | 9to5Google, Android Police |
| January 2026 | The deadline was replaced: “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free. Future releases may include enhanced features or new services that are offered on a paid basis. Different terms may apply for AI features provided by third parties” | Samsung US, reported by SamMobile |
| 2026 (Samsung support pages) | “Any Samsung enhanced AI features and all third party AI features are subject to different terms and may be subject to fees” | Samsung US support |
| 2026 (S26 Ultra and Z Fold8 product pages, US, UK, India, UAE) | The same “basic features provided by Samsung are free” wording | Samsung US, Samsung Gulf |
| September 14, 2026 (One UI 9 rollout) | “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free. Any Samsung enhanced AI features and all third-party AI features are subject to different terms and may be subject to fees” | Samsung US Newsroom |
| September 30, 2026 (Galaxy Tab S12 launch) | The same “basic features are free” wording | Samsung Newsroom |
The Galaxy S26 launch press release (February 2026) doesn’t mention cost at all. Samsung’s S26 product pages carry the new wording.
Some Samsung pages still show the old deadline
A few Samsung pages were never updated, which is why “free until 2025” still turns up in searches:
- Samsung Gulf support, “Are Samsung Galaxy AI Features Free or Paid?” (last updated June 30, 2026), still says Samsung offers Galaxy AI “for free until December 31, 2025” and “may introduce new terms or subscription plans” after that (Samsung Gulf).
- Samsung Levant support, “What can I do with Galaxy AI?” (last updated May 18, 2026), still says “until the end of 2025” (Samsung Levant).
- Samsung US, “Set Up Your Galaxy Smartphone”, still has the “complimentary through 2025” footnote (Samsung US).
None of these pages announce a charge, and 2025 has passed with no fee. Samsung’s Galaxy AI pages, product pages, support articles and its One UI 9 and Tab S12 announcements all use the newer wording, so treat that as current.
What’s free today: Samsung basic vs Google vs third-party
Galaxy AI on your phone is a mix of three things, and each has its own price rule.
| Feature | Who provides it | On Samsung’s “basic” list? | Cost today | Can it become paid? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Translate on calls (Call Assist) | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Writing Assist / Chat Assist | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Photo Assist (move, erase, restyle) | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Interpreter | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Note Assist | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Transcript Assist | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Browsing Assist | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Photo Ambient wallpaper | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Drawing Assist | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Bixby | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Health Assist (Energy Score insights) | Samsung | Yes | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Now Brief | Samsung | Yes (2025 terms) | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Audio Eraser | Samsung | Yes (2025 terms) | Free | Samsung says basic features are free |
| Now Nudge, Call Screening, Call Brief, Creative Studio, My FanCam | Samsung | Not named in the terms we found | Free | Unknown. Samsung hasn’t said whether these count as basic |
| Circle to Search with Google | No (third-party) | Free | Google’s terms apply; see our Circle to Search guide | |
| Gemini app and Gemini Live | No (third-party) | Free tier; Google AI Pro is paid | Yes. Google sets the price | |
| Perplexity assistant | Perplexity | No (third-party) | Free tier; Perplexity Pro is paid | Yes. Perplexity sets the price |
Sources: Samsung Services Terms and Conditions (Australia, posted July 3, 2025), Samsung US, Samsung Newsroom.
What counts as a “basic” feature?
Samsung defines it precisely: basic features are “those services listed under ‘Advanced intelligence’ in the current Samsung Services Terms and Conditions” (Samsung US). The terms describe Advanced intelligence as features “that help you translate, summarise, or generate various creative content”, say the list “may be updated from time to time”, and add that it doesn’t include third-party apps or services.
The Australian version of Samsung’s terms, posted July 3, 2025, lists 13 features: Call assist, Writing assist, Photo assist, Interpreter, Note assist, Transcript assist, Browsing assist, Photo ambient, Drawing assist, Bixby, Health assist, Now brief and Audio eraser (Samsung). The versions on Samsung’s terms server for the US, UK and UAE are dated July 17, 2024 and list the first 11 (Samsung terms, UAE). They call Writing assist “Chat assist”, and they don’t include Now brief or Audio eraser.
Features Samsung’s list doesn’t name
The newer features that came with the Galaxy S26 and One UI 9 (Now Nudge, Call Screening, Call Brief, Creative Studio and My FanCam) don’t appear on any version of the list we could find. They’re free today, and nobody pays for them. Whether Samsung considers them “basic” or could one day call them “enhanced” isn’t stated anywhere. Samsung may simply not have updated its terms. That’s the one real grey area in Samsung’s promise.
What might be paid: what “enhanced features” means
Samsung uses two versions of the same caveat:
“Future releases may include enhanced features or new services that are offered on a paid basis.” (Samsung’s Galaxy AI pages)
“Any Samsung enhanced AI features and all third-party AI features are subject to different terms and may be subject to fees.” (Samsung support and the One UI 9 announcement)
What we know:
- “Enhanced” isn’t defined. Samsung hasn’t published a list of enhanced features, a price or a launch date.
- It applies to “future releases”. The wording on Samsung’s Galaxy AI pages talks about new features or services, not about taking away the free basic ones.
- No paid Galaxy AI feature exists today. As of October 11, 2026, Samsung sells no Galaxy AI subscription or paid feature in any market we checked (US, UK, India, UAE).
- Samsung’s terms already allow for fees. They forbid using Advanced intelligence “in a manner intended to avoid incurring fees” (Samsung terms). That’s standard legal wording, but it shows the option is in place.
What’s informed speculation, not fact: Android Police expects any paid tier to cover cloud-heavy, agent-style tasks rather than tools people already have, and it points to Korea’s “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club” as a possible template (Android Police). That club is a trade-in plan for the phone itself. It costs KRW 6,900 a month on one- and two-year plans and KRW 8,900 on a three-year plan, and it pays for Samsung Care+ cover and a guaranteed trade-in value, not for AI features (Seoul Economic Daily, SamMobile). It’s a Samsung Korea programme.
Google Gemini and Google AI Pro bundles with Galaxy devices
Google’s paid AI plan is Google AI Pro. Samsung says it gives “expanded access to Google’s most capable AI models” and 5 TB of cloud storage (Samsung Newsroom). Some new Galaxy devices include a six-month trial. Not every model does.
| Galaxy device | Google offer | Length | Status (Oct 11, 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, Z Flip8 | Google AI Pro trial | 6 months | Current. Device bought July 17, 2026 to August 2, 2027; redeem by August 1, 2027 | Samsung Newsroom, Google One terms |
| Galaxy S26 FE | Google AI Pro trial | 6 months | Listed by name in Google’s offer terms | Google One terms |
| Galaxy Tab S12 series | Google AI Pro trial | 6 months | Announced September 30, 2026. Google’s terms page (last updated July 17) doesn’t list Tab S12 models yet | Samsung Newsroom |
| Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra | None | — | No Google AI Pro trial in Samsung’s S26 launch release or US offers page, and the models aren’t on Google’s eligible list | Samsung US offers, Google One terms |
| Galaxy S25 series (2025) | Google One AI Premium (Gemini Advanced, 2 TB) | 6 months | Ended. Redeem-by date was January 31, 2026 | Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Newsroom Malaysia |
| Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 (2025) | Google AI Pro trial | 6 months | 2025 launch offer for early buyers | Android Police |
If you own a Galaxy S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra, there’s no Google AI Pro trial to claim. Owners have asked about it on XDA’s forums, where a UK buyer confirmed it isn’t offered this year (XDA Forums).
What Google AI Pro costs after the trial, by country
| Market | Price after the 6-month trial | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $19.99 a month | Samsung Newsroom |
| United Kingdom | £18.99 a month | Samsung UK |
| India | ₹1,950 a month | Samsung India |
| UAE | AED 76.99 a month | Samsung Gulf |
Google’s offer terms list about 160 eligible countries. They include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, India, the UK and the US. In South Korea you have to agree to the price before the trial renews (Google One terms).
Trial rules that catch people out
These come from Google’s offer terms and Samsung’s footnotes:
- You need a Google Payments account with a valid payment method to redeem the trial. Google charges the monthly price automatically when the trial ends unless you cancel first.
- You can redeem it once, on one device, and you must be 18 or over.
- Trials don’t stack. If you’re already on a Google One trial and redeem this one, Google ends your existing trial or plan and starts the new one, however much time you had left.
- It isn’t available if you’re on a higher Google One tier, a family plan you don’t manage, or a plan billed through a third party.
- Returning the device “may result in cancellation of subscription”.
- If you cancel during the trial, you keep access until the trial period ends.
To claim it, open the Gemini app and tap the “Try Google AI Pro at no cost” prompt (Samsung Philippines).
Is Gemini itself free on a Galaxy?
Yes. The Gemini app comes preinstalled on Galaxy phones and has a free tier. Circle to Search, including Google’s AI Mode inside it, is free (see is Circle to Search free). Google AI Pro raises usage limits and adds storage, and Google sets its price, not Samsung. Samsung’s footnotes say third-party AI features “are subject to different terms and may be subject to fees”, so Google’s Gemini pricing can change without Samsung changing anything.
Perplexity and other bundled trials
Perplexity Pro. Samsung’s 12-month free Perplexity Pro offer (worth about $200) was a US-only Galaxy Store promotion that started in June 2025 (Forbes). Owners on Samsung’s US community forum, linking to Perplexity’s help centre, say it ended on December 24, 2025 and was never offered for the S26 series (Samsung Community). PiunikaWeb reported in December 2025 that Perplexity was revoking some Galaxy Store redemptions (PiunikaWeb).
The picture isn’t clean, so treat it as unconfirmed. Android Faithful’s March 2026 S26 Ultra review mentions “the free year of Perplexity Pro included with device purchase” (Android Faithful), and a Samsung moderator in Canada said a one-year subscription was confirmed with “certain carriers like Bell” but may not apply to unlocked phones. Samsung hasn’t published any Perplexity Pro offer for the S26 on its own pages, and we couldn’t open Perplexity’s help article to check the end date. Our reading: there’s no general free Perplexity Pro year with an S26 bought in 2026. Check with your carrier, and look for an offer banner in the Perplexity app installed from the Galaxy Store. The Perplexity assistant itself works on its free tier.
Other trials bundled with recent Galaxy devices (these are app trials, not Galaxy AI):
- Galaxy Tab S12: four months of Adobe Photoshop’s mobile plan, six months of Notability, a year of Goodnotes and one month of Notion Plus (Samsung Newsroom).
- Galaxy S26 series (US): two months of Adobe Lightroom, six months of Clip Studio Paint and six months of SiriusXM (Samsung US).
Offers vary by country, and most auto-renew, so check the end date when you sign up.
Do you need a Samsung account for Galaxy AI?
For many features, yes, but it costs nothing. Samsung’s footnote says “Samsung Account login may be required to use certain AI features” (Samsung US). Its support page says that to get “the full Galaxy AI experience” you should sign in to both your Samsung account and your Google account, and that without them “Galaxy AI features may be limited or unavailable.” Signing in with your Samsung account turns all the AI features on automatically (Samsung US support).
Samsung’s footnotes name a Samsung account requirement for Now Brief, Now Nudge, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Bixby, Note Assist and My FanCam (Samsung Newsroom, S26, Samsung Newsroom, Z Fold8, Samsung Newsroom, Tab S12). Google’s features, such as Circle to Search and Gemini, need a Google account. Neither account asks for a payment card. The only step that does is redeeming a Google AI Pro trial.
Are older Galaxy phones treated differently?
On price, no. Samsung’s current wording doesn’t mention devices: the basic features are free on whichever Galaxy runs them. The original 2024 promise covered “supported Samsung Galaxy devices”, and the only Samsung page we found that still applies a 2025 deadline to older models is the outdated Levant support page above.
What differs is which features you get. Older flagships and A series phones receive a smaller set through updates. On the A series, Samsung calls it Awesome Intelligence. Our Galaxy AI guide has the device list. The Google AI Pro trials are the other difference: they’re tied to buying a new eligible device, so an S24, an S25 or an S26 Ultra doesn’t qualify now.
Galaxy AI pricing in the UAE and the Gulf
I’m based in Dubai, so here is the local picture in one place:
- Galaxy AI is free in the UAE. Samsung Gulf’s Galaxy AI page carries the same footnote as the US: “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free” (Samsung Gulf).
- Ignore Samsung Gulf’s old support page. Its “Free or Paid?” article (updated June 30, 2026) still gives the December 31, 2025 deadline (Samsung Gulf support). The deadline has passed, and no fee was introduced.
- Google AI Pro after a trial costs AED 76.99 a month. Samsung Gulf offers the six-month trial with the Galaxy Z Fold8 (Samsung Gulf). The UAE is on Google’s list of eligible countries, along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
- No Google AI Pro trial with the S26 Ultra. Samsung Gulf’s S26 Ultra page has the free-AI footnote but no Google AI Pro offer (Samsung Gulf).
- Arabic language packs are free. You download them under Settings → General management → Language packs (Samsung Gulf). Some features don’t support Arabic yet; our Galaxy AI guide lists which.
- No Galaxy AI Subscription Club here. It’s a Korean programme.
Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence vs Google Pixel: what each costs
| Galaxy AI (Samsung) | Apple Intelligence | Google Pixel AI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in AI features | Basic features free, no end date | Free on compatible devices | Free on Pixel |
| Limits or paid tier | Future “enhanced” Samsung features may be paid; none exist yet | Server-based features have daily usage limits, and Apple says “expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future” | Google AI Pro (paid) for higher Gemini usage and storage |
| Bundled AI trial | 6 months of Google AI Pro with the Z Fold8 series, Z Flip8, S26 FE and Tab S12; none with the S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra | None announced | 6 months of Google AI Pro with Pixel 11 Pro, Pro XL and Pro Fold (US terms; worth $119.94) |
Sources: Samsung US, Apple Newsroom (September 14, 2026), Google.
On cost alone, Samsung’s position is the clearest of the three right now. Its own features have no usage caps and no announced fee, while Apple has already said heavier use of its server features will be paid. Pixel’s paid layer is Google AI Pro, which is the same plan a Galaxy owner can buy. For a full feature comparison, see Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence vs Google Pixel in our guide. If you’re choosing a phone, our Galaxy S26 Ultra review covers how the AI holds up day to day.
Charged for “Galaxy AI”? It may not be Samsung
Samsung doesn’t bill anyone for Galaxy AI today. An unrelated company, GalaxyAI Inc. (galaxy.ai), builds and runs AI apps under a similar name. Search suggestions such as “galaxy ai free credits”, “galaxy ai lifetime subscription” and “galaxy ai inc charge on credit card” come from its users, not from Samsung owners. If you see a charge labelled Galaxy AI, check the merchant name on your statement. Google AI Pro is billed by Google One, not by Samsung.
What to do if Samsung starts charging
Nothing is being charged now, but here’s a plan if that changes:
- Check what’s being charged for. If it’s a new “enhanced” feature, your existing basic features should stay free under Samsung’s own wording. Compare it with the basic list above.
- Save the current wording. Screenshot the footnote on Samsung’s Galaxy AI web page with the date. It’s your record of what was promised when you bought the phone.
- Don’t accept an in-app upgrade prompt blind. Check the price, the renewal date and whether it’s Samsung, Google or a third party billing you.
- Use the free alternatives. Circle to Search, the free Gemini tier and Google’s own apps cover search, translation and quick photo edits at no cost.
- Manage trials before they renew. Set a reminder a week before a Google AI Pro trial ends. You can cancel at any time and keep access until the trial finishes. Subscriptions billed through Google Play are listed in the Play Store under your profile → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions.
- Keep your Samsung account but skip the paid add-on. Basic features need the free account, not a subscription.
Is Galaxy AI free? FAQ
Is Galaxy AI free forever?
Samsung’s basic features are, as far as Samsung’s wording goes: “Galaxy AI basic features provided by Samsung are free,” with no end date since January 2026. “Forever” isn’t a word Samsung uses, and it reserves the right to charge for future “enhanced” features and new services.
Will Galaxy AI be paid in 2026?
Not so far. As of October 11, 2026, Samsung hasn’t announced a paid Galaxy AI feature or subscription anywhere. Its September 2026 footnotes still say the basic features are free.
Will I need to pay for Galaxy AI after 2025?
No. The “until the end of 2025” deadline was removed in January 2026, and nothing changed on January 1, 2026. A few old Samsung support pages still show the deadline, but they’re out of date.
Is Galaxy AI free on the S26 Ultra?
Yes. Every Galaxy AI feature on the S26 Ultra is free. The S26 Ultra doesn’t come with a Google AI Pro trial, though. Only the Z Fold8 series, Z Flip8, S26 FE and Tab S12 do. For everything else about the phone, see our Galaxy S26 Ultra guide.
How much does Galaxy AI cost?
Nothing. The only AI costs on a Galaxy are optional third-party plans. Google AI Pro is $19.99 a month in the US, £18.99 in the UK, ₹1,950 in India and AED 76.99 in the UAE, after any trial.
Is there a Galaxy AI subscription?
No. Samsung sells no Galaxy AI subscription. The “New Galaxy AI Subscription Club” in South Korea is a phone trade-in and Samsung Care+ plan. Services such as galaxy.ai that sell “Galaxy AI” subscriptions aren’t Samsung.
Is Gemini free on Samsung phones?
Yes, the Gemini app has a free tier on every Galaxy. Google AI Pro is Google’s paid upgrade, and some new Galaxy devices include six months of it.
Is Perplexity Pro free with a Samsung phone?
Not generally in 2026. The US Galaxy Store offer of 12 free months reportedly ended on December 24, 2025. Some carriers, such as Bell in Canada, have offered their own deals, so check with yours.
Is Galaxy AI free on older phones like the S23 or S24?
Yes. The price rule doesn’t depend on the model. Older phones get fewer features, not a bill.
Do I have to pay for Galaxy AI in the UAE?
No. Samsung Gulf’s Galaxy AI page says the basic features are free. The only charge you might see is Google AI Pro (AED 76.99 a month) if you keep it after a trial.
The bottom line
Galaxy AI is free, and since January 2026 there’s no end date on that. Every Samsung feature on your phone, from Live Translate and Interpreter to Photo Assist and Now Brief, costs nothing, and Samsung hasn’t launched a paid tier. Two caveats are real but limited: Samsung may charge for future “enhanced” features, and third-party AI (Google’s Gemini plans, Perplexity) follows its own pricing. If your Galaxy came with a Google AI Pro trial, set a reminder before it renews. If it’s an S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra, there’s no trial to claim. For the rest of the story, from privacy to which phones get which features, go back to our complete Galaxy AI guide, and for what One UI 9 added, read One UI 9 explained. Our Samsung Galaxy guide explains the model families, and the Samsung ecosystem explained covers what the rest of Samsung’s connected services cost.
