Google’s new AI Ultra plan gave me sticker shock until I looked at it a bit closer

Google I/O 2025 didn’t just bring a flood of new AI features; it also unveiled a new top-tier subscription plan called Google AI Ultra; and when the price was revealed – a staggering $249.99 per month (with a 50% discount for the first three months for new users) – I’m sure I wasn’t the only one whose jaw dropped a bit. It’s a serious investment, and initial reactions online have certainly highlighted the sticker shock. But after taking a breath and looking closer at what Google is bundling into this ‘VIP pass to Google AI’ – especially for creative professionals, developers, and serious power users – the math might not be as crazy as it first appears.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t a plan for casual AI dabblers. Google has re-branded its existing AI Premium plan (which was $19.99/month with 2TB of storage) to Google AI Pro, and that remains a solid option for many. The new “Ultra” tier is, as the name suggests, for those who need the absolute maximum from Google’s AI ecosystem.

Turns out, $250/month gets you a lot, actually

Google AI Ultra is positioned as the all-inclusive package, giving subscribers the highest usage limits, earliest access to the most capable models, and a suite of premium features. Here’s a quick rundown of the key components you get with this subscription:

• Top-Tier Gemini Access: The absolute best version of the Gemini app. This includes the highest usage limits for features like Deep Research, access to cutting-edge video generation with Veo 2 and early access to the groundbreaking Veo 3 model. Crucially, Ultra subscribers will also get access in the coming weeks to Deep Think in Gemini 2.5 Pro (Google’s new enhanced reasoning mode for ultra-complex tasks).
• Flow (AI Filmmaking): The highest limits in Google’s new AI filmmaking tool, designed for advanced models like Veo and Imagen. This includes 1080p video generation, advanced camera controls, and that early access to Veo 3.
• Whisk (AI Visualization): The highest limits for this tool that helps visualize ideas with text and images, including Whisk Animate for turning images into short videos with Veo 2.
• NotebookLM: The highest usage limits and enhanced model capabilities (coming later this year) for this AI research and writing assistant.
• Gemini in Your Apps: The highest limits for Gemini integration directly within Gmail, Docs, Vids, and more, plus early access to Gemini in Chrome.
• Project Mariner (Early Access): Access to this experimental agentic research prototype’that can assist in managing multiple tasks like research, bookings, and purchases.
• YouTube Premium: An individual YouTube Premium plan is bundled in (ad-free YouTube and YouTube Music).
• And the Kicker: 30TB of Cloud Storage.

30TB of storage is a big deal

This is where the value proposition starts to shift dramatically for a certain type of user. While initial reactions online have understandably focused on the $250 price for AI features, the inclusion of a massive 30 Terabytes of Google One cloud storage is a game-changer in the calculation.

If you were to price out 30TB of Google One storage as a standalone offering, you’d be looking at a very substantial monthly fee. While Google One pricing can vary and plans above 10TB aren’t always directly advertised to all users, past CNET reports indicate a 30TB plan could cost in the ballpark of $150-$300 per month on its own.

For video creators dealing with massive 4K/8K footage, photographers with extensive RAW libraries, developers working with large datasets, or even small businesses needing robust cloud storage and backup – that 30TB is not just a “nice to have”; it’s often a necessity. If you fall into that category, a significant chunk of the Google AI Ultra subscription cost is immediately offset by the sheer value of the included storage. Suddenly, the AI features almost feel like a very high-end bonus on top of a storage plan you might have needed anyway.

Who AI Ultra is really for

Google is pretty clear that AI Ultra is for “filmmakers, developers, creative professionals or simply [those who] demand the absolute best of Google AI with the highest level of access.” It’s for users who will genuinely leverage the highest usage limits, the earliest access to cutting-edge models like Veo 3 and Deep Think, and the advanced capabilities of tools like Flow and Project Mariner. And, critically, it’s for those who can also make full use of that enormous 30TB storage vault.

While the initial $250/month price tag is undeniably steep and will be out of reach or unjustifiable for most general consumers, it’s not just an AI subscription; it’s a comprehensive bundle. When you factor in the standalone value of 30TB of storage and a YouTube Premium subscription, the incremental cost for access to Google’s absolute top-tier AI models and tools becomes a different calculation for professionals and serious creators.

It’s a bold pricing strategy, and the market will ultimately decide if the perceived value matches the cost; but for those who need that massive storage and can truly put Google’s most advanced AI to work, this might just be the sensible, all-in-one solution they’ve been waiting for.