PRODUCTIVITY & KNOWLEDGE · WORTH A LOOK
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
AI research tool and thinking partner that analyses your sources and turns them into clear outputs.
What Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) does
AI research tool and thinking partner that analyses your sources and turns them into clear outputs. Upload sources (docs, PDFs, links, audio, YouTube, Play Books ebooks, textbooks) to get cited answers, summaries and generated formats such as study guides, quizzes, flashcards and Audio Overviews. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on 16 Jul 2026; old notebooklm.google links redirect.
Good for
- Research briefs from client documents
- Turn knowledge into Claude skills/prompts
- Training material summaries
Try this in 10 minutes
- Turn knowledge into Claude skills/prompts. Use the free plan: pick one real example from your own business and try just that.
- Training material summaries. Put the result next to how you do it today. Is it faster, cheaper or better?
- Sign up (free plan or trial if available) and try it on one real task from this week.
Mini-tasks based on common small-business uses for this tool.
Honest take
Some claims not independently checked
- Great for content creation workflows.
- Pricing from notebooklm.google/plans and one.google.com/about/google-ai-plans (2026-10-20).
- Website updated 2026-10-30 to notebook.google (notebooklm.google 301-redirects there).
- Textbooks (2026-10-29): free-plan limit is 50 sources per notebook, each up to 500,000 words; textbooks are text only (support.google.com/gemininotebook/answer/16215270).
Our Hype or Fact? checks
Pricing
Free (standard limits); higher limits via Google AI plans: Plus $4.99/mo, Pro $19.99/mo, Ultra $99.99/mo or $199.99/mo (US prices); business via Google Workspace, enterprise via Google Cloud.
Prices as listed by the maker when we last checked (2026-10-30); usually in US dollars. Check the website for current prices.
Latest update
- 2026-10-29: 'Textbooks' catalogue in Add sources: hundreds of textbooks from OpenStax, Open Textbook Library and S Chand Publishing at no charge, with cited answers, study guides, quizzes and flashcards. Rollout reported for the US and India; UK not confirmed. OpenStax and OTL books were already free and openly licensed. Source: blog.google
- : Record up to 1 hour of live audio in the NotebookLM mobile app (27 Oct), all iOS and Android users; use lectures or meetings straight away as sources.
- : You can now co-create Slide Decks and Video Overviews: pick a focus topic, format, length, language and visual style, then review and edit the slide outline or video producer notes before generating. Pro and Ultra subscribers.
Is Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) worth it? Quick answers
Is Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) worth it?
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) is worth a look if it matches a job you already do (Productivity & knowledge). Great for content creation workflows. There is a free tier, so you can test it before paying. Some of the maker's claims have not been independently checked.
How much does Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) cost?
Free (standard limits); higher limits via Google AI plans: Plus $4.99/mo, Pro $19.99/mo, Ultra $99.99/mo or $199.99/mo (US prices); business via Google Workspace, enterprise via Google Cloud.
What is Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) used for?
AI research tool and thinking partner that analyses your sources and turns them into clear outputs. Typical uses: research briefs from client documents; turn knowledge into Claude skills/prompts; training material summaries.