Google offers free Gemini AI tools and 2TB storage to US college students

What just happened? Google is giving college students across the United States free access to its most advanced Gemini AI tools. The tech giant's Google One AI Premium plan, which typically costs $20 per month, is being offered at no cost to eligible students until the end of June 2026 – provided they sign up before June 30, 2025.

Applicants must verify their student status using a valid .edu email address to qualify. Once enrolled, students will receive an email reminder as their complimentary subscription nears its conclusion, so they can decide whether to continue as paying subscribers. The offer is designed to cover not just the current academic year but also the following one, ensuring students have uninterrupted access through finals in spring 2026.

The Google One AI Premium plan includes 2TB of cloud storage and an array of AI-powered features aimed at helping students "study smarter." At the heart of the offering is Gemini Advanced, powered by Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro model.

With Gemini Advanced, students can leverage tools like Deep Research to summarize complex topics, transform reports into podcast-style audio, and receive step-by-step guidance on homework assignments.

Other key features include NotebookLM Plus for research and writing support, integration of Gemini's AI assistant directly into Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, and new creative tools like Veo 2, a text-to-video AI model, and Whisk, which allows users to combine text and image prompts for content creation.

The suite also offers Canvas for brainstorming and writing, and Gemini Live for real-time conversational assistance.

This push into academia comes as Google faces stiff competition from other AI leaders. OpenAI and Anthropic have each launched their educational initiatives in recent weeks, offering free access to advanced AI models like ChatGPT Plus and Claude for Education to students in the US and Canada.

These companies are racing to build brand loyalty among students, a demographic seen as pivotal for the future of AI integration in society.

For Google, the stakes are particularly high. CEO Sundar Pichai has set an ambitious target of reaching 500 million Gemini users by the end of 2025. While new model releases may help, offering premium features at no cost is a direct strategy to accelerate adoption, especially as Google seeks to defend its dominance in web search against the rising tide of generative AI tools.

The timing of these offers is no coincidence. As final exams approach, students are searching for tools to streamline research, enhance writing, and manage the pressures of academic life. Google's long-term approach contrasts with OpenAI's shorter promotional window, positioning Gemini as a constant academic companion rather than a fleeting resource.