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Does NotebookLM Cost? NotebookLM Free vs Paid (2025)

by Stewart Gauld
Last updated on May 1st, 2025
How Much Does NotebookLM Cost? NotebookLM Pricing Plans

In this blog post, I answer the question How much does NotebookLM cost?

AI tools are certainly reshaping how we work and create, and Google’s new AI-driven research and note-taking tool, NotebookLM, is no exception!

If you’re looking for a quicker and more innovative way to generate, summarize, and organize your research and content, NotebookLM is an excellent choice.

But with all the hype, the big question on everyone’s mind is: how much will this impressive tool set you and your small business back?

Read more: What Is Notebook LM And What Is It For?

How Much Does NotebookLM Cost?

NotebookLM is currently completely free for anyone with a free Google Workspace account (March 2025)!

This means any Google user can easily upload documents, generate content, and streamline their research workflows at zero cost.

Recently, NotebookLM also introduced its premium paid plan (NotebookLM Plus) for those looking to take their research and note-taking to the next level.

This premium plan is available for those with a Google Workspace Business Standard plan ($14 per user per month) or a Business Plus plan ($22 per user per month).

Read more: How Can AI Help Small Businesses?

What Is NotebookLM?

What Is NotebookLM_

NotebookLM is an AI-driven research tool built with Google’s AI assistant (Gemini) designed to streamline your research and note-taking processes.

Basically, NotebookLM makes the entire process of working with content and documents faster and more streamlined using AI technology.

Simply upload an unlimited number of different sources (website links, videos, files, or text sources) into one online notebook.

Using the content you upload, NotebookLM analyzes and organizes that information to generate a wide range of outputs in one place.

It can answer questions, summarize key points, create outlines, and even generate content like study guides, FAQs, briefing documents, and more.

Using the information provided, you can create and organize your notes in a way that best suits you.

You can even turn your research into an impressive podcast-style audio file!

Think of it as your personal AI research assistant, capable of transforming your uploaded documents ito actionable insights.

This easy-to-use tool eliminates you having to manually comb through multiple tabs or website pages of dense content, as all your valuable sources can be extracted in one place!

Whether you’re a student, researcher, or business owner, NotebookLM is an invaluable tool for optimizing your research and note-taking workflows.

Read more: Top 5 Free Note Taking Apps For Small Business

NotebookLM vs NotebookLM Plus

NotebookLM vs NotebookLM Plus

You might be wondering….if NotebookLM is free, why should I upgrade to a paid plan?

Well, the free NotebookLM version is perfect for individuals or small businesses looking to optimize their research.

With NotebookLM, you can upload various types of content, use AI technology to create one-click summaries, FAQs, and audio overviews, and receive answers to your questions.

NotebookLM Plus, however, is the better choice for businesses, schools, or organizations needing additional features.

Users who upgrade to NotebookLM Plus receive five times the number of notebooks, sources per notebook queries, and audio generations per day.

It also offers access to premium features, including a ‘Chat-only’ notebook, advanced chat settingsnotebook analytics, and additional privacy and security features.

Read more: How Is AI Used For Business?

Should I Use NotebookLM?

Should I Use NotebookLM_

The answer is….quite possibly!

If you work with large datasets or perform in-depth research, NotebookLM could significantly streamline your workflows!

NotebookLM can also be used to automate repetitive tasks and quickly create content with the help of AI.

Additionally, if you already use Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.) or other Google Apps, NotebookLM integrates really well with those tools.

For example, users can simply upload their Google Drive files or Google Docs/Slides documents directly into the centralized platform. How easy is that?

For small business owners specifically, NotebookLM is the ideal tool for looking to enhance their keyword strategies, SEO efforts, and market research.

By using the sources you upload, it can:

  • SEO actions a business should focus on (or areas it might be neglecting).
  • Analyze competitors or emerging trends.
  • Give insights into challenges a business may be facing.

And if that wasn’t enough, NotebookLM can generate customized reports and help with brainstorming, forecasting, training, development, and much more.

NotebookLM truly is a game changer, transforming how small businesses approach research, strategy, and growth!

Read more: My 11 Best AI Tools For Small Business.

Stews Final Thoughts

And that wraps up this ‘How much does NotebookLM cost’ article!

NotebookLM is an innovative tool powered by Google’s advanced AI technology that offers a fresh perspective on how we gather and organize information.

And better yet, it’s completely free for all Google Workspace users!

This means you can optimize your note-taking and research workflows without breaking the bank.

It’s an exciting, game-changing resource that I’m sure will only going get better as Google continues to develop it.

Have you given NotebookLM a try yet?

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My name is Stewart Gauld. I’ve been helping small and local businesses with digital activties over the last 7 years.