Google has just unveiled a free version of its AI assistant for generating code. Let’s take a look!
Gemini Code Assist is now available for free
Here’s some news that should please developers. Google has just launched a new free version of its AI coding assistant, Gemini Code Assist. Billed as a “trial version,” this announcement comes just after the release of Claude Code.
With this new version of the coding assistant running on Gemini 2.0, Google is specifically targeting freelancers, startups, development students and other enthusiasts looking for a reliable and, above all, affordable tool to kick-start their projects.
We believe AI should be accessible to everyone, whether they can afford it or not, so they can start building (and competing) with the standard digital tools of the future, Google explained.
What can you do with Gemini Code Assist?
First advantage: Gemini Code Assist for individuals is virtually unlimited, offering a quota of 180,000 code completions per month. A caveat, however, is that you’re limited to 6,000 completions and 240 chats per day. Another plus: all you need is a personal Gmail account to use the free version of Gemini Code Assist.
Gemini Code Assist can integrate with various IDEs, including Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, Android Studio, and Firebase (in limited versions). The free version of Gemini Code Assist also offers a free app for GitHub, which is currently in beta.
In summary, with the free version of Gemini Code Assist, you can:
- Generate code by AI,
- Write code with autocomplete,
- Detect bugs and style issues,
- Review code, for both public and private repositories.
To learn more about the limitations of this free offering, and to compare paid plans (starting at $19 per month per user), visit this page.
What about data security?
Data processing when using Gemini Code Assist varies depending on the version you use. When you use the free version of the tool, shown above, Google states that it “collects your queries, the associated code, the generated output, code changes, information about the use of associated features, and your feedback .” Human reviewers may also have access to the collected data. The goal: to use this data to train and improve its models.
To secure the processing of your data, Google separates the collected data from your Google Account to anonymize it and stores it for up to 18 months. However, the company recommends not sharing confidential information or data.
This option is enabled by default, but you can disable it by following the procedure described on this page.
