Samsung may charge for Galaxy AI: a $4.99 monthly plan is reportedly in the works

Free AI on your Samsung phone might not stay free forever. According to a new report, the company is working on a paid Galaxy AI subscription, and the price tag is already floating around: $4.99 a month or $47.99 a year.

What happened?

The tech site SammyGuru found references to a new offer called "AI Premium" in internal app data. Samsung is apparently already testing it in an early access programme.

Besides the monthly and yearly plans, there are said to be one-off credit packs that need no subscription at all.

What would you get for your money?

The top tier, called Max, would unlock exclusive features. "Gen Video" turns your own photos into AI-made videos. Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant, is meant to automate "tasks in apps". There's also a new "Daily Briefing", though nobody has explained what it does yet.

On top of that, Max reportedly comes with usage limits four times higher than today's.

What stays free?

Many features should remain available without a subscription. The hints name Photo Assist, Now Brief, Creative Studio, Browsing Assist and Samsung Keyboard. They stay free but come with usage limits. Once your credits run out, you'd have to buy a new pack.

Why does this feel familiar?

Samsung launched Galaxy AI in January 2024 with the Galaxy S24 series, free of charge. At the time, it said free access would only last for a limited period. A year later, with the Galaxy S25 launch, it said core features would stay free, which put the paid plan on hold. Almost three years on, everything is still free.

What's next?

The new offers might debut with the upcoming Galaxy S27 series, which is expected early next year. Whether owners of older Galaxy phones can keep using their current AI features for free permanently is still unclear.