In short
How they differ.
Worked out from the makers' own pages, read Oct 20, 2026. Prices change; check before you pay.
- Both have a free plan.
- Google AI Mode's cheapest paid plan is cheaper: $4.99 a month against $11.
- Google AI Mode also has a phone app.
- Google AI Mode shipped an update more recently (Oct 15, 2026).
Side by side
The details.
| Elicit | Google AI Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Elicit · United States | Google · United States |
| What it says it is | “The AI Research Assistant” | “AI Mode is Google’s most powerful AI search experience.” |
| Free plan | YesBasic (free): limited Research Agent and Research Reports; unlimited search across more than 138 million papers. | YesNo price for AI Mode itself on the pages read. Gemini 4 Argon in AI Mode is limited to "Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers 18 and above", with daily usage limits. |
| Plans | Basic: freePlus: $11 a monthPro: $49 a monthScale: $169 a monthEnterprise: not in US$ | Free: freeGoogle AI Plus: $4.99 a monthGoogle AI Pro: $19.99 a monthGoogle AI Ultra: $99.99 a month |
| Runs on | web | web, Android, iOS |
| Latest update | Routines and more flexible research with the Agent, Sep 30, 2026 | More ways to connect with the web from Search, Oct 15, 2026 |
| Its terms | “PDFs you upload are encrypted and remain private to your account only, until you choose to delete them.”What it does with your data · Elicit Help: Privacy for uploaded papers | “Google uses people's interactions with Search and these AI experiences”What it does with your data · Google Search Help: AI Mode |
| Disputes | None on file | None on file |
| Sources | Prices, Oct 20, 2026 · Description · company-reported | Prices, Oct 20, 2026 · Description · company-reported |
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