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Gemini 4 Carbon is now available: who can use it and what it costs

Google made Gemini 4 Carbon, its strongest model, available on November 10, 2026, after first releasing it to cyber defenders on October 28. Paying developers and enterprises can use it through the Gemini API, and Google AI Ultra subscribers get it in the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search and Google Antigravity.

Last checked · Announced · By Mishal Brands Editorial

Checked Nov 10, 2026. Everything below is what the company reports in its own announcement, linked at the bottom: Google, “Gemini 4 Carbon is now available” (Nov 10, 2026); Google, “Introducing Gemini 4 Carbon” (Oct 28, 2026). We have not tested it ourselves, and figures are the company’s own unless we say otherwise.

What it does and why it matters

Google says Carbon is built for tasks that test the limits of a model, such as complex multi-step coding and debugging and open-ended research. For most software and knowledge work, Google says its earlier Gemini 4 Argon is still the right choice (Google, Nov 10, 2026).

Update, Nov 10, 2026: when we first covered Carbon on October 28, it was limited to a set of cyber defenders and Google gave no date for wider access (Google, Oct 28, 2026). It is now available to developers, enterprises and Ultra subscribers.

Who it is for

  • Developers building agents for long, multi-step engineering work.
  • Legal, finance and operations teams analyzing dense documents, charts and tables.
  • Security teams, through Google’s Fairwind Program for the cyber version.
  • Scientists, who can apply for free access through Google Antigravity for six months, subject to eligibility.

Standout features

  • #1 on CursorBench 4.0, Perplexity’s WANDR and Zapier’s AutomationBench, at more than 2x lower cost per task than the next best external model, per Google.
  • /swarm in Google Antigravity (preview): one prompt becomes a coordinated team of agents you can track.
  • Multimodal document work: #2 on the new Multimodal Knowledge Agent benchmark at more than 6x lower average cost per task than the top model, per Google.
  • Safety: Google reports Carbon blocked 99% of attack trajectories in simulated cyberattack tests.

How to start

  1. Developers: use the Gemini API paid tier in Google AI Studio or Android Studio.
  2. Enterprises: pick Carbon in Gemini for business via the API or model dropdown.
  3. Google AI Ultra subscribers: choose Carbon in the Gemini app or AI Mode in Search.
  4. Start with Argon for routine work and switch to Carbon for the hardest tasks.

Alternatives

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Gemini 4 Carbon now?

Yes, if you are a paying Gemini API developer, an enterprise on Gemini for business, or a Google AI Ultra subscriber. Google made it available on November 10, 2026.

Should I use Carbon or Argon?

Google says Argon remains the ideal choice for most software engineering and knowledge work, and Carbon is for the hardest multi-step coding and open-ended research.

How much does Gemini 4 Carbon cost?

Google lists an introductory API price of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. After the introductory period ends on November 30, 2026, it is $4 per million input tokens and $20 per million output tokens.

Pricing for Gemini 4 Carbon

Google lists Carbon in the API at the same introductory price as Gemini 4 Argon: $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens. Google’s footnote says that after the introductory period expires on November 30, 2026, the price is $4 per million input tokens and $20 per million output tokens, for the Carbon model intended for public access.

In the Gemini app and AI Mode in Search, Carbon is for Google AI Ultra subscribers.

Plan facts from our library, worded as each vendor reports them:

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Sources (checked Nov 10, 2026)

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