Samsung’s Galaxy AI may not stay entirely free for much longer. Code found in an unreleased Samsung app points to a paid tier called Galaxy AI Premium, with prices of $4.99 a month or $47.99 a year, plus a higher-end Max plan for heavier users.
Based on the leaked details, the model looks familiar from other AI services. Features that are free today, including Photo Assist, Browsing Assist, Now Brief, Creative Studio and the AI tools in Samsung Keyboard, would stay available at no cost, but with usage caps. Once a user reaches the free limit, they would either buy extra AI credits or move to Max, which reportedly offers four times the usage allowance.
Subscribers would also get features that free users cannot access. Two have been named so far. Gen Video turns still photos into short AI-generated clips, and Bixby Action lets Samsung’s assistant carry out tasks across different apps. The code suggests there is a third exclusive feature, but no details have surfaced yet.
The timing points to Samsung’s next flagship. The app refers to an AI version labelled 20271, which suggests the Galaxy S27 series could be the first to support the paid tier. There are also signs of an early access programme in which testers would get refunds for anything they spend during the trial. Samsung has not confirmed which phones will be supported or whether the plans will launch outside the US.
This move has been expected for some time. When Galaxy AI launched with the Galaxy S24 in 2024, Samsung said its core features would be free until the end of 2025, a phrase many people took as a hint that charges would follow. Since then, the company has repeatedly said basic Galaxy AI would stay free, while leaving room to charge for more advanced tools. A credit-and-cap model technically keeps that promise, though people who use the features every day may not see it that way.
The economics are clear. Generative AI features run largely on cloud servers, and every image edit, summary or generated video costs money to process. Google already sells its top Gemini features through paid AI plans, and AI chatbot subscriptions are now standard. Compared with those, a $4.99 monthly fee is a fairly low entry price.
Even so, Samsung has to be careful. The company has spent two years marketing Galaxy AI as a reason to buy its phones, and putting limits on features that used to be unlimited could sour buyers who paid flagship prices. Until Samsung officially announces it, the pricing, limits and feature list could all change. If it goes ahead, Galaxy S27 buyers may get a monthly subscription offer along with their new phone.