Free Google AI tools in 2026: the 4 that still work, and how I chain them

You've probably seen a "free Google AI tools" list going around. I checked one recently. Half of it no longer works. Some tools are shutting down. Others stopped taking new users. So here's my updated list, checked in October 2026. Four Google tools are still free to start today: Antigravity, AI Studio, Stitch and Jules. I'll show you how to start each one, what the free limits are, and how I chain all four to go from an idea to a working app.

01What expired, and why the old lists are wrong

Google moves fast. It launches experiments, then folds them into bigger products. That's why lists from even six months ago are stale.

Firebase Studio: Google's own docs say new sign-ups and new workspaces were turned off on 22 June 2026. Existing workspaces still open until the full shutdown on 22 March 2027. Google points people to AI Studio and Antigravity instead.
Opal: the Labs mini-app builder is being retired. News reports give 17 November 2026 as the shutdown date, with Gemini Skills as the replacement. I couldn't find Google's own notice, so check inside Opal if you still use it.
Gemini CLI: reports say the free "Sign in with Google" login for personal accounts stopped working in June 2026. The tool itself still runs with a paid API key or a business licence.

021. Antigravity: Google's free AI code editor

Antigravity is a desktop code editor built around AI agents. You describe a task, and the agent plans it, edits files and runs commands. There's also a terminal version, the Antigravity CLI, if you prefer working in a terminal.

Go to antigravity.google and download the app for your computer.
Sign in with your Google account.
Open a project folder, or start a new empty one.
Describe what you want in the agent panel, then review each change before you accept it.

Free limits: the pricing page lists the Individual plan at $0 a month, with basic weekly rate limits. Paid plans raise those limits.

032. AI Studio: one sentence to a working web app

Google AI Studio is a browser tool for trying Gemini models. Its Build mode turns a plain description into a small web app you can run and tweak right away.

Go to aistudio.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
Open Build.
Type one sentence about the app you want, for example a habit tracker with a weekly chart.
Try the preview, then ask for changes in the chat until it feels right.

Free limits: you can start without adding payment details. Some extras, like certain premium models or deploying to Google Cloud, need a paid API key. Free usage has rate limits that vary by model.

043. Stitch: describe a screen, get a design and code

Stitch is a Google Labs experiment. You describe a screen, or upload a rough sketch, and it gives you a UI design plus front-end code. You can also copy the design into Figma.

Go to stitch.withgoogle.com and sign in with your Google account.
Describe one screen: what it's for, what's on it, and the style you like.
Ask for changes in plain words, like bigger buttons or a darker colour scheme.
Export the front-end code, or copy the design to Figma.

Free limits: it's a Labs experiment and free to try, with usage limits. Labs tools can change or close, so don't build your whole workflow on it alone.

054. Jules: an AI agent that fixes bugs and opens PRs

Jules is a coding agent that works on your GitHub repos in the background. You give it a task, it makes a plan, writes the change and opens a pull request for you to review.

Go to jules.google and sign in with your Google account.
Connect your GitHub account and pick a repo.
Write a task, like fix the broken login button on mobile.
Check its plan, let it work, then review the pull request before you merge.

Free limits: Jules's docs list 15 tasks a day on a rolling 24-hour window, with 3 running at once. Google AI Pro and Ultra plans get more.

06The chain: Stitch → AI Studio → Antigravity → Jules

Each tool is good at one stage. Used together, they cover the whole trip from idea to finished app. Here's the order I use, with a prompt for each step. Replace the [ ] parts.

Step 1, Stitch: design the main screen

Design the main screen of a [type of app] for [who it's for]. It needs: [3-5 key elements]. Style: [clean / playful / dark], mobile first. Keep it simple and easy to tap.

Step 2, AI Studio: turn it into a working prototype

Build a working web app from this design and front-end code: [paste Stitch code]. Make the buttons and forms actually work. Store data in the browser for now. Keep the layout exactly as designed.

Step 3, Antigravity: build it properly

This folder has a prototype web app. First read the code and explain the structure in a few lines. Then make a plan to turn it into a real project: clean file structure, a proper data layer, and basic error handling. Show me the plan before you change anything.

Step 4, Jules: finish the details

In this repo, find and fix one problem: [describe the bug or missing piece]. Add a short test that proves it's fixed. Keep the change small and explain it in the pull request.

07Good to know

Free limits change often. Everything here was checked in October 2026, so look at each tool's own pricing or limits page before you rely on it.
Labs and experiment tools can close with a few months' notice, as Opal and Firebase Studio showed. Keep your code in GitHub so you never lose it.
Read each tool's terms and privacy notice before you paste in private code, client work or secrets. Never paste passwords or API keys into a prompt.
Always review what an AI agent changes before you accept or merge it. It's your code and your responsibility.