Samsung's planned Galaxy AI subscription would give power users more features and usage
Samsung is preparing a Galaxy AI subscription that would give users access to advanced artificial intelligence features, larger usage allowances and additional services, while keeping core Galaxy AI tools available free of charge.
The proposed plans point to a paid model built around optional upgrades rather than a subscription requirement for every Galaxy owner. Samsung has said its core Galaxy AI features will remain free, while certain advanced capabilities and new services could be offered as paid options in the future.
The planned offering includes AI-powered video generation, automated actions across apps and a credit system that gives subscribers higher allowances for selected tasks. It would add a paid layer to the Galaxy AI experience, which Samsung has expanded across its smartphone range since introducing the platform with the Galaxy S24 series.
The development comes as Samsung moves beyond individual editing and translation tools towards AI features that can interpret context, generate content and assist with tasks across a device.
What Samsung’s Galaxy AI subscription could include
Samsung’s proposed subscription structure includes three tiers called Starter, Plus and Pro. The plans would provide different credit allocations, with Starter offering 10,000 credits, Plus providing 20,000 and Pro giving subscribers 50,000 credits.
Users would be able to use these credits for AI functions after exhausting their free allowances. The system would also allow customers to purchase additional credits for individual features or buy one-time credit packs separately from a subscription. Those packs would remain valid for three years from the date of purchase.
The proposed plans introduce several capabilities beyond the existing Galaxy AI tools. Gen Video would turn static photographs into short video clips, giving users another way to create content directly from their Galaxy devices. The feature follows a similar concept to AI video generation available through Google’s Gemini services.
Bixby Action would allow users to create commands, triggers and routines that automate everyday tasks. It is designed to carry out actions across apps and system functions, extending Bixby’s role beyond responding to voice commands.
Galaxy Claw is another reported addition, designed to automate routine daily tasks using Galaxy AI. Bixby Action is positioned among the higher-tier offerings, while Galaxy Claw forms part of the broader premium experience.
Daily Briefing would also feature in the Plus tier. It is separate from Now Brief, Samsung’s existing feature for presenting personalised information and updates to users. The subscription offering would also provide expanded usage limits for selected AI functions.
Three subscription tiers and a credit system
The reported credit allocations form part of a wider system that would determine how frequently users can access certain AI services. Starter, Plus and Pro would offer progressively larger credit balances, giving subscribers different levels of access depending on their chosen plan.
The proposed structure also includes separate daily allowances for selected tasks. Under the free allocation, users would receive up to 10 translations, five text summaries and two image generations per day. An Essential allowance would raise those limits to 100 translations, 50 summaries and 20 image generations, while the Premium allowance would provide unlimited daily usage for these three functions.
These daily limits sit alongside the credit allocations associated with the three subscription tiers. Users would be able to view their remaining credits and expiry dates, while additional credit packs would provide another way to access AI services after the allocated allowance runs out.
The structure gives Samsung room to charge for heavier use of its AI tools while retaining a free route to the existing experience. It also introduces a distinction between access to an AI feature and the number of times a user can use it within a given period.
An earlier version of the proposed subscription structure used the names Standard and Max. The Max option was associated with a fourfold increase in usage allowances, alongside features such as Gen Video, Bixby Action and Daily Briefing.
Pricing strings associated with that structure showed $4.99 per month or $47.99 annually. These figures were presented as placeholder values, rather than confirmed retail prices.
Which Galaxy AI features would remain free?
Samsung’s existing Galaxy AI capabilities are expected to remain available without a subscription. These include Browsing Assist, Creative Studio, Memory, Now Brief and Photo Studio, alongside other existing tools.
The distinction matters because Galaxy AI has become part of the experience Samsung promotes across its smartphone portfolio. Features such as Photo Assist, writing assistance, translation and summarisation have given Galaxy users practical ways to apply AI to everyday tasks without relying entirely on separate applications.
Samsung has also addressed the question of charging for its AI services. In a statement to Tech Advisor, the company said: “Samsung’s core Galaxy AI features will remain free of charge.” It added that certain advanced capabilities or new services could be offered as paid options or separate services in the future.
That position leaves room for a subscription offering built around new capabilities and higher usage limits. Existing tools could continue to serve users who rely on Galaxy AI for occasional tasks, while customers who generate more content or use advanced functions more frequently could pay for additional access.
The distinction also matters when considering how Galaxy AI works across different devices. Samsung’s AI experience combines on-device processing with cloud-based services, depending on the feature. Its partnership with Google Cloud helped bring Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 through Vertex AI to the Galaxy S24 series, while Gemini Nano supported on-device processing.
Samsung’s approach to AI monetisation has a longer history
Samsung’s position on free Galaxy AI access has been part of the conversation since the Galaxy S24 launch in January 2024. At the time, Samsung’s product information indicated that some cloud-based Galaxy AI features could become paid services after the initial free-access period.
Galaxy Unpacked January 2024 launch raised the possibility that cloud-based AI capabilities could eventually sit behind a subscription. The discussion came as Samsung introduced Galaxy AI as a major part of the Galaxy S24 experience, combining its own software with Google’s generative AI models.
The Galaxy S24 FE launch in Kenya in October 2024 provided another indication of the initial free-access arrangement. Samsung’s stated position at the time was that some Galaxy AI features would remain free until the end of 2025.
Since then, Samsung has expanded the AI experience across its product range. The Galaxy S25 series brought deeper integration through One UI 7, while the Galaxy S26 series added more contextual assistance and agent-like functions. Features such as Now Nudge and Gemini-powered actions have extended the role of AI beyond individual commands and editing tools.
Samsung has also brought selected AI capabilities to devices outside its flagship S series, although feature availability varies across models. That broader distribution has helped make Galaxy AI a central part of the company’s smartphone software strategy.
A subscription model would add another layer to that strategy, allowing Samsung to retain core AI functions as part of the Galaxy experience while charging for additional services and higher usage allowances. For users, the practical distinction would be whether the free allocation covers their regular needs or whether advanced tools and more frequent use justify paying for an upgrade.
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