Gemini Notebook (Formerly NotebookLM) for Client Research: A Freelancer’s Guide (2026)

Yes. Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook on 16 July 2026. It is the same standalone research tool under a new name.

Yes, there is a free plan. Since 2 September 2026, usage limits for consumer accounts are compute-based and refresh every five hours, and paid Google AI plans get higher limits.

According to Google’s help pages, up to 50 sources per notebook and 100 notebooks, with each source up to 500,000 words or 200MB. These limits can change.

Only if the client has allowed it. Avoid uploading sensitive or confidential files without permission.