NotebookLM Versions Explained: Free, Pro, Enterprise — and the New Public Sharing Feature
NotebookLM is Google’s AI-powered thinking partner, designed to support source-grounded summarization, insight generation, and exploration. As of July 2025, three main versions are available: Free, Pro (also called Plus), and Enterprise. A recently added capability—public notebook sharing—further enhances the tool’s collaborative potential for Pro users on personal Google accounts.
📊 Version Overview
🔁 Terminology note: “Pro” and “Plus” refer to the same plan. “Pro” is shown in product interfaces for consumer accounts, while “Plus” is used in documentation and announcements.
🔧 Feature Comparison Table
📂 Supported File Types for Upload (Pro / Plus)
Pro users can upload and ground their notebooks using a wide range of content types, including:
Uploaded files are parsed and indexed for question answering, summarization, and audio overviews.
🌐 Public Notebook Sharing (Pro Tier Only)
A feature introduced in late 2024, public notebook sharing allows any Pro notebook to be shared via a public URL. This enables broader dissemination of insights and analysis built on uploaded or linked sources.
🧠 Use Cases for Public Sharing
Publishing annotated reading guides, briefings, and AI-augmented research
Embedding public notebooks into websites, newsletters, or portfolios
Sharing institution-specific toolkits or onboarding resources
Collaborating with broader communities without login barriers
🧭 Access Methods by Account Type
🔗 Source References
📌 Summary Table
Closing Insight
NotebookLM has expanded beyond a solo tool into a scalable, shareable research platform. With enhancements like file uploads, public sharing, customizable outputs, and team governance (Enterprise), the tool now supports both personal augmentation and institutional intelligence—with grounded references at its core.
A well-selected tier enables strategic use across research, instruction, executive briefings, or digital scholarship.