Last updated: 2026-10-13
Google Opal is a free no-code AI workflow builder from Google Labs that Google will switch off on 17 November 2026. It turned plain-language descriptions into multi-step Gemini workflows connected to Docs, Sheets, Gmail and Drive. Google points users to skills in Gemini and Google AI Studio instead.
About Google Opal
Opal is an experimental no-code app builder from Google Labs that launched as a US-only public beta on July 24, 2025. It lets anyone describe a workflow in plain English and turns that description into a visual chain of AI steps, connecting Gemini prompts, image and video generation, and Google's own apps into a single shareable mini-app. Google expanded access from the US to more than 160 countries by November 2025, one of the fastest global rollouts among its Labs experiments.
The core interface is a visual canvas: each step in a workflow appears as an editable block, so a non-programmer can see exactly how a prompt flows into a search, an image generation call, or a spreadsheet update. In February 2026 Google added an Agentic Mode that uses Gemini 3 Flash to plan and execute multi-step tasks on its own, moving Opal from a fixed-flow builder toward an autonomous agent step. Live debugging lets a builder run a workflow one step at a time and see exactly where an error appears.
Opal connects natively to Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and Drive, which makes it best suited to people already living inside Google Workspace: teachers building an interactive quiz generator from a YouTube video, product managers mocking up an internal tool, or hobbyists automating a personal research routine. It is not built for production software: there is no database layer, no code export, and every app stays hosted on a Google-issued link with no self-hosting option.
Opal remains completely free during its beta, with no paid tier announced as of 2026, and Google has not said whether pricing will arrive once the product graduates from Labs. Google is also testing Model Context Protocol support, which would let Opal workflows call outside APIs and tools instead of staying limited to its own services.
On December 17, 2025, Opal reached inside the Gemini app itself, appearing in the Gems manager so a user can build and reuse a mini-app without leaving their regular Gemini chat.
Pricing
Free to use until Google switches the service off on 17 November 2026; no paid plan was ever announced. Gemini API calls made by a workflow step carry their own charges at Google's standard API rates. Saved workflow files stay in Google Drive after the shutdown, and Google AI Studio is the other platform Google points builders to.
Key Features
- Prompt-to-Workflow Canvas: Describe a mini-app in plain English and Opal converts it into an editable, step-by-step visual flow instead of raw code.
- Agentic Mode: An autonomous agent step added in early 2026 runs on Gemini 3 Flash, letting a workflow reason through several actions on its own instead of following a fixed chart.
- Native Google Workspace Connections: Workflows read and write directly to Google Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and Drive without extra setup or API keys.
- Built-in Multimodal Generation: Workflow steps can call image generation, video creation, and speech synthesis alongside text prompts in the same flow.
- Step-by-Step Live Debugging: Run a workflow one block at a time and see exactly which step failed, instead of debugging one opaque output.
- Gemini App Integration: Opal mini-apps appear as Gems made by Labs inside the Gemini app, and Google says that Gems section turns off together with opal.google.com on 17 November 2026.
- Scheduled Shutdown: Google states that opal.google.com stops running workflows on 17 November 2026, with saved workflow files kept in Google Drive under My Drive > Opal.
Pros
- Free during the Google Labs beta, and no paid plan was ever announced before the 17 November 2026 shutdown date.
- Runs entirely in the browser from one Google account login, with every project auto-saved to Google Drive.
- Saved workflow files stay in your own Google Drive, and Google says it will not delete them when the service turns off.
Cons
- Google turns Opal off on 17 November 2026, and active workflows stop running after that date with no automatic migration.
- No database or persistent backend, so workflows can't store structured data beyond what fits in a single run.
- No code export or self-hosting option: every app stays on a Google-issued link with no embedding or version-control pipeline.
- Outputs can vary between runs on identical prompts, which the vendor itself flags as unsuitable for production-scale use.
Data Handling
- Training-data policy
- Not separately published for Opal; governed by Google's general Gemini Apps privacy notice
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Google Opal cost in 2026?
Nothing. Opal is free to use until Google turns the service off on 17 November 2026, and no paid plan was announced. A workflow step that calls the Gemini API can still be billed separately under Google's normal API pricing.
Is Google Opal free to use?
Yes, the whole product is free while it stays live, with no seat fee or subscription cap. The limit is time: Google says active workflows stop running on 17 November 2026, and existing workflows do not migrate on their own.
What are the best alternatives to Google Opal?
Google itself names skills in Gemini for everyday reusable prompts and Google AI Studio for deeper prototyping. Lovable and v0 suit anyone who needs a production web app with exportable code, and Replit fits full-stack hosting with version control.
How does Google Opal compare to Google AI Studio in 2026?
AI Studio is a developer IDE for testing Gemini prompts and API keys before writing production code, while Opal is a no-code canvas aimed at non-programmers building disposable mini-apps. Choose AI Studio to ship a real app on the Gemini API, and Opal for a quick internal tool.
How do you get started with Google Opal?
Sign in at opal.google.com with a Google account and describe the mini-app in a sentence or two. Because the service closes on 17 November 2026, new projects are best treated as short-term, and prompts worth keeping should be copied out before then.
Top Alternatives
- Lovable: Pick Lovable if you need a production web app with a database instead of a disposable mini-app.
- v0: Pick v0 if you need exportable React code rather than a Google-locked link.
- Google AI Studio: Pick Google AI Studio if you're a developer testing Gemini API prompts, not a non-technical builder.
- Replit: Pick Replit if the project needs full-stack hosting and version control beyond a mini-app.
HokAI guides that mention Google Opal
- Gemini Hit a Billion Users. Then Google Shipped a Different One.: Gemini crossed 1 billion users on 11 August 2026. Two days later Google launched a cheaper Gemini for coding and agents, plus Labs apps few have opened.
- How to Build an AI-Powered App Without Being a Developer: Real October 2026 prices for Lovable, Replit, v0, n8n and Bubble, what free plans allow, and the database security check many first-time founders skip.