[2025] How to Upload PDF to Gemini for Free? 3 Proven Methods

Gemini is Google's AI chatbot and a potential alternative to ChatGPT. It also helps users ask questions, generate content, brainstorm ideas, get code assistance, and more. Although Gemini offers a straightforward interface, many users struggle to upload and analyze PDFs in it.

In this guide, we will first see can I upload PDF to Gemini and then present the best proven methods to upload PDF with or without subscription.

Part 1. Can I Attach a PDF to Gemini?

Yes. However, you can only attach a PDF to Gemini if you are subscribed to Gemini Advanced, which costs $19.99/month. The free version of Gemini does not support uploading a PDF. It only allows you to upload Word documents, images, and Google Drive links.

In contrast, UPDF AI is a handy alternative here, as it supports direct uploading of PDFs for chatting. You can simply upload the PDF and use the chat box to start chatting with PDF. Try out the online AI of UPDF and begin interacting with PDFs for free.

Part 2. 3 Ways to Upload a PDF to Gemini with/without Gemini Advanced

The default way to upload a PDF to Gemini is to subscribe to Gemini Advanced and then use the attachment option to upload PDFs. However, there are a few indirect ways to get Gemini to analyze the PDF for free, which we will cover in this part.

Before we discuss how to upload a PDF to Gemini, why not let's try our UPDF AI—a free alternative for chatting with PDFs. UPDF AI offers an online platform where you can upload PDFs directly for free and begin chatting. Moreover, this AI assistant is also integrated with UPDF's desktop app, which offers a full-fledged PDF editor. Read Part 3 of this guide to learn the steps to use UPDF AI. Alternatively, you can watch the video below:

Now, let's get back to the Gemini upload PDF case. Below, we have shortlisted 3 ways on how do I upload PDF to Gemini with or without a subscription:

Method 1. Upload a PDF to Gemini by Converting it to an Image

Gemini supports uploading images for free. So, one option is to convert PDF to image file and upload it in Gemini. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. First, you have to convert the PDF to image format. To do so, choose your preferred online PDF converter to convert the PDF to image. The converter will convert every PDF page as a separate image.

Step 2. Go to gemini.google.com and click "Add files +". Select the option to upload an image. Upload the PDF page image and start asking relevant questions.

This way, you can convert PDF to image format and then upload it to Gemini for free. However, remember that you can upload only one image at a time, which means that Gemini can process only one page of the PDF in a single prompt in this method.

Method 2. Upload a PDF to Gemini by Uploading it to Google Drive

Other than converting PDF to image, you can also upload a PDF to Gemini using Google Drive. Basically, Gemini can access your Google Drive and lets you upload any file from there. So, you can first upload the PDF to Google Drive and then ask Gemini to access it.

Here's how do I upload PDF to Gemini using Google Drive:

Step 1. Open Google Drive and upload the PDF.

Step 2. Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with the same account linked to Google Drive.

Step 3. Click "Add files +" and select the "Google Drive" option. It will open the Google Drive dashboard from where you can select the uploaded PDF.

Note: You may be asked to activate Gemini apps activity, so follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 4. Enter the prompt related to the PDF that you want Gemini to respond to and begin chatting.

This way, you can strategically use Google Drive to upload a PDF to Gemini.

Method 3. Upload a PDF to Gemini Directly (Require Gemini Advanced Subscription)

If you want to upload a PDF directly to Gemini, you need the Gemini Advanced subscription. This subscription costs $19.99/month. So, follow the below steps to upload PDF to Gemini if you have subscribed to Gemini Advanced:

Step 1. Go to gemini.google.com. Click "Add files +" and select the "Files" option.

Step 2. Select the PDF and then enter the prompt about what you want Gemini to do with the file (e.g., summarize, extract key points, or answer specific questions).

This method is costly, but it provides a direct way to interact with PDFs.

Also Read: How to Upload PDF to ChatGPT >>

Part 3. Easily Upload a PDF to AI to Analyze/Chat for Free without Gemini

If your sole purpose is to use Gemini to upload PDFs and analyze/chat with the document, why not try a better alternative to Gemini? That's where UPDF steps in.

UPDF is a comprehensive PDF editor that offers an AI assistant to directly upload and chat with PDFs. You can use UPDF AI to:

• Summarize entire, selective pages, or specific content from a PDF.
• Translate entire, selective pages, or specific content from a PDF.
• Chat with PDF to explain complex phrases, clarify doubts, and more.
• Convert PDF to mind map for visual understanding.
• Proofread, rewrite, or write new content.

UPDF's AI is accessible both online or within the UPDF app. So, why not try the online version or download the UPDF app to test its AI assistant yourself for free.

Follow the below steps to upload a PDF to UPDF AI online:

Step 1. Go to ai.updf.com and create an account.

Step 2. Click the "Upload File" button from the left sidebar and upload the PDF.

Step 3. Select the PDF file and click "Get Started" to let AI analyze the PDF.

Afterward, you can ask AI to perform various tasks with the PDF, such as:

Summarize PDF

You have multiple ways to summarize the PDF:

• Select the page range and summarize them: Prompt > Summarize by Page > Select the page range > Go.

• Write the specific prompt in the chat box, such as "Summarize the PDF in bullet points".

Translate PDF

Just like summarization, you can translate the PDF in multiple ways:

• Select the page range and translate them in your preferred: Prompt > Translate by Page > Select the page range and language > Go.

• Write the specific prompt in the chat box, such as "Translate this to English for me [paste text]".

Convert PDF to Mind Map

To convert PDF to Mind Map:

• Click Prompt > Generate Mind Map.
• Select the page range and click "Go".
• After the mind map is generated, view or download it.

This way, you can easily upload and analyze PDF with the intuitive approach of UPDF AI.

Bonus Tip 1: You can also use UPDF AI online to chat with multiple PDFs simultaneously. You can add PDFs to a collection folder and then use the chat box to chat with them all together.

Bonus Tip 2: The AI within the UPDF app also supports selecting the content for summaries, translation, and explanation. All you need to do is drag and select the text and then use the relevant option from the pop-up dialog.

Isn't UPDF AI the ideal alternative to Gemini for PDF-related activities? Get UPDF now and use the best AI tool to chat with PDFs.

Conclusion

Gemini isn't a handy AI tool to upload and chat with PDFs, especially when you are using it for free. You either have to upload the PDF as an image, use Google Drive, or subscribe to its costly $20/month subscription plan. In contrast, UPDF AI offers a free and more straightforward way to upload and interact with PDFs. Its mind map generation and batch analysis of multiple PDFs elevate the experience even further. Therefore, we will wrap up this guide by recommending you try UPDF AI and chat with PDFs effortlessly.