Overview
Opal is Google Labs' experimental no-code AI mini-app builder that lets anyone describe an idea in plain language and turn it into a working, shareable web app—no coding required. Powered by Google's Gemini models, Opal scaffolds a visual workflow of prompts, AI model calls, and tool integrations, then hosts the result and gives you a shareable link—typically within a few minutes, though complex apps may take longer.
Launched in July 2025 and now available in over 160 countries, Opal is built for non-technical teams who need to prototype AI-powered tools fast—whether that's a customer support assistant, a content repurposing workflow, or a data entry helper. It sits in Google Labs as an active experiment, meaning features evolve rapidly and usage is free during this phase.
If you've ever wanted to build a small AI helper without wrangling SDKs or cloud infrastructure, Opal offers one of the lowest-friction entry points available today from a major AI provider. It's especially compelling now that Gemini 3 Flash powers its newest agentic workflows, adding planning and multi-step execution capabilities to what was already a capable builder.
Key Features
Natural Language App Generation — Describe your tool in plain text and Opal automatically scaffolds inputs, Gemini model calls, and output cards into a structured visual flow. Skip boilerplate configuration and go straight to testing your idea.
Visual Workflow Editor — Inspect and refine every step of your app in a canvas-style interface. Adjust prompts, reorder actions, add branching logic, and tune output formatting without touching a line of code.
Hosted Sharing — Hit Publish and receive a Google-hosted URL you can share with teammates or stakeholders. No deployment pipeline, no DevOps queue—publishing is typically fast, though generation time depends on app complexity. Note that shared apps are linked to your Google Drive file; Google advises treating shared prompts as potentially visible to recipients.
Gallery Templates — Browse and remix pre-built mini-apps curated by the Opal team, covering use cases like blog writing, video marketing, support triage, and content repackaging. Starting from a Gallery demo is the fastest way to reach a working prototype without building from scratch.
Automated Workflows (Agentic Mode) — Added in February 2026, this feature introduces an agent step that plans and executes multi-step tasks autonomously. Google confirmed the agent can prompt users for missing inputs and select tools on its own; per media reports, it can also leverage Google Sheets for cross-session memory in certain workflows. This brings Opal into AI agent territory without requiring any code.
Gemini Integration via Gemini Web App — Since December 2025, Opal powers "Gems from Google Labs" inside the Gemini web app, letting you build and run custom AI applications from your Gemini dashboard. First-time access may require an in-app authorization step with your Google account. Note: this entry point currently requires a personal Google account, desktop browser, English language setting, and is restricted to users 18 and older.
Pricing & Plans
Opal is completely free while it operates as a Google Labs experiment. There are no subscription tiers, usage caps, or credit limits published at this time. Access is controlled through your existing Google account.
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Experimental) | $0 | Full access to all current features; available in 160+ countries |
Google has not announced a paid tier or pricing roadmap for Opal. As the product matures beyond Labs status, pricing may be introduced. Google has not published a specific quota or rate-limit structure for Opal; internal resource limits may apply, but these are separate from Gemini API billing. Check the Opal and Gemini Help Center for current terms.
Best For
- Marketing and content teams who need to prototype AI helpers (content repackagers, brief generators, campaign QA bots) without waiting on engineering
- Customer support leads building FAQ bots, triage assistants, or draft-reply workflows for their team
- Founders and PMs who want to validate an AI product idea and share a working demo with stakeholders before investing in development—see our best AI assistant guide for context on what users expect from AI-powered tools
- Developers who need a low-friction sandbox to test Gemini prompt chains and workflow logic before moving to production code
- Educators and researchers exploring AI app behavior in an accessible, no-infrastructure environment
FAQ
Is Opal completely free to use?
Yes. Opal is currently free for all users as part of its experimental phase under Google Labs. There are no published subscription plans or usage fees. Google has not announced when or whether paid tiers will be introduced.
Do I need coding skills to use Opal?
No. Opal is designed for non-technical users. You describe what you want to build in natural language, and Opal generates the workflow automatically. The visual editor lets you refine each step without writing any code.
Which AI models power Opal?
Opal uses Google's Gemini family of models. The agentic workflow feature introduced in February 2026 uses Gemini to handle planning, tool selection, and multi-step execution; media reports indicate Gemini 3 Flash powers this agent step specifically. Google's official blog confirms the agent step can route tasks and prompt users interactively.
What kinds of apps can I build with Opal?
You can build a wide range of AI-powered mini-apps, including customer support chatbots, content generators, SEO outline tools, meeting note summarizers, FAQ builders, data entry helpers, and sales enablement tools. Opal is best suited for lightweight prototypes and internal helpers rather than production-scale systems.
Does Opal host my app for me?
Yes. When you publish an app in Opal, Google automatically hosts it and provides a shareable link. You can control access settings and share the link with collaborators or stakeholders without any additional setup.
Can I export my Opal app to code?
Official documentation does not describe a code export or deployment option. Opal is designed for hosted mini-apps and internal prototypes; if you need a production-grade system, you would likely need to rebuild the logic using the Gemini API or a standard development framework.
Are there any restrictions for the Gemini web app entry point?
Yes. The "Gems from Google Labs" experience (powered by Opal) inside the Gemini web app currently requires a personal Google account (not a Workspace account), a desktop browser, English language settings, and is available to users aged 18 and older. The standalone Opal site at opal.google is available more broadly in 160+ countries and does not carry all of these restrictions.
Where is Opal available?
As of late 2025, Opal is available in over 160 countries. It launched in the United States in July 2025, expanded to 15 additional countries including India, Japan, Brazil, Canada, and South Korea in October 2025, and rolled out globally in November 2025.
How does Opal compare to other no-code AI app builders?
Opal sits in the AI app builder category alongside tools like Atoms and Imagine. Its key differentiators are Google infrastructure, native Gemini model integration, and zero-cost access during the experimental phase. It trades extensibility and production-readiness for speed and accessibility—ideal for fast validation, less suitable for complex enterprise workflows.
Is Opal integrated with other Google products?
Yes. Since December 2025, Opal powers "Gems from Google Labs" inside the Gemini web app (subject to the restrictions noted in the entry-point FAQ above). Google is also expanding its AI development tools with Google Antigravity, an autonomous coding assistant powered by Gemini 3 Pro agents that complements Opal for users who need more technical depth. Media reports indicate the agentic workflow step can leverage Google Sheets for cross-session memory in certain scenarios; broader Google Workspace integrations are not yet formally documented.
What happened to Opal's availability in the Gemini app?
In December 2025, Google integrated Opal into the Gemini web app as a visual editor for creating custom "Gems"—AI apps you can build and use directly from your Gemini dashboard. This means you can access Opal's app-building capabilities without visiting a separate URL. The AI workflow generator ecosystem is growing rapidly, and Opal's Gemini integration positions it well within that trend.
