diff --git a/src/cliproxy/model-catalog.ts b/src/cliproxy/model-catalog.ts
index 0fccc017..5c609330 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/model-catalog.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/model-catalog.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export interface ModelEntry {
   id: string;
   /** Human-readable name for display */
   name: string;
-  /** Access tier indicator - 'paid' means requires paid API tier (not model pricing) */
+  /** Access tier indicator - 'paid' means requires paid Google account (not free tier) */
   tier?: 'free' | 'paid';
   /** Optional description for the model */
   description?: string;
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export const MODEL_CATALOG: Partial<Record<CLIProxyProvider, ProviderCatalog>> =
         id: 'gemini-3-pro-preview',
         name: 'Gemini 3 Pro',
         tier: 'paid',
-        description: 'Google latest, requires Paid API tier',
+        description: 'Google latest, requires paid Google account',
       },
     ],
   },
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ export const MODEL_CATALOG: Partial<Record<CLIProxyProvider, ProviderCatalog>> =
         id: 'gemini-3-pro-preview',
         name: 'Gemini 3 Pro',
         tier: 'paid',
-        description: 'Latest model, requires Paid API tier',
+        description: 'Latest model, requires paid Google account',
       },
       {
         id: 'gemini-2.5-pro',
         name: 'Gemini 2.5 Pro',
-        description: 'Stable release, works with free tier',
+        description: 'Stable, works with free Google account',
       },
     ],
   },
diff --git a/src/cliproxy/model-config.ts b/src/cliproxy/model-config.ts
index d58c6c11..cc5bcfa4 100644
--- a/src/cliproxy/model-config.ts
+++ b/src/cliproxy/model-config.ts
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ export function getCurrentModel(provider: CLIProxyProvider): string | undefined
  * Format model entry for display in selection list
  */
 function formatModelOption(model: ModelEntry): string {
-  // Tier badge: clarify that "paid" means API tier, not model pricing
-  const tierBadge = model.tier === 'paid' ? color(' [Paid API]', 'warning') : '';
+  // Tier badge: clarify that "paid" means paid Google account (not free tier)
+  const tierBadge = model.tier === 'paid' ? color(' [Paid Tier]', 'warning') : '';
   return `${model.name}${tierBadge}`;
 }
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ function formatModelOption(model: ModelEntry): string {
 function formatModelDetailed(model: ModelEntry, isCurrent: boolean): string {
   const marker = isCurrent ? color('>', 'success') : ' ';
   const name = isCurrent ? bold(model.name) : model.name;
-  const tierBadge = model.tier === 'paid' ? color(' [Paid API]', 'warning') : '';
+  const tierBadge = model.tier === 'paid' ? color(' [Paid Tier]', 'warning') : '';
   const desc = model.description ? dim(` - ${model.description}`) : '';
   return `  ${marker} ${name}${tierBadge}${desc}`;
 }
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ export async function configureProviderModel(
   console.error(header(`Configure ${catalog.displayName} Model`));
   console.error('');
   console.error(dim('    Select which model to use for this provider.'));
-  console.error(dim('    Models marked [Paid API] require a paid Google AI Studio API key.'));
+  console.error(
+    dim('    Models marked [Paid Tier] require a paid Google account (not free tier).')
+  );
   console.error('');
 
   // Interactive selection
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ export async function showCurrentConfig(provider: CLIProxyProvider): Promise<voi
 
   console.error('');
   console.error(bold('Available models:'));
-  console.error(dim('  [Paid API] = Requires paid Google AI Studio API key'));
+  console.error(dim('  [Paid Tier] = Requires paid Google account (not free tier)'));
   console.error('');
   catalog.models.forEach((m) => {
     const isCurrent = m.id === currentModel;