ChatGPT vs Gemini

Short answer: neither wins at everything.

Pick ChatGPT if you want one app that does a bit of everything: chat, voice, images, files and deep research.

Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan.

ChatGPT vs Gemini side by side

	ChatGPT	Gemini
What it is	Chat app from OpenAI	Chat app from Google
Made by	OpenAI	Google
Price	Free $0; Go $8/mo (US); Plus $20/mo; Pro 100 $100, Pro 200 $200, Pro 500 $500 /mo	Free; Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; Google AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra $99.99/mo (5x Pro limits) or $199.99/mo (20x). US prices on Google's plans page, checked Oct 17, 2026. Gemini 4 Argon is on Pro and Ultra
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Good at	Broadest feature set in one app: voice, images, files, deep research; Best for: all-rounder, data analysis, images, voice	Built into Gmail, Docs, Drive, Android; generous free plan; Best for: Google Workspace, research, images, voice, homework
Watch out for	Go plan may include ads (OpenAI pricing page)	Not listed in our data
Privacy	Personal accounts: chats may train models by default; turn off 'Improve the model for everyone' in Data Controls. Business/Enterprise: no training by default	Keep Activity is on by default (18+): chats may be used to train AI and a subset reviewed by humans (kept up to 3 years). Turning it off stops future training; chats kept up to 72 hours
Where it runs	web, iOS, Android	web, Android, iOS
Status	Current. Custom GPTs retire Dec 11, 2026 (Enterprise workspaces with an approved delay: Feb 11, 2027); OpenAI says move them to Plugins. Existing chats with GPTs stay accessible. New Oct 20, 2026: locked chats (hide a chat behind a 4-digit PIN or device unlock) rolling out to Free, Go, Plus and Pro	Current
Sources	chatgpt.com · openai.com · help.openai.com · help.openai.com (2) · help.openai.com (3) · help.openai.com (4)	gemini.google · support.google.com

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Questions people ask

Is ChatGPT or Gemini better?

It depends on what you do. Pick ChatGPT if you want one app that does a bit of everything: chat, voice, images, files and deep research. Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan.

Is ChatGPT free?

Yes. ChatGPT has a free plan. Plans: Free $0; Go $8/mo (US); Plus $20/mo; Pro 100 $100, Pro 200 $200, Pro 500 $500 /mo.

Is Gemini free?

Yes. Gemini has a free plan. Plans: Free; Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; Google AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra $99.99/mo (5x Pro limits) or $199.99/mo (20x). US prices on Google's plans page, checked Oct 17, 2026. Gemini 4 Argon is on Pro and Ultra.

Can I try both ChatGPT and Gemini?

Yes. Both have a free plan, so you can try each one on the same task and keep the one you like.

How does WhichBot decide?

Hector uses a written rubric: everyday usefulness, cost and free plans, privacy, reliability, ease of use, availability and safety. Rankings are one input, not the answer.

Facts come from the companies' own pages, linked above, and were last checked Oct 28, 2026. Prices are US and can change. Picks are Hector's: no paid picks, sponsors always labeled, and no sponsorship from AI labs. Our policy.