WhichBot › Compare › Perplexity vs Gemini
Last checked Oct 28, 2026 · plain English · no paid picks
Perplexity vs Gemini
Short answer: neither wins at everything.
Pick Perplexity if you want answers with sources you can check, especially on current events.
Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan.
Perplexity vs Gemini side by side
| Perplexity | Gemini | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Answer app from Perplexity that cites its sources | Chat app from Google |
| Made by | Perplexity | |
| Price | Free $0; Pro $17/mo billed annually; Max $167/mo billed annually | 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 | Citations on every answer (Perplexity pricing page); fast to check; Best for: research with sources, current events | Built into Gmail, Docs, Drive, Android; generous free plan; Best for: Google Workspace, research, images, voice, homework |
| Watch out for | Free plan has limited Pro Search and Research | Not listed in our data |
| Privacy | AI data retention/training is ON by default for Free, Pro and Max; turn off in Preferences > AI data retention. Enterprise data never used for training | 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 | Not listed in our data | web, Android, iOS |
| Status | Current | Current |
| Sources | perplexity.ai · perplexity.ai (2) | gemini.google · support.google.com |
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Questions people ask
Is Perplexity or Gemini better?
It depends on what you do. Pick Perplexity if you want answers with sources you can check, especially on current events. Pick Gemini if you live in Gmail, Docs and Android and want a generous free plan.
Is Perplexity free?
Yes. Perplexity has a free plan. Plans: Free $0; Pro $17/mo billed annually; Max $167/mo billed annually.
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 Perplexity 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.