Gemini
Google's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps
Our verdict
Second of our top three AI assistants
For: People who already use Gmail, Docs and Google Drive
Gemini is free with a Google Account, and the free plan includes image generation, Deep Research and spoken conversations through Gemini Live. It works with Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar and runs on the web, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month with 400 GB of storage, less than ChatGPT's lowest paid plan. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from about 2.3 million ratings. It is second because it is tied into Google's apps and plans: paid tiers are Google AI plans that bundle storage and other Google services, with no Gemini-only plan listed, and features vary by region. The macOS app needs Apple Silicon and macOS Sequoia (15.0) or later.
See all three and how we rankWhat is Gemini?
Gemini is Google's AI assistant, available on the web, in mobile apps and as a desktop app for Windows and macOS. The free plan covers chat, image generation, Deep Research, voice conversations through Gemini Live, Canvas and Gems. Paid Google AI plans raise the usage limits and bundle Google storage, Gemini inside Gmail and Docs, and other Google services.
Gemini has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month (Google AI Plus). See every plan
Good for
- People who already use Gmail, Docs, Drive and Google Calendar
- Buyers who want AI features bundled with Google storage
- College students, who are offered a free year of the Pro plan
Worth knowing
- Paid tiers are Google AI plans that bundle storage and other Google services; no Gemini-only paid plan is listed.
- Google AI plans require age 18 or over, and features vary by region and platform.
- Google AI Ultra starts at $99.99 per month, and its 20x usage level costs $199.99 per month.
- The macOS desktop app requires Apple Silicon and macOS Sequoia (15.0) or later.
Key features
- Chat with Gemini models
- The free plan includes the 3.6 Flash model and varying access to 3.1 Pro. Paid plans raise usage limits, from 2x on Plus to as much as 20x the Pro limits on Ultra.
- Deep Research
- A research tool that is included in the free plan, with higher access on the paid Google AI plans.
- Gemini Live
- Have a spoken conversation, switch between talking and typing, and show Gemini what you are looking at while you talk.
- Image and video generation
- Generate and edit images on every plan, and create or edit video by describing what you want. Paid plans include Google Flow credits.
- Google app integration
- Works with Gmail, Drive, Docs and Calendar, and paid plans add Gemini inside Gmail, Docs and Vids.
- Desktop app
- Apps for Windows and macOS open with a keyboard shortcut, accept voice dictation and can share your screen for answers that take it into account.
Gemini pricing
- Starts at
- $4.99 per month (Google AI Plus)
- Free plan
- Free with a Google Account: access to 3.6 Flash and varying access to 3.1 Pro, image generation and editing, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas and Gems, plus 15 GB of Google storage.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Access to 3.6 Flash, varying access to 3.1 Pro, image generation, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas and Gems, with 15 GB of storage. |
| Google AI Plus | $4.99per month | 2x higher usage than Free, 200 Google Flow credits, Gemini in Gmail and Vids, and 400 GB of storage. |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99per month | 4x higher usage than Free, 1,000 Flow credits, higher access to Gemini 3 Pro, Jules, Chrome auto browse, YouTube Premium Lite and 5 TB of storage. |
| Google AI Ultra | From $99.99per month | 5x the usage limits of AI Pro at $99.99 or 20x at $199.99, with Deep Think, Project Genie, YouTube Premium and 20 TB or more of storage. |
Read from gemini.google on Oct 4, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Gemini before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- EducationFree Pro plan for college students for a year
Google's US subscriptions page says college students get a free Google AI Pro plan for one year, through its student offer.
Stated on gemini.google
What people say about Gemini
4.7
out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app
- 5 stars88%
- 4 stars5%
- 3 stars2%
- 2 stars<1%
- 1 star4%
2,317,546 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing
Often praised
- Reviewers and commenters describe learning with it, from quizzes and new vocabulary to working through maths or a practical subject step by step. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
Often criticised
- Reviewers and a commenter report answers that are wrong or that contradict what it said earlier, and two of them point to the faster, lighter models. App Store reviews · Hacker News
- Reviewers and commenters find the range confusing, with Gemini appearing in many Google products that differ in which model they run and what they can do. App Store reviews · Hacker News 1, 2
Based on 10 App Store reviews from November 2025 to September 2026, nine of them five stars, and about 15 Hacker News comments from the first week of October 2026, read Oct 7, 2026. These are themes summarised in our words, not our own verdict. Follow the links to read what was said.
Works with
Gemini alternatives
- Gemini vs ChatGPT
Free plan · from $8/mo
- Gemini vs Claude
Free plan · from $17/mo
- Gemini vs Perplexity
Free plan · from $17/mo
- Gemini vs Gemini Notebook
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Featured in
Common questions
Is Gemini free?
Gemini has a free plan. Free with a Google Account: access to 3.6 Flash and varying access to 3.1 Pro, image generation and editing, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas and Gems, plus 15 GB of Google storage. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month (Google AI Plus).
How much does Gemini cost?
Gemini lists 4 plans. Free: $0. Google AI Plus: $4.99 per month. Google AI Pro: $19.99 per month. Google AI Ultra: from $99.99 per month. Prices were read from gemini.google on Oct 4, 2026.
What platforms does Gemini work on?
Gemini is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does Gemini offer any discounts?
Gemini publicly lists the following: Free Pro plan for college students for a year.
How is Gemini rated?
Gemini's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2,317,546 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.
Is Gemini any good?
We have not tested Gemini, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Reviewers and commenters describe learning with it, from quizzes and new vocabulary to working through maths or a practical subject step by step. Often criticised: Reviewers and a commenter report answers that are wrong or that contradict what it said earlier, and two of them point to the faster, lighter models. The reviews page has every theme with its sources.
Does Gemini have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 4, 2026. Gemini is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Gemini open source?
Gemini is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 4, 2026.
What does Gemini integrate with?
Gemini's listing names Gmail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Vids and Google Chrome. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Gemini have a student discount?
Free Pro plan for college students for a year. Google's US subscriptions page says college students get a free Google AI Pro plan for one year, through its student offer.
Who makes Gemini?
Gemini is made by Google.
What are the alternatives to Gemini?
The closest alternatives to Gemini in our directory are ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini Notebook. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Gemini.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 4, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.