Independent AI buying guide
No paid rankings
Last checked 26 Oct 2026
Head to head
ChatGPT or Gemini? Compared on independent test scores, prices and free plans. Every price links to its source, and we re-check everything every week.
The short answer
Calculated from independent tests
Higher scores
Gemini
Gemini scores higher in 4 of the 7 topics where we can compare both; ChatGPT wins at coding, research & search and maths & hard problems.
Cheaper
No clear winner
The cheapest paid plans: ChatGPT Go at $8/mo, and Gemini Google AI Plus at €4.99/mo. Their prices are in different currencies or equal, so we don't call a winner on price.
Better free plan
—
Only ChatGPT has a free plan with test scores.
Each tool's best subscription per topic, scored out of 100. Higher wins; a tie is a tie.
| Topic | ChatGPT | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 98 (higher)Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
| Coding | 94 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 82Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
| Writing | 87Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 98 (higher)Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
| Research & search | 98 (higher)Plus · GPT-6 Astra | 89Google AI Pro · Gemini 3.1 Pro |
| Maths & hard problems | 98 (higher)Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 97Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
| Studying | 94Plus · GPT-6.1 Sol | 100 (higher)Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
| Business & office | 94Plus · GPT-5.6 Sol | 100 (higher)Google AI Pro · Gemini 4 Argon |
Only ChatGPT has a free plan with test scores.
| Topic | ChatGPT free | Gemini free |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 72GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
| Coding | 68GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
| Writing | 69GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
| Research & search | 66GPT-6 Luna | No scores |
| Maths & hard problems | 82GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
| Studying | 78GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
| Business & office | 80GPT-5.6 Terra | No scores |
Every plan we track, with the official source and the date we checked it.
Opinion, not test scores: how each one feels to use.
The all-rounder most people already know. Good at almost everything, rarely the very best at one thing.
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026
The obvious pick if you already live in Gmail and Google Drive. The cheap AI Plus tier is hard to beat on price.
Reviewed 7 Oct 2026
Scores come from independent benchmarks, the same ones behind our rankings. Read how we rank for the formula.