July 18, 2025
by Soundarya Jayaraman / July 18, 2025
You know you’re living in the future when choosing your AI sidekick feels more like deciding between J.A.R.V.I.S. and TARS, except it’s Google’s Gemini vs ChatGPT. These AI chatbots are everywhere — drafting emails, writing code, planning trips, and even generating oddly specific cat memes. And I’ll admit it: I’m one of those people who can’t resist pushing AI to its limits.
I’ve spent months bouncing between Gemini and ChatGPT, poking, prodding, and testing both in real-world scenarios.
Naturally, I couldn’t resist the temptation to pit Gemini against ChatGPT in the ultimate AI showdown.
I designed 10+ real-world tasks, the kind of stuff you and I deal with every day, from writing and summarizing to debugging code and analyzing images. I threw it all at them to see which one held their ground. I also dug over 100 G2 reviews to see how real users rate their experiences.
Here’s what I found: ChatGPT absolutely crushes it when it comes to creative writing, coding, and just sounding like a human. Gemini, on the other hand, is your go-to for real-time research, complex reasoning, and anything tied into Google’s ecosystem. Plus, both Gemini and ChatGPT are good with image generation and short AI video generation.
My take? The best AI depends on what you need it for, and I’ve got the results to prove it. So, if you’ve been wondering which AI assistant actually delivers, sit tight. No fluff, no bias — just honest results.
Here’s a quick feature comparison of both AI models.
Feature |
ChatGPT |
Gemini |
G2 rating |
4.7/5 |
4.4/5 |
AI models |
Free: GPT‑4.1 mini and limited access to GPT‑4o, OpenAI o4-mini, and deep research Paid: Adds OpenAI o3, OpenAI o4-mini, and OpenAI o4-mini-high, research preview of GPT‑4.5, and GPT‑4.1, OpenAI o3-pro, Sora for video generation |
Free: Access to 2.5 Flash, limited access to 2.5 Pro, image generation with Imagen 4 Paid: Adds 2.5 Pro, Deep Research on 2.5 Pro, 2.5 Pro Deep Think, and video generation with Veo 3 |
Context window |
From 8,000 to 128,000 |
1 million or more |
Best for |
Creative writing, complex coding tasks, and general chat |
Research, image-based tasks, real-time info, and Google Workspace integration |
Creative writing and conversational ability |
Excellent creative writing abilities and engaging conversations |
Good but less engaging than ChatGPT. More concise and to the point. |
Image generation, recognition, and analysis |
Image creation and editing with GPT‑4o (replacing DALL·E 3); one of the best AI image generators for strong visual detail and text rendering. |
Unlimited image generation with Imagen 4, superior image recognition, and optical character recognition (OCR) |
Video generation |
With Sora; Impressive realism in isolated elements, but struggles with motion fluidity and cohesive atmosphere |
With Veo 3; More consistent than Sora, with striking visuals, better detail adherence, and smoother storytelling tone |
Real-time web access |
Available via SearchGPT (Powered by Bing) |
Available with Google Search, more reliable |
Coding and debugging |
One of the top AI coding assistants |
Decent but weaker than ChatGPT |
Platforms |
Web, mobile, and desktop |
Web and mobile |
Integrations |
Connects to third-party apps via Connectors (available on Team, Enterprise, and Edu plans) |
Seamlessly integrates with Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, YouTube, and more; ideal for users in the Google ecosystem |
Supported languages |
60 languages |
46 languages |
Pricing |
ChatGPT Plus: $20/month ChatGPT Teams: $25/user/month ChatGPT Pro: $200/month |
Google AI Pro: $19.99/month (one month free) Google AI Ultra: $250 (50% off in first 3 months) |
Note: Both OpenAI and Google frequently roll out new updates to these AI chatbots. The details below reflect the most current capabilities as of July 2025 but may change over time.
Before we begin the head-to-head testing, I want you to examine the chatbots and their features more closely. Honestly, they're both pretty impressive and among the top two AI chatbots on G2. But the devil's in the details, isn't it? Let's break down what sets them apart!
Now, this is where it gets fun. It's not just what they do but how they do it, and that’s where they both diverge.
Despite their differences, these AI chatbots have a lot in common, and it’s kind of wild how capable they are:
Now, we know what these chatbots say they can do, but the proof is in the pudding, which is why I tested them on 11 real-world tasks.
To make sure it was a fair fight, I used their paid versions, ChatGPT Plus and Gemini Advanced, and tested them in the following tasks:
Here's the thing: I wanted it to be as fair as possible, so I used the exact same prompts for both. There was no tweaking, no rephrasing, just straight-up, identical questions. Want to try some of my test prompts? Find them here!
I evaluated their responses based on:
To add other user perspectives, I also cross-checked my findings with G2 reviews to see how other users experience these models.
Disclaimer: AI responses may vary based on phrasing, session history, and system updates for the same prompts. These results reflect the models' capabilities at the time of testing.
You're probably itching to know how these AI chatbots did in those tests, right? For each test, I'm going to break it down like this:
Ready? Let's get started.
For the summarization test, I asked both ChatGPT and Gemini to summarize an article from G2 in exactly three bullet points, keeping it under 50 words. The article discussed how non-designers are increasingly using Canva.
Gemini's response to the summarization prompt
Gemini provided a concise and to-the-point summary, highlighting Canva’s popularity among non-designers, its ease of use, and the limitations of its free version. However, it missed mentioning G2 as the source and lacked supporting details, making it feel somewhat generic.
ChatGPT's response to the summarization prompt
ChatGPT, on the other hand, stepped up. It not only delivered a well-structured summary but also explicitly referenced G2 and its review data. So, the winner for me was ChatGPT in this test.
Winner: ChatGPT
Content creation is where AI really shines. It's probably one of the most common things we use these tools for. For this test, I wanted to see how Gemini and ChatGPT handled a full-on marketing blitz.
I asked both tools to generate marketing materials for a fictional product called SunCharge, a portable solar-powered charger. These included product descriptions, taglines, social media posts, email subject lines, and ad scripts — essentially everything a brand would need for a full-on marketing campaign. Mind you, I asked for all this in one single prompt.
Gemini's response to the content creation prompt
Gemini took a more structured and professional approach. It focused on clear, well-organized descriptions that highlighted eco-friendliness and portability. And honestly, its product description was really good, and super detailed. What I did love from Gemini was the image idea for Instagram. That was a nice touch, something ChatGPT didn't think of.
ChatGPT's response to content creation prompt
ChatGPT’s responses, on the other hand, felt more engaging and creative. It used emojis, humor, and a conversational tone — perfect for social media marketing. I could see the TikTok video concept and YouTube ad playing out. It felt like a real person was writing this stuff. Plus, the tagline, 'Power your phone, power the planet,' was super catchy.
Winner: Split verdict; ChatGPT for creative social content; Gemini for formal/structured content.
For the creative writing test, I tasked both ChatGPT and Gemini to craft a 300-word science fiction story based on a specific set of elements. Both AI models delivered engaging stories that stuck to the required elements, but their execution differed in tone and style.
ChatGPT's story "Whispers of Wanderer" for the creative writing task
ChatGPT’s story "Whispers of the Wanderer" had me hooked. It builds suspense really well, and the twist at the end is pretty impactful. The writing also has a slightly more poetic feel.
Gemini's response to my creative writing prompt
Gemini’s story took a more direct and clear approach. While the writing was well-crafted and the atmosphere was immersive, the twist lacked the same level of emotional impact as ChatGPT’s for me.
Winner: ChatGPT
Users rate ChatGPT slightly higher for generating engaging, imaginative content, reinforcing its edge in creative writing and storytelling. Want more? Explore the other best AI writers available in the market.
Coding challenges are a key test for AI capabilities, especially for a 'copy-paste-and-hope-it-works' kind of person (me). For this task, I asked both ChatGPT and Gemini to generate a password generator using HTML and JavaScript. My main criteria? It had to be a functional, understandable solution with a clean interface.
Gemini's code for a password generator
Both AI models delivered fully functional password generators. Gemini was faster in generating the code and also provided a clear explanation of how it worked. But ChatGPT? It went the extra mile.
ChatGPT's code for a password generator
I loved how ChatGPT added a lock emoji to the interface and used colorful, stylish buttons. It just felt more polished and user-friendly. Gemini's version worked fine, but it was more basic and focused solely on function over form. With ChatGPT, it wasn't just about getting the job done; it was about doing it with a bit of style.
Winner: ChatGPT
Users rate ChatGPT higher for code generation, accuracy, and overall code quality, making it the preferred choice for AI-assisted coding.
Explore the other best AI coding assistants, tried and tested by my colleague Sudipto Paul.
We've all seen those AI-generated images popping up everywhere, right? I wanted to see how Gemini and ChatGPT handled a specific task: creating a stock photo of a small business owner. Creating imaginary, fictional, abstract images is one thing, but generating a stock image with a realistic human? That’s a whole other challenge.
Gemini’s image really impressed me. The boutique has a polished, lifestyle-y aesthetic. It was well-lit, spacious, and styled like something straight out of an e-commerce banner. The woman stands confidently in the foreground, and the store layout feels legit.
Image generated with Imagen 4 on Gemini
Even the branding (“The Gilded Spool”) adds a professional touch. The clothing racks, jewelry displays, and overall composition look production-ready. It’s the kind of image I could easily see on a small business site or marketplace homepage.
ChatGPT’s image had a more earthy, handmade feel. The lighting was warm and soft, the color palette leaned into neutrals, and the shop felt more like a cozy artisan’s workspace than a mainstream boutique. It nailed the vibe for a maker or sustainability-focused brand. It was beautiful, but it set up a different mood.
Image generated with ChatGPT
So while they’re visually different, each hits the mark for a specific use case. One leans modern and commercial; the other, warm and handcrafted. That makes them equally successful based on interpretation, not execution flaws.
Winner: Split
ChatGPT and Gemini aren’t the only cool AI image generators in the market. Read our review of the best free AI image generators, from Adobe Firefly and Canva to Microsoft Designer and Recraft.
So for image analysis, I really wanted to push these AI tools a bit. I didn't just throw one image at them; I gave them two different types: an infographic about AI adoption trends and a handwritten poem. My goal? To see how well they could pull out information, organize it, and give me a real, meaningful breakdown.
And honestly, ChatGPT just performed better across the board. It had a sharper eye for detail and a better way of organizing its thoughts.
ChatGPT's response to my image analysis prompt
First, the infographic. ChatGPT gave me a super well-structured summary, hitting all the key statistics, trends, and conclusions. It even gave me some thoughts on the visual design, which was a nice touch.
Gemini's response to my image analysis prompt
Gemini, on the other hand, was a bit... spotty. It missed a whole section and even repeated another, which made its analysis feel a bit unreliable.
ChatGPT transcribing my hand-written notes as part of the image analysis task
Then, the handwritten poem. ChatGPT nailed this one, too. It transcribed the entire poem accurately and even threw in some thoughtful observations about the handwriting and context.
Gemini's analysis of my hand-written note as part of the image analysis task
Gemini focused more on describing the handwriting and paper, which, while interesting, didn't give me the full text. I also found during the test that Gemini allows only one image upload per message, while on ChatGPT, I could upload multiple images.
Winner: ChatGPT
I wanted to see how ChatGPT (with Sora) and Gemini (with Veo 3) handled something a little more cinematic — think nature documentary meets storybook whimsy. The prompt? A squirrel reading a newspaper in the middle of a peaceful forest, leaves gently falling around it. Simple on paper, but tricky to pull off well.
Generating video on Gemini with Veo 3
Gemini’s video (via Veo 3) was the easiest to generate. I could just drop the prompt into the app and go. The output had a peaceful, storybook vibe. The squirrel looked natural (almost too chill), the newspaper was hilariously well-sized, and the leaves drifted down in a gentle loop. It even included audio of rustling paper, which added an unexpected but welcome layer of realism.
Video generated on Gemini with Veo 3
The animation wasn’t ultra-lifelike, but the composition felt thoughtful, warm, and cohesive — like a short film you’d want to watch again.
Generating video on Sora
Sora (via ChatGPT) gave me four versions of the same scene, which I loved, in theory. The squirrel’s design was solid: great fur texture and believable posture. But the backgrounds? Not so much. Only one version hit that golden-hour lighting I had in mind. The rest looked too neutral or flat, almost like the model focused all its energy on the squirrel and forgot to light the set.
Video generated on Sora
Movements also felt a bit clunky, especially when the squirrel interacted with the newspaper. It never flipped the pages, which felt like a miss given the detail in the prompt.
Sora gave options, but most fell short on lighting and atmosphere. Great squirrel, inconsistent setting. Gemini captured the moment with a touch of cinematic charm. So it wins this round.
Winner: Gemini
Let's talk file analysis. I wanted to see how well Gemini and ChatGPT could handle a real academic paper, so I gave them a PDF of Einstein's “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies.” I asked them to summarize the key findings in five bullet points, keeping it under 100 words.
ChatGPT's response to the file analysis task
ChatGPT really impressed me here. It gave me a super clear, concise summary that hit all the major points: the principle of relativity, the constant speed of light, time and length relativity, the relativity of simultaneity, and how it all led to new kinematics and dynamics. The bullet points were well-labeled and easy to understand, and even the intro gave context to the paper's importance. Plus, it asked if I wanted a more casual or polished version, which was a nice touch.
Gemini's response to the file analysis task
Gemini, on the other hand, was accurate but leaned towards a more direct, textbook-style summary. It did pull out the main ideas, but it felt a bit more like a list than a proper summary and didn’t add any context. For me, it didn't feel as cohesive as ChatGPT's response. What Gemini did well however, that ChatGPT did not, was include page references.
Winner: ChatGPT
I gave both ChatGPT and Gemini a CSV file with search interest data for ChatGPT across different U.S. subregions. Basically, I wanted to find out which one could make sense of the numbers and give me some insights.
ChatGPT's response to the data analysis prompt
ChatGPT started off strong. It cleaned up the data and put it into a nice, readable table. But then... it stopped. It didn't really dig deeper or provide any analysis. It asked if I wanted a chart instead of just making one, which felt a bit passive. This was a bit surprising for me because I’ve had ChatGPT generate charts and analyze data for me before. But for this particular prompt, ChatGPT did not perform.
Gemini's response to the data analysis prompt with charts and complete analysis
Quite the opposite, Gemini had a bit of a rocky start. It had trouble loading the file at first, but it quickly sorted itself out. Then, it went to work. It cleaned the data and gave me a bar chart showing search interest by region. But it didn't just stop there. It tried to find patterns, grouping regions by high, moderate, and low interest, and even suggested reasons behind the data, like tech infrastructure and education.
What I liked even more was the options it provided to customize and edit the chart data. That's what I call going the extra mile!
Winner: Gemini
In the next task, I wanted to see how well Gemini and ChatGPT could keep up with the latest. I asked them to find and summarize the three most recent AI news stories.
Gemini's response to the real-time web search task
This was a straight-up knockout for Gemini. Its deep integration with Google Search really showed its strength here. Gemini pulled up super fresh, relevant news straight from the headlines. It gave me articles from big and small publications and summarized them perfectly. It was like having a real-time news feed right there.
ChatGPT's response to the real-time web search task
ChatGPT, though, kind of dropped the ball on this one. It gave me news links, but all of them were over a month old. The summaries were well-written, but the outdated info just didn't cut it for a real-time search check.
Winner: Gemini
For my final challenge, I really wanted to put Gemini and ChatGPT's deep research capabilities against the other. This is a big deal right now — AI chatbots are promising to handle complex research queries, meaning they could sift through tons of sources for you. I asked them to research SaaS consolidation trends.
Gemini’s Deep Research sharing research plan before starting
With Gemini, I noticed it started off by laying out a clear research plan, almost like it was mapping out its strategy before diving in. Then, it delivered a really polished and organized document, and what struck me was how current it was. It focused on data from 2024 and 2025, using over 20 sources, which made it feel really relevant. Plus, it was super easy to export the report to Google Docs.
ChatGPT's Deep Research asking questions before starting
ChatGPT, on the other hand, took a more interactive approach, asking me detailed questions about my preferred timeframe, geographic focus, and priority areas before proceeding. Compared to Gemini's faster turnaround, ChatGPT took longer to complete the task (about eight minutes to generate the entire report).
With ChatGPT, it used a wider range of sources, 41 in total, covering 2021-2025, which was impressive. But, the main focus of the report was on older data, 2018-2023, even though I had specifically mentioned the last 3-5 years as the timeframe. That was a bit of a letdown. That said, I have to admit that the report was super-packed with relevant data points and insights. What I really loved was that it even included example cases for the insights it shared. I did spot a few inaccuracies, but on the whole, it was a really rich report.
You can find both research reports here.
Winner: Split decision; Gemini for speed and current data; ChatGPT for a more comprehensive and personalized report.
Here’s a table showing which chatbot won the tasks.
Task |
Winner |
Why It Won |
Summarization |
ChatGPT 🏆 |
ChatGPt included the source (G2) in the summary, structured the response better, and added more relevant details. |
Content creation |
Split |
ChatGPT was more engaging, creative, and social-media-friendly, while Gemini was more structured and professional. |
Creative writing |
ChatGPT 🏆 |
ChatGPT had stronger suspense, more immersive storytelling, and a more impactful twist. |
Coding (password generator) |
ChatGPT 🏆 |
ChatGPT went a step ahead, providing cleaner code and better UI design (lock emoji, colors). |
Image generation |
Split |
Gemini's Imagen 4 wins for polish and brand-readiness, while ChatGPT shines with warmth and authenticity. |
Image analysis |
ChatGPT 🏆 |
ChatGPT gave a more structured and accurate breakdown of the infographic and handwritten text and captured full transcription. |
Video generation | Gemini🏆 |
Gemini delivered a more cohesive, cinematic scene with charming visuals and ambient audio. |
File analysis (PDF summary) |
ChatGPT 🏆 |
ChatGPT gave a more comprehensive, structured, and insightful summary of the scientific paper shared in PDF format. |
Data analysis (CSV processing and visualization) |
Gemini 🏆 |
Gemini generated a suitable data chart and gave insights on trends more effectively. |
Real-time web search |
Gemini 🏆 |
Gemini pulled the most recent news, leveraging Google Search for real-time accuracy. |
Deep research (M&A trends report) |
Split |
Gemini was faster and well-structured, while ChatGPT had more sources and deeper insights. |
I also looked at review data on G2 to find strengths and adoption patterns for ChatGPT and Gemini. Here's what stood out:
Curious how other AI chatbots stack up against ChatGPT? Check out these head-to-head battles:
Still have questions? Get your answers here!
It depends on what you need. ChatGPT is great for writing, brainstorming, and coding, while Gemini excels in real-time research, multimodal processing (text, images, video), and handling longer conversations. If you're deep into Google’s ecosystem, Gemini integrates seamlessly with Gmail, Drive, and YouTube.
Gemini handles context better for very long inputs—it supports up to 1 million tokens, making it ideal for analyzing large documents or codebases. ChatGPT-4o, with a 128K token limit, excels in conversational context, remembering tone, follow-ups, and instructions more naturally. Use Gemini for deep, document-level tasks and ChatGPT for fluid, multi-turn conversations.
ChatGPT is widely used for debugging, generating, and explaining code, while Gemini supports larger coding contexts and is better at analyzing and modifying complex projects. If you need detailed code breakdowns, go for ChatGPT. If you need more real-time code research, Gemini might be a better choice.
ChatGPT is generally faster than Gemini at debugging code, especially in real-time interactions. ChatGPT-4o offers near-instant response times and efficiently handles complex debugging tasks across multiple programming languages. Gemini is competent but often slower, especially on longer or more nuanced code inputs.
Gemini is best for developers using Google tools, Android, or GCP, with strong integration and visual input support.
ChatGPT is faster and better for real-time debugging, general coding tasks, plugin tools, and multi-language support with memory and customization features.
ChatGPT is best for concept explanations, summarizing notes, and flashcards. Gemini has a stronger hand in analyzing PDFs, academic papers, and real-time research via Google Search.
You can upload papers, highlight passages, ask contextual questions, and even combine web results with document-based research. Gemini is especially helpful for exploring newer research topics or current events.
ChatGPT has a knowledge cutoff of June 2024. Gemini has a more recent cutoff of January 2025. Both can pull fresh data via SearchGPT and Google Search respectively.
ChatGPT typically generates more engaging storytelling, dialog, and creative writing. Gemini leans more fact-based, structured, and research-driven. For creative prompts, ChatGPT usually feels more natural and expressive.
ChatGPT: Sleek interface, chat memory, custom GPTs, and Microsoft Copilot integrations. Gemini: Google Workspace compatibility, on-screen tools for Docs, Sheets, and Gmail, and easier file uploads. Preference depends on your daily workflow.
Yes . Gemini is more capable with multimodal input, especially images and videos. It can describe, analyze, and answer questions based on visual input more effectively. GPT-4o has improved multimodal features, but Gemini 2.5 Pro still handles document and image analysis more natively.
Gemini works seamlessly with Google Drive, Gmail, Docs, and YouTube. On the other side.
ChatGPT works with Microsoft tools, browser extensions, third-party plugins, custom GPTs, and now Connectors — secure links to apps like Google Drive, Gmail, Outlook, Dropbox, GitHub, Notion, and more. Pro, Team, and Enterprise users can also automate tasks using the new agent mode.
Yes! ChatGPT is excellent for resume formatting, cover letters, and optimizing job descriptions. Gemini is useful for analyzing job postings, extracting keywords, and refining applications based on Google Search trends.
ChatGPT is strong for step-by-step math explanations and logic-based problem-solving. Gemini handles equation recognition, complex calculations, and analyzing math problems in PDFs.
Gemini has a more up-to-date knowledge base (January 2025), while ChatGPT stops at June 2024. For factual accuracy, Gemini is better for recent events and real-time research with its Google search integration.
Gemini can handle much larger inputs, up to 1 million tokens, far more than ChatGPT's 128K limit. This means Gemini can process entire books, large codebases, or lengthy PDFs in a single prompt, without needing chunking. It also integrates deeply with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail), allowing it to interact with and manipulate live documents, which ChatGPT can't natively do.
In terms of real-time tasks like searching or PDF analysis, Gemini is typically quicker thanks to its integration with Google tools. But for writing or coding tasks, ChatGPT often responds faster and more fluidly, especially in GPT-4o.
ChatGPT supports public custom GPTs, has a dedicated desktop app, and includes agent mode for multi-step task automation, features Gemini doesn’t currently offer.
Absolutely! Many users combine both, using ChatGPT for brainstorming, writing, and structured coding and Gemini for research, document analysis, and multimodal tasks.
Other top AI chatbots similar to ChatGPT include:
Looking at the results across all 11 tasks, ChatGPT takes the lead. It won six tasks outright, especially excelling in-depth, creativity, and structured analysis. Gemini won three tasks, standing out in real-time search, speed, and image generation, while two tasks ended in a split verdict.
This aligns with G2 reviewers’ experiences, too. ChatGPT leads the AI chatbot category, closely followed by Gemini. The competition is tight. But here’s the thing — these two AI models excel in completely different ways.
If you ask me which one I’d choose, it really depends on what I need at the moment. If I need fast, up-to-date information, I’ll go with Gemini. If I need deeper analysis and structured insights, I’ll turn to ChatGPT. More often than not, I’ll probably be using both.
Bottom line: It's not about choosing sides; it's about using the right AI for the right job.
ChatGPT and Gemini aren’t the only AI chatbots out there. I’ve tested Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, and more to see how they stack up in my best ChatGPT alternatives guide. Check it out!
This article was originally published in March 2025 and has been updated with new information.
Soundarya Jayaraman is a Content Marketing Specialist at G2, focusing on cybersecurity. Formerly a reporter, Soundarya now covers the evolving cybersecurity landscape, how it affects businesses and individuals, and how technology can help. You can find her extensive writings on cloud security and zero-day attacks. When not writing, you can find her painting or reading.
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