Gemini review
Google's AI assistant, built into Gmail, Docs and Android
- Free + paid plans
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Web
Does it deserve #2?
The verdict
Gemini is the easy pick if you already live in Google's apps. It can work across Gmail, Drive, Calendar and Maps, writes Deep Research reports, and handles long documents and images well. Gemini Live makes voice chats feel natural. The trade-off is privacy: activity is kept and may be reviewed by people unless you change your settings. The free tier is generous, and paid plans bundle extra Google storage.
- Gmail, Drive and Calendar access
- Deep Research reports
- Gemini Live voice chats
- Image and video generation
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Works across the Google apps you already use
- Generous free tier with strong models
- Default assistant on many Android phones
What could be better
- Chats may be reviewed by people unless you change settings
- Best features are tied to Google accounts and services
Google Workspace and Android users who want an assistant that knows their mail and files
you want an assistant that is not tied to a Google account
Questions about Gemini
Is Gemini free?
Yes, anyone with a Google account can use Gemini for free with daily limits. Google AI subscriptions add more capable models, higher limits, video generation and extra cloud storage.
Is Gemini the same as Bard?
Yes, Google renamed Bard to Gemini, and the Gemini app has since replaced Google Assistant as the default assistant on many Android phones.
What are the best alternatives to Gemini?
The closest alternatives are ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft Copilot. See all of them ranked on our Gemini alternatives page.
Where does Gemini rank?
Gemini ranks #2 of 8 in our AI Assistants ranking, with an overall score of 8.9 out of 10.