Gemini vs Gemini Notebook
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Gemini is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. Gemini wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Gemini Notebook on 1.
Google Workspace and Android users who want an assistant that knows their mail and files
Students, researchers and professionals digesting long documents
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Gemini | Gemini Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Assistants | AI Assistants |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Developer | ||
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Gemini better than Gemini Notebook?
Gemini is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. Gemini wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Gemini Notebook on 1.
Which is cheaper, Gemini or Gemini Notebook?
Gemini: Free; AI Plus $4.99, AI Pro $19.99, AI Ultra from $99.99 per month. Gemini Notebook: Free with a Google account; Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra plans raise the limits. On value for money, Gemini scores higher.
Do Gemini and Gemini Notebook work on the same devices?
Only Gemini runs on Mac, Windows.
Which is more private, Gemini or Gemini Notebook?
Gemini Notebook scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). Google says personal accounts' data isn't used for training unless you send feedback, which human reviewers may read. The App Store label links contact info, content, IDs and usage to you.
Strengths and weaknesses
Gemini
- Works across the Google apps you already use
- Generous free tier with strong models
- Paid plans include extra Google storage
- Some chats are reviewed by people and kept for years
- Best features are tied to Google accounts and services
Gemini is the easy pick if you already live in Google's apps. It works across Gmail, Drive, Calendar and dozens of other connected apps, writes Deep Research reports, and makes images and video. Gemini Live makes voice chats feel natural, and there are now native Mac and Windows apps. The trade-off is privacy: some chats are reviewed by people, and the app collects a lot. Paid plans bundle extra Google storage.
Full Gemini review
Gemini Notebook
- Answers grounded in your own documents
- Turns notes into audio, video and flashcards
- Free tier allows 100 notebooks
- AI can still misread or overreach your sources
- Higher limits come only through Google AI plans
- Feedback you send can be read by human reviewers
Gemini Notebook, called NotebookLM until July 2026, is an AI research assistant that sticks to the material you give it. Add PDFs, Google Docs and web links, and it answers with citations pointing back to your sources. It can also turn them into podcast-style Audio Overviews, video explainers, slides, flashcards or reports. The free tier is roomy. It can still get things wrong, so check those citations.
Full Gemini Notebook review
