I Tested Gemini vs. ChatGPT and Found the Clear Winner

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 excels at creative writing, brainstorming, and more, while Gemini stands out in research-heavy tasks and image analysis. 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.

Note: Both OpenAI and Google frequently roll out new updates to these AI chatbots. The details below reflect the most current capabilities as of March 2025 but may change over time.

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: What’s different and what’s not?

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!

Gemini and ChatGPT: The differences

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. 

• AI models and processing power: Gemini runs on its latest Gemini 2.0 Flash (free), Gemini 2.0 Pro (paid), and Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental (paid). What's cool is that Gemini is built to be multimodal from the start. ChatGPT uses the generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) models. This includes GPT 4o mini for unlimited chats in the free plan and limited chats with GPT-4o, GPT 4.5, o1, o3 mini, o3-mini-high, GPT-4, and GPT-4.5 in the paid plan.
• Context Window:  This refers to how much an AI can remember in a single conversation — a big deal for long chats. Gemini 2.0 Pro can handle up to 2 million tokens (paid), and Gemini 2.0 Flash handles 1 million. ChatGPT's 4o mini? It's at 128K. So, Gemini can keep track of way more in a single conversation.
• File handling: Gemini supports text, images, audio, video, and documents in various formats like DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, CSV, and Google files. It can handle up to 1,500 pages per file, 10 uploads at once, and 100MB per file. ChatGPT supports formats like DOCX, PDF, TXT, PPTX, CSV, and XLSX, 512 MB per file, with free users having three file uploads a day.
  
• Knowledge cutoff: This matters a lot. Gemini's knowledge cutoff with Flash models is June 2024 and January 2025 for Gemini 2.5 Pro, while ChatGPT's GPT-4o mini goes up to October 2023. That means Gemini might have information on more recent events.
  
• Integrations: Gemini is deeply embedded in the Google world. It's almost part of the family, with direct access to Gmail, Drive, Maps, and YouTube. ChatGPT, despite its third-party plugins and Google Drive integration, doesn't have that same level of ecosystem integration. OpenAI is working on ChatGPT Connectors, according to media report, but it's still in the early stages.

Gemini and ChatGPT: The similarities

Despite their differences, these AI chatbots have a lot in common, and it’s kind of wild how capable they are:

• Text generation: Need to write a story, summarize a report, or brainstorm ideas? Both get the job done.
• Coding: Those who code (or want to) can generate, debug, and optimize code in languages like Python, SQL, and JavaScript. 
• Voice interactions: You can actually talk to them! No more endless typing if you don't want to. (I love this!)
• Multimodal capabilities: ChatGPT and Gemini both handle text, images, and voice. You can throw different types of data at them, and they'll try to make sense of it anyway. Gemini even takes in videos as input.
• File analysis: Upload PDFs, documents, whatever, and they can pull out the key points. Super useful for research.
• Web search and deep research: Both ChatGPT and Gemini can search the web and give you comprehensive reports. Basically, they can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
• Temporary chats and sharing: You can have chats that don't stick around, review old ones, and share conversations. Privacy and collaboration, all in one.
• Custom AI assistants: Want a specialized AI? Both let you build your own. Gemini calls them Gems, and ChatGPT calls them Custom GPTs.

Now, we know what these chatbots say they can do, but the proof is in the pudding, which is why I tested them on 10 real-world tasks. 

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.

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: How they actually performed in my tests

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:

• What stood out? I'll highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and any surprises (good and bad) I noticed from both AI chatbots.
• Who did it better? I'll tell you which AI came out on top based on accuracy, creativity, efficiency, and how easy it was to use the output.
• Final verdict: My honest take on which AI is the better choice for that particular task.

Ready? Let's get started.

1. Summarization

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 explicitly referenced G2 and its review data. So, the winner for me was ChatGPT in this test. 

Winner: ChatGPT

2. Content creation

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 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.

3. Creative writing

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

4. Coding  

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.

ChatGPTs 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

5. Image generation

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.

While both AIs produced high-quality visuals, Gemini with Imagen 3 definitely delivered the stronger result.

Image generated with ChatGPT

ChatGPT's image showed a woman in a boutique. The setting was certainly pretty, with a warm, inviting feel, but it was a little too stylized. I could tell the human in the image looked AI-generated.

I was actually a bit disappointed, to be honest, because I’ve tried ChatGPT’s image generation before and really liked it. It usually nails things like graphics, illustrations, and even ghiblification (seriously, it gets that dreamy Studio Ghibli vibe just right). Plus, it’s one of the few tools that gets text right in images. But for this stock photo test? It missed the mark.

Image generated with Gemini

Gemini's image, though, felt way more authentic. As you see above, the male shop owner looks completely natural. The lighting, setting, and his expression? It was like a real photograph, making it more useful for professional purposes — except for the three clocks with different timings in the background. 

Winner: Gemini

6. Image analysis 

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

7. File analysis

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

8. Data analysis 

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 

9. Real-time web search

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

10. Deep research task

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. 

Key insights on Gemini vs. ChatGPT from G2 data

I also looked at review data on G2 to find strengths and adoption patterns for ChatGPT and Gemini. Here's what stood out: 

Satisfaction ratings

• ChatGPT excels in ease of use (97%), ease of setup (96%), and ease of doing business (95%).
• Gemini ranks high in ease of setup (98%), ease of doing business with (95%), and natural conversation (92%).

Top industries represented

• ChatGPT dominates IT services, computer software, marketing, financial services, and education.
• Gemini has a stronger presence in IT services, computer software, marketing, real estate, and cybersecurity.

Highest-rated features

• ChatGPT excels in understanding (92%), natural conversation (91%), and user interaction learning (91%).
• Gemini stands out for natural conversation (92%), reliability (91%), and ease of integration.

Lowest-rated features

• ChatGPT struggles with data security (84%), content accuracy (85%), and error learning (85%).
• Gemini struggles with API flexibility (84%), error learning (86%), and adaptability.

Frequently asked questions on Gemini and ChatGPT

Still have questions? Get your answers here!

1. Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Which is better?

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.

2. Is ChatGPT or Gemini better for coding?

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.

3. ChatGPT vs Gemini: Which AI is best for studying and research?

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.

4. ChatGPT vs Gemini: Which has better integrations?

Gemini works seamlessly with Google Drive, Gmail, Docs, and YouTube. On the other side, ChatGPT offers third-party plugins, Microsoft integrations, and custom GPTs for a personalized AI experience.

5. Can ChatGPT or Gemini help with resumes?

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.

6. ChatGPT or Gemini, which AI chatbot is better for math and problem-solving?

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.

7. Is ChatGPT or Gemini better for writing and creative tasks?

ChatGPT is preferred for creative writing, brainstorming, and structured content generation. Gemini works well for fact-based writing, research-heavy articles, and summarization.

8. ChatGPT vs Gemini: Which is more accurate?

Gemini has a more up-to-date knowledge base (June 2024), while ChatGPT’s GPT-4o mini stops at October 2023. For factual accuracy, Gemini is better for recent events and real-time research with its Google search integration.

9. Can I use both ChatGPT and Gemini?

 Absolutely! Many users combine both — ChatGPT for brainstorming, writing, and structured coding while using Gemini for research, document analysis, and multimodal tasks.

Gemini vs ChatGPT: My final verdict

Looking at the results across all 10 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!