Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Which AI Assistant Is Better in 2025?
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The AI industry has never been more competitive. Companies like Google and OpenAI are constantly releasing updates and new models that push what AI can do to the next level. Rather than relying on marketing claims or benchmark scores, we tested Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT in real-world scenarios across seven areas: daily tasks, learning, mathematical reasoning, coding, researching, writing, and data analysis to see how they truly compare.
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Gemini vs. ChatGPT in 2025, from their features, pricing, to how they actually perform in everyday scenarios.
🐱 Meow Memo: To provide you with the most practical and accessible insights, this comparison focuses primarily on the free versions of both AI assistants—Gemini 2.5 Flash and GPT-5.
An Overview of Gemini and ChatGPT
Gemini: The AI of Google’s Ecosystem
Gemini is an AI assistant developed by Google DeepMind. Back in 2024, Google rebranded its Bard chatbot, which originally ran on the older LaMDA and PaLM 2 models, into Gemini. It’s powered by a more advanced multimodal AI model that shares the same name.
Gemini can process text, images, audio, video, and code in a single model. It’s also deeply integrated into Google Workspace tools like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive, and more, making it a natural fit for users who live inside the Google ecosystem.
ChatGPT: OpenAI's Pioneering Conversational AI
ChatGPT is one of the most widely used AI assistants, and you’ve probably tried it no matter whether you’re tech-savvy or not. Since its launch in late 2022, it has evolved from a simple conversational AI into a powerful, multimodal digital assistant that can handle text, images, and audio in real time, and even connect with other apps!
In August 2025, it released the GPT-5 model, which is said to be its smartest model so far. It uses a real-time routing system that automatically selects the best model for each query, reduces mistakes, minimizes made-up answers, and avoids being overly agreeable. On top of that, it also introduces a new live code feature, which you can run and preview code generated from your prompt directly in the chat.
Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Before we get into the details, here's a side-by-side comparison of Gemini and ChatGPT's key features to give you a clear view of what they offer:
Feature | Google Gemini | ChatGPT |
---|---|---|
Free Tier | 2.5 Flash, 2.5 Pro (limited access) | GPT-5 |
Paid Plans | $19.99/month (Pro), $249.99/month (Ultra) | $20/month (Plus), $200/month (Pro) |
Context Window | Up to 2M tokens (Pro) | 128K tokens |
Real-time Web Access | Yes | Yes |
Image Analysis | Yes | Yes |
Image Generation | Yes | Yes (via DALL-E) |
Voice Conversation | Yes | Yes |
File Upload | Yes (files and Google Drive) | Yes (files and photos) |
Mobile Apps | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
API Access | Yes | Yes |
Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Real-World Testing Results
We tested Gemini and ChatGPT across seven real-life scenarios. Each test used the same prompts, and their responses are shown in screenshots throughout this section.
1. Daily Tasks
Since some Android phones now come with Gemini and some Apple phones come with ChatGPT, we decided to try them out for a simple daily task—planning a meal. We gave both the same straightforward prompt and compared their responses.
Prompt Used: "Suggest a 5-day dinner plan that’s healthy, budget-friendly, and quick to cook."
Gemini's Response:
Gemini outlined the key principles behind the plan to keep it healthy, budget-friendly, and quick to cook based on the given input. From there, it provided a shopping list along with a simple dinner plan, complete with easy-to-follow cooking steps.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT’s reply is structured differently. It began with the meal plan first, then followed up with the shopping list. It also suggested a few dishes you can prep in batches over the weekend, like rice, proteins, and sauces, along with instructions on how to cook them during the week. On top of that, it included some quick notes on nutrition and cost, as well as handy variations and swaps for gluten-free and air fryer–friendly options.
2. Learning and Explanations
To test how well Gemini and ChatGPT can break down complex topics for learners, we asked them to explain how AI works. The goal was to see if they could simplify difficult subjects, present the information clearly, and in a structured manner.
Prompt Used: “Can you help me understand how AI works?”
Gemini's Response:
Gemini gave a clear and simple explanation of how AI systems work, then continued by sharing more details about the key components of AI, like machine learning, artificial neural networks, and deep learning. Not more, not less than what was asked.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT explained the topic well, covering the key idea and how it works in a structured, note-like format. On top of that, it also provided examples to make the concept easier to grasp, instead of just explaining the theories.
3. Mathematical Reasoning
To test Gemini and ChatGPT’s reasoning and problem-solving abilities, we presented a mathematical problem involving multiple variables and conditional logic.
Prompt Used:"Working mothers who earn $30,000 or less per year receive a rebate on before and after school care of 75%, plus a school bonus of $6,000 that only applies to this category of earnings. Each dollar earned above this amount and up to $40,000 reduces the rebate to 55%, and for any amount above this, the rebate drops to 30%. There are three mothers – Jade earns $40,001, Emily earns $38,000, and Lucy earns $29,550. If the cost of before and after school care is $10,000 per year, what amount of money does the person have who has the least amount of money left after paying for before and after school care?”
Source: VIC Government
Gemini's Response:
Gemini went straight to the point by giving the final answer right at the start of the response. After that, it explained how it arrived at the answer, with a clear breakdown of the calculations for each case.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT’s response was even more direct, giving the final answer in a shorter sentence compared to Gemini. It also included the calculations for each case, but presented them as mathematical equations rather than sentences.
4. Coding
For testing Gemini and ChatGPT's problem-solving and coding skills, we gave them a real interview question from an Amazon interviewer. The aim was to see how well they handled the problem breakdown, code generation, and overall solution quality.
Prompt Used: “Let’s say we have a website and we keep track of what pages customers are viewing, for things like business metrics. Every time somebody comes to the website, we write a record to a log file consisting of Timestamp, PageId, CustomerId. At the end of the day we have a big log file with many entries in that format. And for every day we have a new file. Now, given two log files (log file from day 1 and log file from day 2) we want to generate a list of ‘loyal customers’ that meet the criteria of: (a) they came on both days, and (b) they visited at least two unique pages.”
Gemini's Response:
The response started with the problem statement, then proposed a solution using data structures, specifically sets, to optimise the process. It outlined the steps clearly and provided a Python implementation with mocked data and example output.
The code was well commented, but some sections were repeated instead of being refactored into a function. This made it messier than necessary, harder to maintain, more prone to errors, and less reusable.
There was also a mistake in the implementation, which it later corrected automatically in the next solution. This can be a bit confusing since it shows the wrong version at the start before moving on to the final solution.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT also approached the question by first breaking down the problem, then walking through the solution. However, it gave examples of the logs upfront, which made the explanation clearer when the solution was presented later. The code was short, simple, and easy to understand.
The code:
5. Research and Information Gathering
Since Gemini is connected to real-time web content via Grounding with Google Search, and ChatGPT uses Bing for built-in web search, it would be interesting to see how their results compare, especially for research and information-gathering tasks that often require the latest updates.
Prompt Used: “Which AI image generator is better? Midjourney or DALL-E?”
Gemini's Response:
Gemini gave a neutral response. It explained which image styles each tool is best suited for, then listed their key features and considerations, followed by a comparison table and a final recommendation based on use cases. The answer also cited its sources, and the information was accurate and up to date.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT also gave a neutral response, listing the pros of each tool, citing its sources, and providing a feature comparison table with accurate, up-to-date information. The main difference was that it included user reviews, which gives an extra perspective from people who have actually used the tools.
6. Writing
When it comes to writing, clarity, vocabulary, word choice, and tone make all the difference. To test Gemini and ChatGPT’s writing skills, we asked them to write a product marketing copy.
Prompt Used: “Write a 200-word product description for a sustainable food container that must include specific technical features and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.”
Gemini's Response:
Gemini delivered a copy that is easy to digest at first glance. It opened with a hook and a short intro, followed by a feature list that highlighted the benefits of each feature. It then wrapped up with a call to action that tied back to the opening hook.
ChatGPT's Response:
ChatGPT did exactly what the prompt asked for and literally highlighted the technical features. The copy is all in paragraphs, with a flat, feature-listing style. This makes it feel dense and harder to read compared to Gemini.
7. Data Analysis
For evaluating Gemini and ChatGPT’s analytical skills, we asked them to review Apple’s quarterly report and share business insights.
Prompt Used: “Please analyze the prospects of Apple based on this document.”
Gemini's Response:
Gemini’s response was organised into sections—Financial Performance Highlights, Financial Position and Shareholder Value, and Key Risk Factors. Each section covered the key numbers from the report along with clear interpretations.
ChatGPT’s Response:
ChatGPT also broke down the report into sections. The numbers were easier to scan, but there wasn’t much explanation or interpretation of what they meant. However, it did provide an overall takeaway at the end, giving a summary of the report.
Summary Table
To wrap up our real-world tests, here’s a side-by-side summary of how Gemini and ChatGPT performed across all seven scenarios:
Test Area | Gemini | ChatGPT |
---|---|---|
Daily Tasks | Clean layout with principles and step-by-step guide | More detailed plan, prep tips, and flexible options |
Learning & Explanations | Straightforward and structured | Structured with relatable examples and analogies |
Mathematical Reasoning | Clear logic, but verbose | Direct with cleaner math expressions |
Coding | Some repetition and not a clear response | Concise, readable, and logically structured |
Research & Info Gathering | Accurate + source citations | Same, but adds user reviews for better context |
Writing | Scannable with effective CTA and formatting | Accurate but dense; less engaging layout |
Data Analysis | Interprets financial data with insight | More skimmable but lacks deep analysis |
Our Take: Is Gemini or ChatGPT Better?
If you’re choosing between Gemini and ChatGPT in 2025, here’s how we’d sum it up:
- Choose Gemini if you depend heavily on Google Workspace tools (Docs, Gmail, Drive, etc.) or if Gemini is already built into your phone. It’s also better at explaining numbers in detail, making it a good choice if you need help solving mathematical problems or analysing data with clearer explanations.
- Choose ChatGPT if you want an AI that can provide relevant extra information about your questions, even when you don’t ask for it directly. Its coding capabilities are also stronger, and the live code preview feature is really helpful.
Or… why not use both? Since Gemini and ChatGPT both offer free access to their top-tier models (at least partially), there’s no reason not to try both and switch based on your tasks. Use Gemini for research, ChatGPT for coding, or write with Gemini and fact-check with ChatGPT!
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