AI apps for Mac and iPhoneHead to head

ChatGPT vs Gemini

ChatGPT ranks #1 and Gemini ranks #3 in our guide to the best AI apps for Mac and iPhone. ChatGPT is our pick for most people.

The Useful TechResearched and written with AI under our rulesUpdated 14 Oct 2026

Our pickChatGPT app iconChatGPTPick ChatGPT if you want 1 assistant you can type to, talk to or show photos on every device.Free to start#3 in the guideGemini app iconGeminiPick Gemini if your email, files and calendar already sit in Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar.Free to start

What decides it

  • On price: ChatGPT is free. Go is $8 a month and Plus is $19.99 a month in the App Store. Gemini is free. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and Pro is $19.99 a month.
  • Both run on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
  • ChatGPT has the higher App Store rating: 4.8 from 11.8M ratings, against 4.7 for Gemini.

Side by side

Prices are checked every day.

At a glanceChatGPT app iconChatGPTGemini app iconGemini
PriceFree. Go is $8 a month and Plus is $19.99 a month in the App StoreFree. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and Pro is $19.99 a month
How you payFree, with paid upgradesFree, with paid upgrades
Free trialFree to startFree to start
Runs onMac, iPhone, iPadMac, iPhone, iPad
Where to buyApp Store, DeveloperApp Store, Developer
Rating4.8 11.8M ratings Higher4.7 2.4M ratings
FeaturesNone flaggedMenu bar app
Made byOpenAI OpCo, LLCGoogle
Last updated2 Nov 20261 Nov 2026

Who should get which

Get ChatGPT if

You want 1 AI assistant on your phone and Mac that you can type to, talk to or show a photo.

Get Gemini if

You already keep your life in Gmail, Google Drive and Calendar and want an assistant that can search them.

Skip ChatGPT if

You ask an AI something a few times a week, and the free plan answers that without a subscription.

Skip Gemini if

You don't use Gmail, Drive or Google Calendar, because then its biggest edge over ChatGPT or Claude is gone.

Our verdicts

ChatGPT app iconChatGPT

Some questions are too messy for a Google search, like how to word a hard email or what a handwritten recipe says. ChatGPT takes them by text, live voice or a photo, makes images from a description and syncs your chats across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Plus costs $19.99 a month in the App Store, the same as Gemini Pro, and OpenAI says the cheaper $8 Go plan may include ads.

Gemini app iconGemini

Google's Mac app isn't in the Mac App Store; it's a free download that pops up over any window with Option-Space and can read what's on your screen. Next to ChatGPT and Claude, the reason to pick Gemini is that it searches your own Gmail, Calendar, Drive and Photos. The Mac app needs an Apple silicon Mac on macOS 15 or later, and Gemini inside Gmail and Docs takes the $19.99 Pro plan.

What each one helps you do

ChatGPT app iconChatGPT

  • Draft and rewrite emails in seconds
  • Talk through a problem out loud
  • Turn a photo of handwriting into text
  • Generate an image from a description

Gemini app iconGemini

  • Find details buried in your Gmail threads
  • Ask about anything on your Mac screen
  • Generate and edit images from a prompt
  • Get a research report on any topic

Where to get them

ChatGPT

Free. Go is $8 a month and Plus is $19.99 a month in the App Store

  • App Store, iPhone and iPadWith in-app purchases
    Free downloadApp Store
  • From the developer
    Free downloadGet it

Gemini

Free. Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and Pro is $19.99 a month

  • App Store, iPhone and iPadWith in-app purchases
    Free downloadApp Store
  • From the developerMac app needs an Apple silicon Mac with macOS 15 or later
    Free downloadGet it

Neither one quite right?

The other picks in our guide to the best AI apps for Mac and iPhone.

Read the full guideAll ChatGPT alternativesAll Gemini alternatives

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