Verdict
Gemini is the strongest free alternative to ChatGPT, and it reads Gmail, Docs and Drive when asked. Google said it passed 1 billion monthly users in August 2026, and paid plans start at £4.49 a month. On 10 October 2026 free users were moved to the lighter 3.5 Flash-Lite model, and chats feed Google's training unless Keep Activity is turned off.
Best for
People who already live in Gmail, Google Docs and Android
Skip if
Children on supervised Google accounts, which Gemini does not serve in the UK
Key facts
- Category
- Everyday AI assistants
- Made by
- Based in
- US
- Launched
- 2023
- Works on
- iPhone, Android, Web, Mac
- In the UK
- Yes
- Price from
- £4.49 a month
- Free plan
- Free with a Google Account: 3.5 Flash-Lite model, image generation and editing, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems, Gemini Notebook, limited Nano Banana Pro in Google Flow, 15 GB storage
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Google AI Plus (400 GB) | £4.49 | month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | £7.99 | month |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | £18.99 | month |
| Google AI Ultra | £79.99 | month |
| Google AI Ultra (20x Pro limits) | £189.99 | month |
What it does
- chats and answers questions with Google's Gemini models
- summarises uploaded documents
- helps with coding tasks
- generates and edits images
- runs Deep Research reports
- holds spoken conversations with Gemini Live
Ratings
What people say
Switchers from ChatGPT in user reviews like Gemini for research and images, but complaints about it arguing when wrong, a buggy app and a free tier cut to Flash-Lite on 10 October 2026 are loud. Store ratings (4.5-4.7) are far kinder than Trustpilot's 1.4 from 1,332 reviews, 81% of them one star.
“I switched to Gemini from ChatGPT for very similar reasons 6 months ago. Never regretted it.”
Individual user review, 13 May 2026 · source
“I love how fast the Gemini app is now. Open, prompt and go.”
Post on X, 23 August 2026 · source
“my biggest problem with gemini is even if you told it its wrong it continues arguing with you that your wrong. Its annoying af.”
Individual user review, 19 May 2026 · source
“Gemini was recently updated today where all free-tier users … were forced into 3.5 Flash-Lite. … Now, it just sucks.”
Individual user review, 10 October 2026 · source
“Gemini app consistently feels heavily constrained by its system and orchestration layer, to point where it performs noticeably worse than raw model.”
Post on X, 23 May 2026 · source
Press reviews
- Tom's Guide 2026-02-24
'For most users, the free tier of Gemini is now the most logical alternative to a paid ChatGPT account', citing Workspace links and free creative tools.
- Tom's Guide 2025-12-30
An AI editor switched from ChatGPT to Gemini for research and image editing, saying it 'has gone from strength to strength this year'.
- TechRadar 2025-12-28
Best for Google users: for people who live in Gmail, Docs, Calendar and Drive, with a good free tier.
Privacy
- Trains on your data
- Yes when Keep Activity is on: saved chats are used to improve Google services, including training generative AI models. Audio and Gemini Live video are not used by default. A subset of chats is read by human reviewers, including outside contractors, even with Keep Activity off.
- Opt-out
- Turn off Keep Activity (Gemini Apps Activity) or use temporary chats; future chats are then not used for training unless feedback is sent.
- Retention
- With Keep Activity on, auto-delete defaults to 18 months (can be 3 or 36 months, or off). With it off, chats are still held for 72 hours. Human-reviewed chats are kept up to 3 years, disconnected from the account, and are not removed by deleting activity.
- Incidents
- US class action claiming Gemini was switched on by default in Gmail, Chat and Meet in Oct 2025 was dismissed with leave to amend on 7 Jul 2026 (Reuters via citizen.digital). No regulator fine found in searches of news and Google results.
- Age limit
- Gemini Apps are not available for supervised (child) Google accounts in the UK, EEA or Switzerland (Google help). App Store rating 12+.
In court
Lawsuits and regulator actions involving Google. Claims are the claimant's allegations unless a court or regulator has ruled. The privacy score above was reviewed against this record. Who runs Google: Demis Hassabis.
The claimants allege Google copied protected works to train generative models including Gemini without permission.
N.D. Cal. · 5:23-cv-03440 · Case remained stayed when a discovery request was denied 29 September 2026.
- Thele v. Google LLCDismissed
The plaintiffs allege Gemini tracked Gmail, Chat and Meet communications without their consent.
N.D. Cal. · 5:25-cv-09704 · Dismissed with leave to amend on 7 July 2026.
The claimant alleged misuse of private information after patient records were transferred to Google and DeepMind.
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) · CA-2023-001263; [2024] EWCA Civ 1516 · Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on 11 December 2024.
The governments alleged Google unlawfully maintained monopolies in general search and search-text advertising.
D.D.C.; D.C. Circuit · 1:20-cv-03010 · Final judgment issued 5 December 2025; appellate briefs filed 28 July 2026.
The governments alleged Google monopolised key open-web advertising-technology markets.
E.D. Va. · 1:23-cv-00108-LMB-JFA · Court ordered behavioural remedies and a six-year monitor on 16 September 2026.
The Commission found Google favoured its own display-advertising technology services over rivals, advertisers and publishers.
European Commission · AT.40670 · Commission imposed a €2.95 billion fine on 5 September 2025.
The Commission found non-compliance concerning Google Search self-preferencing and Google Play steering restrictions.
European Commission · DMA Google Search and Google Play decisions · Commission fined Google €890 million on 23 July 2026.
The CMA designated Google's search services with strategic market status and imposed conduct requirements on ranking and data portability.
Competition and Markets Authority · SMS-2025-Google Search · CMA imposed fair-ranking and data-portability requirements on 17 June 2026.
Official videos
FAQ
Is Gemini free?
Yes. Anyone with a Google Account gets the free plan, which since October 2026 runs on the lighter 3.5 Flash-Lite model. Paid plans start at £4.49 a month for Google AI Plus.
Does Gemini read my Gmail?
Only when asked and with permission, according to TechRadar. It can summarise and draft from Gmail, Docs and Drive, which is its main advantage over other chatbots.
Does Google use my Gemini chats for training?
Yes while Keep Activity is on. Turning it off stops future chats being used for training, though chats are still held for 72 hours and some are read by human reviewers.
Can children use Gemini in the UK?
Not on supervised child accounts. Google's help page says Gemini Apps are not available for supervised accounts in the UK, EEA and Switzerland.
Gemini or ChatGPT?
Tom's Guide argued in February 2026 that Gemini's free tier is the best free alternative to ChatGPT Plus. TechRadar still calls ChatGPT the easiest starting point and Gemini the pick for Google users.
Scores are based on published evidence, not lab tests. How we score.
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