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Side-by-side comparison · AI Assistants & LLMs

Google Gemini vs Meta AI

Everything that matters when choosing between them, in one place: our rating, what each can do, what they cost, and the trade-offs.

Best overall

Google Gemini

4.2

From US$4.99/mo

Meta AI

3.9

From $7.99/mo

Comparing 2 tools. Add one more if you like.

At a glance

Best overall

Pick it if: People whose work already runs on Gmail, Google Workspace or an Android phone.

Easiest to use

Pick it if: Heavy WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook users, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses owners, who want a free assistant without installing anything new.

Overview

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
In one lineGoogle's assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, Drive and Android phones.Meta's free assistant, built into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting priceUS$4.99/mo$7.99/mo
Free plan Yes Yes
Works with Claude Code No No

Rating breakdown

Our scores out of 5. The higher bar in each row is highlighted.

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Overall rating4.2Winner3.9
Ease of useHow quickly someone non-technical gets value from it.
4.0
4.5
FeaturesHow completely it covers the job it's built for, and how well the pieces fit together.
4.5
3.5
Output qualityHow good the results are before you fix them.
4.0
3.5
Value for moneyWhat you get for the price, including the free plan.
4.0
4.0
Speed & reliabilityHow fast it is and how often it falls over.
4.5
4.0

Feature comparison

A tick means it does this today. A dash means we haven't checked.

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Access & platform
Free plan Yes Yes
Mobile app Yes Yes
Desktop app Yes No
Browser extension Yes No
API access Yes Yes
Teams & business
Team workspace Yes No
Enterprise plan or SSO Yes No
Connects to other apps Yes–
Open source or self-hosted No No
AI abilities
Works with your files Yes Yes
Understands images Yes Yes
Makes images Yes Yes
Makes video Yes Yes
Writes code Yes Yes
Runs agents or automations Yes Yes
Learns your brand or style Yes No
Works in many languages Yes Yes
Capabilities score16/ 1710/ 17

Pricing

Plans as listed on each vendor's site when we last checked. Confirm before you buy.

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Plans

Free

Free

Light use and seeing how it feels.

FreeOur pick

Free

Almost everyone. Chat, search and voice cost nothing.

Google AI Plus

US$4.99/mo

Casual users who want Gemini in Gmail and more storage.

Meta One Core

$7.99/mo

People who make lots of AI images and clips for social.

Google AI ProOur pick

US$19.99/mo

Anyone who works in Google Workspace every day.

Meta One Premium

$19.99/mo

Heavy creators who keep hitting the Core limits.

Google AI Ultra

From US$99.99/mo

Heavy creative and agent users.

Which plan to pickSkip the free plan for anything serious now that it's Flash-Lite only. AI Pro (US$19.99, or A$32.99 in Australia) is the one to buy: it's the cheapest way to get Gemini 4 Argon plus Gemini in Docs and Gmail, and the 5 TB of storage offsets a Google One bill. Ultra is for people generating video all day.Stay on the free plan. The paid Meta One bundles only raise image and video limits, and Meta doesn't publish the actual numbers, so only pay if you're making a lot of AI visuals for social.

Key features

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Standout features
  • Gemini in Gmail, Docs and Drive
  • Deep Research
  • Image and video making
  • Gemini Live and desktop apps
  • Tasks and connected apps
  • Gemini in Chrome
  • Built into Meta's apps
  • Imagine and Muse Image
  • Vibes
  • Voice and live camera
  • Plans, research and slides
  • Glasses companion

Pros and cons

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Pros
  • Reads and acts on your Gmail, Docs and Drive directly
  • AI Pro bundles the top model, Workspace features and 5 TB of storage for one price
  • Deep Research is included even on the free plan
  • Fast, and the mobile and Android experience is polished
  • Video and image generation included on paid plans
  • Desktop apps for Windows and Mac as well as the web
  • Free, with no new app needed if you already use WhatsApp or Instagram
  • Image and short video generation included at no cost
  • Hands-free voice and camera help on Meta glasses
  • Much better since the switch to Muse Spark in 2026
Cons
  • Free plan is now Flash-Lite only, so it's weaker than the free tiers of ChatGPT or Claude
  • Plan names and model access keep changing, which is confusing
  • Writing quality sits behind Claude and the answers can be padded
  • Workspace features need a personal Google account or a Workspace admin to turn them on
  • Usage resets every 5 hours up to a weekly cap, and Google doesn't publish the numbers
  • Chats are used to target ads on Meta's apps, with no opt-out in most countries
  • Answers still trail ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, and glasses owners often call it vague or unreliable
  • Hard to fully remove from WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook if you don't want it
  • Few connections to work apps, no team plan, and newer features arrive country by country
  • The Meta AI app that runs Ray-Ban glasses is buggy: crashes, login loops and battery drain are common complaints

Who each one is for

AttributeGoogle GeminiMeta AI
Best for
  • Searching and summarising your Gmail
  • Drafting in Google Docs
  • Image and video generation on paid plans
  • Hands-free help on Android
  • Quick answers inside WhatsApp or Instagram
  • Free image and short video generation
  • Hands-free help on Ray-Ban Meta glasses
  • Casual everyday questions
You'll find it used by
  • Google Workspace teams
  • Marketers
  • Small business owners
  • Android users
  • WhatsApp users
  • Social media managers
  • Ray-Ban Meta owners
  • Casual users

Questions people ask

Which is better, Google Gemini or Meta AI?

Google Gemini scores highest overall in our ratings (Google Gemini 4.2/5 and Meta AI 3.9/5). Google Gemini is best for searching and summarising your Gmail and drafting in Google Docs. Meta AI is best for quick answers inside WhatsApp or Instagram and free image and short video generation.

Which is cheaper, Google Gemini or Meta AI?

Google Gemini: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at US$4.99/mo. Meta AI: There's a free plan, and paid plans start at $7.99/mo.

Which is easier to use, Google Gemini or Meta AI?

Meta AI rates highest for ease of use in our scores. Heavy WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook users, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses owners, who want a free assistant without installing anything new.

How we compare

Ratings are our own, from using each tool, across ease of use, features, output quality, value for money, speed & reliability.

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