ChatGPT vs Gemini (2026): Models, Pricing and Features Compared

Both assistants have changed a lot in 2026. OpenAI moved ChatGPT to the GPT-6 family, added agent surfaces (ChatGPT Work, Codex, dots) and shut down Sora. Google moved Gemini to 3.1 Pro and a monthly run of Flash models, renamed its plans to Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra, and added agents of its own.

This guide compares them as they stand at the end of September 2026. Every model name, price and limit below comes from OpenAI's or Google's own pages, which are linked in the text. Both companies change plans often, so check the linked pages before you buy.

Quick verdict

At a glance (as of September 2026)

Sources: ChatGPT pricing, About ChatGPT Pro tiers, What is ChatGPT Plus, Google AI plans, Gemini 3.8 Flash announcement.

The models

ChatGPT: the GPT-6 family

OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra in early September 2026 and calls it its best model. It is rolling out to Plus, Pro, Business and Enterprise users, and Pro, Business and Enterprise also get GPT-6 Astra Pro. Two weeks later OpenAI added GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna, cheaper models trained with similar methods. On September 29 it followed with GPT-6.1 Sol, which OpenAI says nearly matches Astra on agentic coding, computer use and professional work at a fifth of Astra's API price.

At launch, OpenAI says the GPT-6 Sol and Luna models run in ChatGPT Work and Codex, not yet in regular chat. Everyday chat still uses the GPT-5.6 models (Luna, Sol, Terra). Free and Go users chat with GPT-5.6 Luna and can reach GPT-6 Luna in the desktop app.

Gemini: 3.1 Pro plus a fast-moving Flash line

Google's heavy model is Gemini 3.1 Pro, which reached the Gemini app in February 2026 (release notes). The fast Flash line has moved almost monthly: 3.6 Flash in July, 3.7 Flash in August and 3.8 Flash on September 2, which Google says is available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search and Gemini in Sheets. Free users get 3.6 Flash and varying access to 3.1 Pro. Ultra adds Deep Think, Google's extended reasoning mode.

Verdict: OpenAI has the newer flagship generation. Google gives free users more access to its Pro-class model.

Pricing (as of September 2026)

Two things to know before you compare prices. Google's plans bundle storage (5 TB on AI Pro), which matters if you already pay for Google One. And ChatGPT Pro is billed monthly only, with extra credits available for Codex and ChatGPT Work once you use up the included allowance (OpenAI).

For a wider list of paid assistants, see our best AI assistant for work guide and our list of ChatGPT alternatives.

Context window and long documents

OpenAI publishes ChatGPT's limits per plan. Reasoning models get 256K tokens on Go and Plus and 400K on Pro (about 320 and 680 pages of input). The fast Instant models get 27K on Free, 54K on Go and Plus, and 128K on Pro (ChatGPT pricing).

Google AI Pro includes a 1M-token context window, file uploads of up to 1,500 pages and code uploads of up to 30,000 lines (Google AI plans).

Verdict: Gemini, clearly, for long contracts, research bundles and whole repositories at the $20 price point.

Search and deep research

Both have web search on every plan and a deep research mode that reads many sources and writes a cited report. ChatGPT limits deep research on Free, expands it on Plus and gives the maximum on Pro, and it can pull from connected apps during research. Gemini includes Deep Research on the free plan and raises limits on paid plans. Google AI Pro and Ultra also add higher access to Deep Search in AI Mode.

Verdict: A tie on features. Gemini is more generous on the free plan.

Agents: who does the work for you

This is where the two products changed most in 2026.

ChatGPT has three agent surfaces:

• ChatGPT Work takes a goal, gathers context from your apps, files and browser, makes a plan and produces documents, decks, spreadsheets, sites and reports. It can run recurring work and checks in when it needs your judgment. It is on every plan on desktop, and on web and mobile from Plus up.
• Codex is OpenAI's coding agent. It is included on every plan (limited on Free) and gets the new models first.
• dots are always-on agents powered by GPT-6 Astra. They keep working on a project between conversations and bring you work to review. They are Pro only.

Gemini has:

• Gemini Spark, a personal agent that works on tasks for you, including local files on Mac and workflows across Google Workspace. It is for Google AI Ultra subscribers in select countries.
• Chrome auto browse, which completes tasks in the browser for you (Pro and Ultra).
• Jules, Google's asynchronous coding agent, with higher limits on paid plans.

Verdict: ChatGPT, for breadth and availability. Its Work agent reaches every plan, while Gemini's most capable agent is Ultra only.

Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and app integrations

Gemini works inside Google's apps. On paid plans it appears in Gmail, Docs, Vids and more. Personal Intelligence can connect the Gemini app to Gmail, Photos, YouTube and Search, and it is off until you turn it on (release notes). Gemini has also added third-party app connections, starting with OpenTable, Canva and Instacart.

ChatGPT connects out to other tools. Its plugins directory includes Slack, SharePoint, Airtable, Google Drive, Jira, Figma, Linear, Clay and more. There are also extensions for Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Google Sheets. On Plus and up, ChatGPT can also connect to internal tools.

Verdict: Gemini if your team runs on Google Workspace. ChatGPT if your stack is mixed or runs on Microsoft 365.

Writing, coding and images

• Writing. Both write well at this level, so choose by where you draft. Gemini writes inside Docs and Gmail from your existing thread. ChatGPT's Work agent is better at turning scattered context into a finished document or deck.
• Coding. OpenAI is putting the most effort into coding. New models reach Codex first, and GPT-6.1 Sol targets agentic coding at a lower price. Gemini's 1M context and 30K-line repo uploads help with questions that span a whole codebase, and Jules plus Google Antigravity cover agentic development.
• Images. Both generate and edit images, and both give some access on the free plan. ChatGPT adds "image generation with Thinking" on Plus. Google adds Nano Banana models and the Flow creative studio.
• Video. Only Gemini. OpenAI discontinued Sora (app on April 26, 2026; API on September 24, 2026).

Privacy and training defaults

The defaults for consumer accounts matter more than the marketing.

• ChatGPT (Free, Go, Plus, Pro): OpenAI's plan table says content "is used to train our models", with an opt-out available in settings. OpenAI says Business, Enterprise and Edu data is not used for training by default (ChatGPT plugins page).
• Gemini (personal accounts): Google says that while Keep Activity is on, your activity is used to improve its services, including training generative AI models, and that human reviewers see some chats. You can turn Keep Activity off, but chats are still kept for 72 hours (Gemini Apps Privacy Hub).

Verdict: Neither consumer plan is private by default. For company data, use a business tier and read its data terms before you upload anything sensitive.

Which one should you pick?

Pick ChatGPT if:

• you want an assistant that finishes whole tasks across your apps and files (ChatGPT Work) or writes code (Codex);
• your tools are a mix of Microsoft 365, Slack, Jira and other SaaS apps;
• you want the newest flagship generation (GPT-6) and are happy to pay $20, or $100 and up for Pro and dots.

Pick Gemini if:

• your work lives in Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive;
• you often work with very long documents or large codebases (1M context on AI Pro);
• you want video generation or bundled storage, or you want the cheapest paid plan (AI Plus at $4.99).

Use both if you can afford it. Many people keep a free plan on one and pay for the other.

When an agent platform fits better

ChatGPT and Gemini agents are built around one person: your files, your inbox, your browser. They are weaker at recurring team work, where an agent must act in shared systems like the CRM, billing or the support inbox, where someone must sign off before money moves, and where you need a record of what the agent did.

That is the job DeskFerry is built for. You describe what an agent should do in plain English. The agent then acts across 1,500+ connected apps, pauses for human approval before sensitive steps, and records every run in a reviewable run history. Teams of agents appear on a visual map that shows how they hand work to each other. You can also @mention an agent or approve its actions from Slack. DeskFerry runs on leading models, and you can bring your own providers, including OpenAI and Gemini. So choosing an agent platform doesn't mean giving up either model.

A typical example: when a refund request arrives, the agent looks up the order in Stripe, checks it against your policy, drafts the refund and asks a teammate to approve it in Slack. Then it updates HubSpot and replies to the customer. A chat assistant can help you write that reply. It isn't designed to own the workflow.

DeskFerry has a 7-day free trial, and plans start at $49/mo, priced per plan rather than per seat, with unlimited agents (pricing). For more on the difference, read AI agent vs AI assistant or learn how to build an AI agent.

Related: Best AI assistant for work · ChatGPT alternatives · How accurate is ChatGPT? · Conversational AI guide · AI agent vs AI assistant