Perplexity Pro
Free / Pro $20 per mo
Gemini
Free / Google AI Pro $19.99 per mo
Perplexity is a cited research engine that always shows its sources. Gemini is Google's general assistant, integrated across Search, Gmail, Docs, and Android, with a strong free tier. Both have $20 tiers. Perplexity wins for research; Gemini wins as an everyday assistant for Google users.
Pick Perplexity if your main need is research: fast, current, sourced answers you can verify against citations.
Pick Gemini if you want a general assistant inside Google's apps and Android, with a strong free tier and image generation.
Perplexity and Gemini both answer questions using the live web, but they are built for different habits. Perplexity is a focused answer engine: it searches, synthesizes, and shows numbered citations you can verify, which makes it excellent for research. Gemini is Google's all-round assistant, woven into Search, Gmail, Docs, and Android, and able to write, generate images, and handle general tasks.
On price, Perplexity Pro is $20 a month and Gemini's Google AI Pro tier is $19.99, both with free tiers, and Gemini's free offering is especially capable. The choice is mostly research-first (Perplexity) versus general assistant inside Google (Gemini).
We compare research and citations, general capability, ecosystem, free tiers, and price.
| Quick facts | Perplexity Pro | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Cited web research | General assistant |
| Paid price | Pro $20/mo | $19.99/mo (Google AI Pro) |
| Shows sources | Yes, by default | When searching |
| Ecosystem integration | Limited | Gmail, Docs, Android |
| Best for | Research + facts | Everyday Google users |
Each row reflects the feature on each product's current public release.
| Feature | P Perplexity Pro | G Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Live web search with citations | Best-in-class | Yes |
| General writing & tasks | Good | Strong |
| Image generation | Limited | Yes |
| Deep app integration | Limited | Gmail, Docs, Android |
| Choice of underlying models | Yes | Limited |
| Strong free tier | Good | Yes |
| Bundled extras | None | Storage + Google perks |
| Coding assistance | Good | Strong |
Pricing and features change often. Always verify the current details on each product's official site. Last reviewed June 2026.
Things neither product's marketing page leads with.
Perplexity is the better researcher and always cites sources, but it is narrower than a full general assistant.
Gemini does more and integrates with Google, but its answers do not cite sources as consistently as Perplexity.
Gemini's free tier is strong enough that many users never pay, while Perplexity Pro's value is its research depth.
The average person juggles a dozen subscriptions and forgets at least one. Subkept is a privacy-first subscription tracker: add Perplexity Pro, Gemini, and everything else, then get renewal reminders, price-hike alerts, and a clear monthly total, with no bank connection, ever. Free for up to 5 subscriptions, no time limit.
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