Head-to-head
Perplexity vs Google Gemini
Perplexity
75
Winner
Perplexity
Google Gemini
60
Perplexity offers a more robust and accurate AI for research and complex queries, while Google Gemini is a good general-purpose assistant, but struggles with reliability and specific tasks.
Full reviews: Perplexity · Google Gemini
Perplexity excels as a research partner, providing detailed and accurate information, often outperforming competitors on complex prompts. Google Gemini is praised as a helpful general AI assistant, but faces significant user complaints about app freezes, unresponsiveness, and biased or incorrect information.
Head to head
Perplexity Perplexity is highly valued for its research capabilities, ability to refine context for complex queries, and access to diverse AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini R28. Users appreciate its ability to provide condensed, rapid, and accurate information, with less hallucination than competitors R20. The 'Read Aloud' option is a favorite for on-the-go use . However, some users report issues with the app changing sections without permission or rewriting content when asked for grammar checks R27. The 'Perplexity Computer' feature, while powerful for some, is seen by others as an intrusive upsell, consuming tokens not covered by the Pro plan R21.
Google Gemini Google Gemini is seen as a powerful AI for various tasks, helping with recipes, shopping lists, and organizing thoughts . It's praised for providing good information and detailed reports when asked clear questions . Users also highlight its ability to handle specific languages well, like Tamil . However, some users report that it fails to generate pictures , struggles with translations , and can be overly sensitive, flagging non-offensive words . There are also complaints about its visual recognition, with it sometimes guessing wrong what it sees , and a lack of syntax highlighting for code examples .
Perplexity Perplexity is generally considered easy to use R12. However, many users report significant app issues, including typing bugs R1, permanent pop-ups that erase prompts R6, and an infinite subscription page glitch in the free iOS version that prevents new dialogues R39R41. Some users experience the app getting stuck in loops, ignoring or forgetting prompts, and providing incorrect information . Recent updates have led to a noticeable downgrade in quality and an increase in 'sycophantic fluff' answers R17. There are also reports of lost access to previous questions after updates and issues with the iPad app accidentally swiping off the text input box, erasing text .
Google Gemini Google Gemini is described as easy to use and natural to talk to, providing a huge amount of detail . However, a significant number of users report severe reliability issues, including the app freezing upon opening R53R68, being completely unresponsive to touch gestures after updates R82R88, and simply not working anymore . Users are frustrated by accidentally swiping out of chats and losing unsaved text . Some also find it slow to obtain replies and experience pauses during live chats .
Perplexity Perplexity offers a free tier, but the free version on iOS is described as unusable due to a persistent subscription page glitch R39R41. For paid users, there are numerous complaints about misleading pricing R4R9, being charged for a free trial R9, and immediately running out of credits after subscribing . Many Pro subscribers feel that usage limits have been massively downgraded, making the Pro plan comparable to the free tier R7. Some report being charged for Pro but unable to access it R15, or being pushed to a 'Pro Pro' tier and needing to buy additional 'computer tokens' even with a Pro subscription R21.
Google Gemini Google Gemini is free to download, but some users complain that a subscription is needed for 'everything' . One user, who went 'Premium Pro,' felt the app became a 'scam' after changes, with the bot failing requests and consuming usage quotas unfairly .
Perplexity Perplexity is praised for its accuracy, with one user noting it correctly answered a complex query that ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude failed R10. It's also said to hallucinate less than competitors R20. However, some users report significant bias, claiming it avoids 'shaky' or 'inflammatory' topics, openly criticizes politicians, and provides offensive answers if users don't align with specific political views R11R23. There are also instances where it gave wrong answers to basic questions, including legal ones, and persisted in its incorrect answers .
Google Gemini Google Gemini is generally seen as providing good and accurate information . However, there are serious accusations of bias, with one user reporting that Gemini replaced a Palestinian flag with an Israeli flag when asked to flip it R66. Other users state it's 'constantly wrong' and tries to give 'false information' R84.
Pick Perplexity if
Pick Perplexity if you need a powerful AI for deep research, complex queries, and appreciate access to multiple AI models, especially if you value its 'Read Aloud' feature and expect less hallucination R10R20R28.
Pick Google Gemini if
Pick Google Gemini if you are looking for a general-purpose AI assistant for everyday tasks like generating recipes, shopping lists, or organizing thoughts, and if you are new to AI .
Evidence note: Both apps have a mix of highly positive and highly negative reviews, with recent negative reviews for both often focusing on performance degradation and monetization issues. Perplexity's free tier friction is evident in reviews mentioning the unusable iOS app without subscription. Google Gemini's issues are more centered on app unresponsiveness and perceived bias.
Frequently asked
Is Perplexity's free version usable?
Are there issues with Perplexity's Pro subscription?
Does Google Gemini have app stability problems?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 100 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R20] Perplexity The real Lady: Perplexity is fantastic, it gives huge amounts of information condensed, is rapid and an excellent resource. It seems to hallucinate less than its competitors.
- [R21] Perplexity Too intrusive advertisement: I’ve been a Pro subscriber for over a year now, and the product feels like it’s been going downhill ever since. They removed DeepSeek and Grok models, then introduced a “Pro Pro” tier - fine, whatever. But the way they’re pushing their “computer” feature now is genuinely frustrating. There’s an annoying popup I can’t dismiss sometimes. I tap it just to be greeted by a
- [R27] Perplexity Used to be good: I’m a pro subscriber and originally I thought perplexity was great. It was helpful and always attempted to do what I asked. But now it keeps doing things I ask it not too. I’m reviewing a document and I ask it to update a section, it does the update fine. But then goes off and changes other sections without saying a word. I ask for a grammar pass and it rewrites entire sections.
- [R28] Perplexity Great research partner: I use Perplexity as a research aid in systems science philosophy and has been excellent. I like the way it keeps and helps you refine context for complex queries. It is also great to have access to a diversity of AI models. For me it helps AI be usefully smart.
- [R1] Perplexity Typing bugs: Typing out a prompt is so difficult with all the silly mistakes the keyboard makes. Yes I've tried stock ios, Gboard and others. Nothing works. Fix please.
- [R6] Perplexity Permanent Pop ups: I don't want to keep dealing with the presence of perplexity computer suggestions or follow up suggestions that keeps on erasing the prompt I'm trying to write.
- [R12] Perplexity Easy to use: Nice
- [R17] Perplexity Recent changes have downgraded this massively: This was a 5 star app until a couple of months ago. It’s had a noticeable downgrade. Before this was one of the best A.I. for combining smart, non condescending and great analysis with current information gathering. It did all the jobs. Now it’s that sycophantic “great question!’ fluff where it tries to make superficial and frequently wrong answers so
- [R4] Perplexity It's a lie: Not £20, but £200
- [R7] Perplexity They massively downgraded Pro usage limits: Don’t bother paying; they brought the limits of the Pro plan so far down you’re better off using any other service. It’s now comparable to what it used to be in the free tier.
- [R9] Perplexity Scam: Clicked on free trial, they took £20 & within an hour of playing I need to add credits
- [R15] Perplexity Can’t access my Pro subscription: Paying for Pro but can’t access it. The app suddenly demands my phone number with no way to skip it. No warning, no explanation, no alternative. I’m locked out of a subscription I’m being charged for. Unacceptable.
- [R10] Perplexity Surprisingly, only Perplexity AI could do…: Was recently asking about the report that caused Wall Street stock market drop in Feb 2026. Maybe my prompt not specific enough as I couldn’t recall the specific “Citrini Research” keywords, all ChatGPT,Gemini, Claude failed to answer correctly but Perplexity surprising answered perfectly as Citrini … well done, but not sure why as Perplexity is reusing
- [R11] Perplexity Massive bias!: Do not expect honest or direct answers from this app. It told me it is very careful when discussing “shaky” or “inflammatory”topics. Who gets to decide what they are? It will openly criticise politicians it’s programmers don’t like.
- [R23] Perplexity Completely biased MAGA propaganda: Use only if you are a pro-Trump, MAGA and Israel supporter who rejects trans rights completely. If you are not, its answers are going to be very offensive to you.
- [R39] Perplexity Don’t download if you won’t subscribe: Free version is unusable with iOS app. Infinite subscription page glitch persists for months and doesn’t get fixed - so you cannot start any new dialogue. Plex itself says it seems to have malicious intent :-) And the bug is exclusive for iPhone app - PC, browser and Android versions work perfectly
- [R41] Perplexity Poor interface perpetually upselling to paid version: I was recommended the app by a friend but find it impossible to use the app. Trying to scroll text just highlights. Adjusting text from an autocorrect error in a prompt doesn’t allow editing, just opens the upgrade ad. Not impressed.
- [R53] Google Gemini Issue: After the update my app freeze whenever i open.. i have tried troubleshooting many times. It doesn’t work
- [R68] Google Gemini Doesn’t work: Downloaded multiple times and it’s just completely frozen. Pointless having it
- [R82] Google Gemini Previously used daily, now unresponsive; so I moved to Claude: After the latest update the app is totally unresponsive to all touch gestures. Have tried everything, clearing cache, reinstalling app etc but nothing works. Unclear how we are supposed to “submit feedback through the device” as suggested by the developer when the app simply doesn’t work. Have given up and moved to Claude.
- [R88] Google Gemini Bug: The dialog box on the main page cannot be opened, and all other functions are completely unresponsive.
- [R66] Google Gemini Complete zionism: I asked gemini to flip my Palestinian flag horizontally as I was holding it the wrong way in one of my pictures. I was very specific with my question. Instead, Gemini chose to completely replace my flag with the Isra*li flag. When I asked why it did this, it said that it chose to change the National symbol in the picture. This was completely outrageous and intentional.
- [R84] Google Gemini Open Ai is way better: It’s constantly wrong and always trying to give false information, how can you trust an Ai that gives false and untrustworthy information
Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store