Google Gemini Is Quietly Gaining On ChatGPT

While ChatGPT continues to be the dominant force in the AI chatbot space, new data indicates that its hold on the market may be loosening. Google's flagship AI, Gemini, is making significant strides, with web traffic to its primary domain more than doubling in the last year.

Key Highlights

• Website visits to gemini.google.com have doubled over the past year.
• Web traffic to other major chatbots has either declined or remained flat.
• Users point to Gemini's strength in handling routine tasks and its seamless app integration as key advantages.

Gemini's Impressive Growth in a Crowded Market

According to new data from analytics firm Similarweb, visits to the Gemini website have surged, now accounting for 12.9% of total web traffic to online generative AI tools. This is a significant jump from 6.4% in 2024.

In contrast, ChatGPT's web usage, while still commanding a massive 74% of total chatbot traffic, has decreased from 87% a year ago. This suggests that as more competitors like Google and Anthropic enhance their offerings, the market is becoming more fragmented.

Other players have not fared as well. Traffic to xAI's Grok has seen a slight decline over the last six months (from 3.1% to 2%), and Microsoft Copilot's share has remained steady at around 1.2%.

Understanding the Data's Limitations

Similarweb acknowledges that this data provides only a partial view. Measuring visits to a chatbot's main webpage doesn't capture its full usage, especially for a tool as deeply integrated as Gemini.

Gemini is embedded across numerous Google products, most notably as AI Overviews within its core search engine. As Similarweb spokesman David Carr explained, "Comparing Gemini on this standalone basis with ChatGPT is misleading because it doesn't take into account Google's much broader AI initiatives." A complete picture would also need to consider mobile app downloads and active user statistics.

Why Users are Choosing Gemini

Despite the data's limitations, the sharp increase in web traffic to Gemini's site is noteworthy. To understand this growth, ZDNET spoke with users who highlighted Gemini's practical strengths over its competitors.

Many users find Gemini to be superior for a wide array of daily tasks, even if other models excel in more specialized areas.

"Compared to Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude are more helpful with in-depth writing and ideation, but for fast and everyday tasks, Gemini is unparalleled," stated Baruch Labunski, founder of SEO company Rank Secure. "For everyday organisation and routine tasks, it is Gemini I find myself relying on the most."

Jenny Kay Pollock, cofounder of Women X AI, also noted that each model has its unique advantages. "ChatGPT for creativity, Claude for depth, and Gemini for integrated, multimodal work," she told ZDNET.

The Power of a Seamless Ecosystem

A recurring theme among users is the power of integration. Gemini's major advantage is its ability to seamlessly connect with and utilize personal data across Google's suite of applications.

"The fact that [Gemini] integrates with tools such as Gmail or Google Docs means that my workflow from research through to content creation is much more fluid," said Michael Pedrotti, cofounder of GhostCap.

Labunski shared this sentiment: "Gemini is seamless within my ecosystem of Google services. The ability to integrate seamlessly with Gmail, Drive, and Docs means I don't have to juggle multiple apps to get work done."

This trend of deep integration is not unique to Google. Other tech giants are following suit, with Microsoft recently announcing that its Copilot assistant can now connect with personal accounts across apps like Outlook, Google Drive, and Gmail to retrieve information.