Even with its recent launch of an official iOS app for Gemini, Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) generative AI chatbot, the tech giant appears to be lagging behind competitors in retaining paid subscribers, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Retention Rates Tell the Story
Data from Earnest Analytics highlights a key challenge for Gemini Advanced. Roughly 60% of users who signed up for the chatbot’s paid subscription are still active six months later. Comparatively, ChatGPT Plus retains 70% of its paid subscribers over the same period. Similarly, Anthropic’s Claude Pro, backed by Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), boasts retention rates slightly above 60%.
Meanwhile, Perplexity Pro and c.ai+, developed by Character.AI, struggle to hit the 50% retention mark.
The Cost of AI Access
Here’s how the monthly subscription costs stack up:
- Gemini Advanced: $19.99/month, included in Google One’s AI Premium plan with 2TB of storage and other benefits.
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month, offering advanced features like custom GPTs, extended messaging limits, and voice mode.
- Claude Pro and Perplexity Pro: $20/month (Perplexity Pro also offers a $200/year subscription).
- c.ai+: $9.99/month, making it the most budget-friendly option.
User Numbers: ChatGPT Leads the Pack
While Google hasn’t disclosed Gemini’s user count, OpenAI, supported by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), reports that ChatGPT serves around 300 million weekly users. Download estimates further emphasize the gap:
- ChatGPT: ~465M downloads across iOS and Android.
- Gemini: ~106M downloads.
What’s Next for AI Subscription Wars?
Despite the competition, Google has a significant opportunity to improve Gemini’s user experience and marketing. Will the tech giant find a way to boost retention rates and challenge ChatGPT’s dominance?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
- Have you tried Google Gemini or ChatGPT Plus?
- What features matter most to you when choosing an AI chatbot?
- Which subscription plan do you think offers the best value?
Drop your opinions in the comments! Let’s start a conversation.