Google Gemini API vs OpenAI API
Both allow commercial use of outputs; OpenAI API never uses inputs for training, while Google Gemini API's free tier does (paid tier matches OpenAI).
Key differences
- Free tier data usage: Gemini free tier may be used for Google product improvement; OpenAI API has no free tier in the same sense (usage credits only, no training use).
- Paid tier data usage: Both providers do not use prompts for training by default.
- Model families: Gemini 1.5/2 vs GPT-5/GPT-4o.
- Enterprise options: Google offers Vertex AI for stricter enterprise isolation; OpenAI offers ZDR (Zero Data Retention) on request.
Rights
| Key | Google Gemini API | OpenAI API |
|---|---|---|
commercial_use_allowed |
yes | yes |
output_ownership |
yes | yes |
training_use_of_input |
conditional | no |
redistribution_allowed |
— | conditional |
Constraints
| Key | Google Gemini API | OpenAI API |
|---|---|---|
api_available |
yes | yes |
webhook_available |
— | yes |