AI tool privacy · Comparison
ChatGPT vs Gemini: how each handles your data
By David Michaelson, MS Last checked October 23, 2026
The short answer
ChatGPT
ChatGPT Business and Enterprise do not train on your data by default; on Free, Plus, and Pro, OpenAI may use your chats to train its models unless you turn that off.
Gemini
In a Google Workspace business account, Gemini does not use your content to train models outside your organization without permission; on a personal Google Account, Google uses your chats to improve its AI, with help from human reviewers, while Keep Activity is on.
For a team: compare the plan you would actually buy, not just the brand. The tables below show each plan’s answers, with sources.
Side by side
Every answer links to the vendor’s own page and shows the date we read it. Where we could not confirm an answer, the cell says so in plain words and links to the page we checked.
| Question | ChatGPTFree, Plus, and Pro | GeminiPersonal Google Account |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default? | Yes, unless you turn it off. OpenAI says it may use your content to train its models. Turn off “Improve the model for everyone” under Settings > Data controls. If you give a thumbs up or down, the whole chat may be used for training even after you opt out. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: help.openai.com | Yes, while Keep Activity is on. Google says it uses your activity to provide, develop, and improve its services, including training generative AI models. With Keep Activity off, future chats are not used to train its AI models unless you send feedback. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| How long your data is kept | Saved chats stay until you delete them. Deleted chats are scheduled for permanent deletion within 30 days, unless OpenAI must keep them longer for security or legal reasons. Temporary chats may be kept for up to 30 days for safety. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: help.openai.com | With Keep Activity on, activity is deleted after 18 months by default. You can choose 3 or 36 months, or not to auto-delete. With it off, chats are kept for 72 hours. Chats read by human reviewers are kept up to 3 years, even after you delete your activity. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| Who can see it | OpenAI’s policy does not describe company access to a personal account. It says that if you sign up with a work email, OpenAI may share that you have an account, and your email address, with your employer. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: openai.com | The privacy hub does not describe company access to a personal account. It says human reviewers, including trained reviewers from Google’s service providers, read some chats, and asks you not to enter confidential information you would not want a reviewer to see. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| Where data is stored | On servers in the United States and in other countries where OpenAI’s affiliates, partners, or vendors are located. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: openai.com | Not stated on the privacy hub we read. Page checked: support.google.com, October 23, 2026 |
| How to delete | In your chat history, open the ••• menu on a chat and select Delete. To clear everything, open Settings > Data controls > Delete all chats. Deleted chats cannot be restored. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: help.openai.com | Review and delete chats in Gemini Apps Activity at myactivity.google.com/product/gemini. Chats a reviewer has already read are not deleted and are kept up to 3 years. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| Question | ChatGPTChatGPT Business | GeminiGoogle Workspace (business accounts) |
|---|---|---|
| Trains on your data by default? | No, not by default. OpenAI says it does not use inputs or outputs from ChatGPT Business to improve its models, and a thumbs up or down does not change that. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: help.openai.com | No, not without your permission. Google says your content is not reviewed by humans or used to train generative AI models outside your organization without permission. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| How long your data is kept | Workspace admins can control how long data is kept. Deleted or unsaved conversations are removed within 30 days, unless the law or protecting the service requires longer. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: openai.com | Set by your admin. In the Gemini app, up to 36 months. In Gmail, Docs, and other Workspace apps, 90 days to indefinite. With conversation history off, new chats are kept for up to 72 hours. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| Who can see it | Each person sees their own conversations. Workspace admins can view, access, export, and delete members’ conversations. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: openai.com | Admins get audit logs that track user activity and interactions with Gemini, and they control whether conversations are saved and for how long. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
| Where data is stored | Not stated for this plan on the page we read. OpenAI lists data residency choices for eligible Enterprise, Edu, Healthcare, and API customers, not Business. Page checked: openai.com, October 23, 2026 | Not stated for Gemini chats on the page we read. Page checked: support.google.com, October 23, 2026 |
| How to delete | Members delete chats from the ••• menu or Settings > Data controls. Admins can also delete members’ conversations. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: help.openai.com | Users can delete conversations themselves unless an admin turns that off. Read on October 23, 2026 Source: support.google.com |
Building your own approved tools list? The SafeStart Handbook includes one, with company accounts and safer privacy settings.