Free plan, the default tier without requiring a subscription. If you use through the Gemini App or gemini.google without paying anything, the model used is 3.6 Flash.

Rankings for text are here https://arena.ai/leaderboard/text

For comparison of Free Tiers: - Gemini serves 3.6-flash (rank 12) - ChatGPT serves 5.5-Instant (rank 23) - Claude serves Sonnet 5 (rank 27) - Meta AI serves muse-spark-1.1 (rank 5)

While Meta AI serves the better ranked model, it doesn't end up working that well for other things. For example, if I ask "help me buy a new raincoat", it ends up suggesting a Cambodian website, whereas Google is well integrated with Google shopping. It doesn't have the same integration with GApps outside of Gmail/Calendar. A few other email connectors are available.

Claude has one of the best interfaces with connectors, skills, and plugins galore, but the model and limits are restrictive on the free tier.

Gemini, as far as I know, I've never hit a rate limit on Flash.

I believe Gemini is going to gain market share through the free tier funnel while serving models as cost-effectively as possible. People are going to use Gemini because they use GApps and Google.

ChatGPT and Anthropic are going to be competing for the API/Business users, but for everyone else they are going have to become Google before Google becomes them.