Gemini 3 Pro vs ChatGPT 5.1 vs Claude Sonnet 4.5 vs Perplexity: which AI should you choose as an entrepreneur?
- Gemini 3 Pro supports up to 1 million tokens context – process complete document collections according to Vertex AI documentation (depending on configuration and region)
- Multimodal capabilities vary greatly per model – Gemini processes text, image, audio and video; ChatGPT text and image; Claude primarily text
- ChatGPT 5.1 has a context window of 400,000 tokens – most plugins, GPTs and community support for various use cases
- Claude Sonnet 4.5 offers up to 200,000 tokens standard – excels in agents and computer use with an emphasis on safety
- Perplexity is not a model but an orchestrator – combines GPT, Claude and Gemini with live web search for up-to-date research
- Choose based on your stack, not on hype – Google-first companies benefit from Gemini, existing ChatGPT users are often better off with OpenAI
- GDPR-compliant configuration is your own responsibility – do not use sensitive data in public interfaces, use business solutions
Belgian SMEs face a concrete choice: which AI tool best suits your company? Google is launching Gemini 3 Pro, OpenAI is rolling out ChatGPT 5.1, Anthropic is positioning Claude Sonnet 4.5 as a safety leader, and Perplexity is combining multiple models with live web search. This guide shows which model is the best choice and when, without hype or fluff.
Why Gemini 3 Pro is relevant in 2026
Google DeepMind launched Gemini 3 Pro in November 2025 as the latest generation AI model with improved reasoning and multimodal capabilities compared to Gemini 2.5 Pro. The model processes text, image, audio and video and, according to Google, scores higher on benchmarks for logic, mathematics and code.
Gemini 3 Pro is a powerful tool in your AI stack, not a miracle cure. For companies that rely heavily on Google Workspace, the model offers direct integration with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Photos. This native link reduces the gap between "trying yet another AI tool" and "structurally implementing AI in daily workflows."
The timing is relevant for companies that experimented with ChatGPT in 2024 and now want to embed AI structurally. Gemini 3 Pro offers an alternative that fits in with existing Google infrastructure, without having to rebuild entire workflows.
What exactly is Gemini 3 Pro?
Gemini 3 Pro is the flagship model in Google's Gemini family, designed for large amounts of text, code, and media with an emphasis on deep reasoning and multimodal input. The model is available to consumers via the Gemini app and AI subscriptions, and to businesses via Google Cloud Vertex AI.
The model uses a transformer architecture optimized for long context and multimodal processing. Google shares limited details about parameters or training data but positions Gemini 3 Pro as the "most intelligent model to date" based on internal benchmark results.
In practical terms, this means processing complete product catalogs, customer service history, marketing campaigns, and internal documentation in one session. This capacity helps in the transition from fragmented AI experiments to more integrated workflows that enable marketing automation.
“Gemini 3 was built from the ground up to combine information across a wide range of subjects across multiple modalities, with strong reasoning, vision and spatial capabilities and a context window of up to 1 million tokens”
Source: OpenAI – GPT-5.1: A smarter, more conversational ChatGPT
Key technical features
Context window
Gemini 3 Pro supports up to 1 million tokens of context in the Vertex AI configuration that supports it, according to Google's official Vertex AI model reference. This capacity depends on the product and region but enables the processing of complete document collections and long conversations without losing context.
For e-commerce, this means: complete product feeds, customer reviews, support tickets, and conversion data in a single analysis. For performance marketing: processing all campaign data, creatives, performance metrics, and target audience insights together.
According to OpenAI's model documentation, ChatGPT 5.1 supports a context window of 400,000 tokens, sufficient for most business applications. Claude Sonnet 4.5 offers up to 200,000 tokens of context according to Anthropic's documentation, with optional 1M context in certain API configurations via beta headers for developers who need it.
Multimodality
Gemini 3 Pro processes text, images, audio, and video in a single workflow. You can upload a product video and ask: "Give me 10 variations of this product pitch for different target groups." The model analyzes image, sound, and text to generate targeted variations.
This can be valuable for companies with limited marketing resources. Upload screenshots of competitors, product photos, and existing ads, and let Gemini 3 Pro generate new advertising concepts. This multimodal capacity reduces manual copy-paste work.
ChatGPT 5.1 supports text and images but no native video or audio analysis in the standard version. Claude Sonnet 4.5 focuses primarily on text with limited image processing. Perplexity uses the multimodal capabilities of underlying models but does not add its own layer to it.
“Gemini Enterprise is a “single front door” that allows employees to chat with all their company data, search for information, and deploy agents to perform tasks on their behalf.”
Source: CRN – Google Cloud CEO on new Gemini Enterprise
Reasoning ability and benchmarks
Google states that Gemini 3 Pro scores better than Gemini 2.5 Pro on their internal benchmarks for logic, mathematics, and code. External reviews from AI research institutions confirm that Gemini 3 performs competitively compared to GPT-4 generation models and Claude 2.x, especially in multimodal tasks.
In practical terms, this means more complex analyses where the model performs chains of reasoning and checks intermediate results before drawing conclusions.
For Google Ads optimization: analyze campaign data, identify areas for improvement, prioritize those points based on impact, and formulate concrete proposals including A/B test setup. This reasoning ability can save strategic hours.
Agentic and coding capabilities
Google positions Gemini 3 Pro as suitable for autonomous tasks where the model independently plans, executes, and adjusts steps. The model integrates with Gemini Code Assist for developers and supports generative UI flows where it generates interfaces based on natural language descriptions.
For companies without a dedicated development team: Gemini 3 Pro can help with writing and customizing Shopify Liquid code for small adjustments, which reduces the pressure on external developers. Upload a screenshot of a desired feature and ask the model to write the code.
These coding capabilities make AI more accessible to non-technical teams. Marketing managers can customize landing pages, e-commerce managers can optimize checkout flows, and support teams can rewrite chatbot scripts, often without burdening developers.
Gemini 3 Pro in Google AI Pro and the Google ecosystem
Google AI Pro is a paid subscription within Google One that offers extra Gemini features, higher limits, and Deep Research. The subscription provides access to more powerful models including Gemini 2.5 Pro and, where available, Gemini 3 Pro, extensive Deep Research for complex analyses, higher AI credits per month, and extra storage such as 2TB cloud storage.
Prices and features vary by country and are subject to change. Please refer to the current Google One AI Pro page for your region for specific prices and conditions.
The power of AI Pro lies in its integration with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Photos, and potentially Vids. Gemini features are directly integrated into these apps without having to switch to a separate interface. Write an email in Gmail and ask Gemini to generate variations, or analyze spreadsheets in Sheets with natural language commands.
For companies already running on Google Workspace, this is often the most efficient route. Your team learns one AI interface that is available everywhere, instead of multiple separate tools with different interfaces and logic.
“OpenAI describes GPT-5.1 as an update that noticeably improves both intelligence and communication style, making the model better at following custom instructions”
Source: OpenAI – GPT-5.1: A smarter, more conversational ChatGPT
Overview of the 4 AI models
Gemini 3 Pro is Google's latest multimodal model with a context window of up to 1 million tokens and deep integration into Google Workspace and Vertex AI. The model excels in tasks where you need to combine text, image, audio, and video with long conversations and large document collections.
ChatGPT 5.1 is OpenAI's latest flagship model with a 400,000 token context window, enhanced conversation, reasoning, and tool capabilities. It features a broad ecosystem of plugins, GPTs, and API integrations. The model excels in general tasks, coding, and agent workflows.
Claude Sonnet 4.5 is Anthropic's model with a 200,000 token context, positioned for safety, long sessions, and computer use. It excels in agents that can work with your computer as if they were behind the keyboard themselves. Anthropic places a strong emphasis on reliability and ethical AI.
Perplexity Pro is not a proprietary foundation model but an AI search engine that combines GPT, Claude, and Gemini models with live web search. The platform offers access to multiple top models with up-to-date data, ideal for research and fact-checking. Our practical comparison explains the differences in usage.
Comparison table
Performance and reasoning ability
According to Google, Gemini 3 Pro performs competitively on reasoning and multimodal benchmarks. The model handles chains of logical steps and checks intermediate results before drawing conclusions.
ChatGPT 5.1 has proven to be strong in broad tasks and coding with the largest ecosystem of plugins and custom GPTs. This flexibility offers advantages for specialized workflows in AI marketing.
Claude Sonnet 4.5 excels in agents and computer use, where the model can work with software independently. Anthropic's focus on safety makes it suitable for high-risk business processes where AI agents perform complex tasks.
Perplexity excels in current research by combining live web search with multiple top models. The platform provides direct access to sources and citations, which speeds up fact-checking.
Ecosystems and integrations
Google stack users benefit from native Gemini integration in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Drive. The OpenAI ecosystem offers the largest range of third-party integrations via plugins, GPTs, and API connectors to marketing automation tools, CRM systems, and e-commerce platforms.
The Anthropic environment focuses on enterprise users with a need for high safety standards and compliance. Claude Pro offers access without API configuration, while the API gives companies complete control over data flows.
Perplexity works as an orchestrator that provides access to multiple models without you having to create accounts with each provider. This flexibility is valuable for experiments but limits control over specific model settings.
Price indications
Prices for Gemini 3 Pro, ChatGPT 5.1, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and Perplexity Pro are in comparable ranges for prosumer and SME use, with subscriptions between a few tens to hundreds of euros per month depending on usage and features. Enterprise prices via Vertex AI, OpenAI API, or Anthropic vary greatly per implementation.
Price levels at the end of 2025 may change per country and plan. Consult official pages for current prices in your region.
“Anthropic positions Claude Sonnet 4.5 as their most capable and most aligned frontier model to date, with clear reductions in sycophancy, deception, and other undesirable behaviors.”
Source: Anthropic – Introducing Claude Sonnet 4.5
Concrete use cases for Belgian SMEs and e‑commerce
Strategic analyses and research
Use Gemini 3 Pro with Deep Research for market analysis, competitor studies, and SERP overviews. Upload complete product catalogs, customer service history, and sales data in one session. The model processes large amounts of sources and generates strategic insights.
For SEO strategies, analyze keyword lists, existing content, and competitor rankings in one workflow. Gemini 3 Pro can help identify content gaps, prioritize topics based on commercial value, and generate outlines including internal link structure.
Combine this with keyword research expertise to include not only volume but also intent and competition in your content strategy.
Content and campaigns
Multimodal input makes content development more efficient. Upload screenshots of competitor ads, product photos, and existing campaigns. Ask Gemini 3 Pro to generate new concepts that align with your brand identity and target audience.
For Google Ads and Meta campaigns, generate ad variations with different hooks, benefits, and call-to-actions. The model adapts the tone of voice per platform and target audience segment, which saves time in content production.
Convert video content into social posts: upload a product video and have Gemini generate short clips, captions, and CTAs for LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. This efficiency saves hours for compact marketing teams that also want to use video marketing.
E‑commerce and Shopify
Describe and analyze data from Shopify such as product feeds, conversion rates, and funnel steps. Gemini 3 Pro can make suggestions for UX improvements, copy optimizations, and cross-sell strategies based on current data.
For Shopify webshops, generate product descriptions, collection pages, and FAQ sections that align with your brand identity. The model adapts the writing style per product category and target audience.
Combine this with Shopify SEO best practices and conversion optimization expertise to not only generate content but also test its impact.
SEO and content production
Process large keyword lists, existing blog posts, and customer data in one long context. Build content clusters where the model plans pillar pages, cluster content, and internal link structure based on your existing content and keyword strategy.
For SEO and AI combination, we ensure that AI-generated content meets Google's E‑E‑A‑T guidelines by adding human expertise and experiences that AI cannot invent. Also consider GEO strategies for optimization on AI search engines.
Video and creation
Have product, UGC, and YouTube videos summarized, and have hooks and scripts generated for remarketing. Gemini 3 Pro analyzes video content and identifies powerful moments that you can reuse in short-form content for social media.
For webinars and events: upload recordings and have the model generate key takeaways, quotes, and social snippets. This reuse strategy maximizes ROI from content investments without extra production costs, especially relevant for TikTok marketing and other short-form platforms.
Risks, limitations, and GDPR
Hallucinations and errors
All AI models can generate incorrect information that looks reliable. Human control remains necessary, especially with strategic, legal, and financial information. Gemini 3 Pro, ChatGPT 5.1, and Claude Sonnet 4.5 have mechanisms to improve reliability, but no model is error-free.
In practical terms, this means: use AI for first drafts and volume, but always have crucial content checked by a human who takes responsibility for accuracy. AI audits identify where human control is essential and where you can safely automate.
GDPR and data ownership
Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity claim to take privacy and security measures, but correct configuration and data selection are up to your company. Do not enter sensitive customer data into public interfaces. Work with internal guidelines and, where necessary, business solutions such as Workspace, Vertex AI, or enterprise plans.
European companies must work in a GDPR-compliant manner. This means knowing where data is processed, how long it is stored, and who has access to it. AI providers offer tools for compliance, but implementation is your responsibility.
Vendor lock-in
If you are fully invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, Copilot should be included in the comparison. For Google-first companies, Gemini is often more logical. For companies that want flexibility: combine multiple models via Perplexity or build your own orchestration with APIs.
Vendor lock-in is a real risk. Invest time in building workflows that are not dependent on one specific model. Use standard formats for prompts and data so you can switch without having to rebuild everything.
“Perplexity describes Perplexity Pro as a subscription formula that gives access to more powerful models, higher usage limits and extra settings for professional users.”
Source: Perplexity – What is Perplexity Pro?
Which AI tool should you choose as a Belgian SME?
Choose Gemini 3 Pro if
Your company relies heavily on Google Workspace for email, documents, and collaboration. Native integration saves implementation time and lowers the barrier to adoption because teams are already familiar with the interface.
You have a lot of multimodal content such as product photos, videos, and presentations that you want to analyze and reuse. Gemini 3 Pro processes all media types without you having to combine different tools.
You need to process large amounts of internal documents and reports in a long context. The context window of up to 1 million tokens makes the difference in complex analyses where you need all the context at once.
Concrete scenario: Turnover €250k-€1M, no IT department, fully on Google Workspace, lots of video and visual content → start with Gemini 3 Pro + Perplexity for research.
Choose ChatGPT 5.1 if
Your team is already working with ChatGPT and has built existing workflows. Switching costs are often higher than expected because you have to rebuild prompts, templates, and processes.
You need a broad mix of coding, text, and agents with access to the largest ecosystem of plugins and integrations. OpenAI's developer community offers the most third-party tools.
You take prompt engineering seriously and want to benefit from community knowledge and best practices that have developed around ChatGPT.
Concrete scenario: Team of 5+ marketers, existing ChatGPT workflows, various tools and integrations needed → stick with ChatGPT 5.1 and systematically expand with better prompts and the RACE model.
Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if
Long, information-rich sessions are crucial where you need to keep complete project history in context. Claude's 200,000 token context (with 1M optional via API) is strategically used for maximum reliability.
Computer use and agents are important where the model works with software independently. Anthropic's focus on safety makes it suitable for high-risk processes.
You want to deploy AI agents for repetitive tasks where errors have a direct impact on customers or revenue.
Concrete scenario: Regulated sector (finance, legal, healthcare), compliance crucial, long documents and sessions → Claude Sonnet 4.5 for high-risk processes.
Choose Perplexity Pro if
Daily research and up-to-date information are crucial for your work. Live web search combines the best of multiple models with current data.
You want flexibility between different models without multiple subscriptions. Perplexity provides access to GPT, Claude, and Gemini in a single interface.
Fact-checking and source citation are important. Perplexity shows direct links to sources, which speeds up verification.
Concrete scenario: Content marketing team, needs a lot of research, current trends are important → Perplexity Pro as the main tool for research + Gemini or ChatGPT for production.
Combination strategy
For many SMEs, a combination is most effective: Gemini for Google-integrated workflows, ChatGPT for general tasks, Claude for safety-critical processes, and Perplexity for research.
ClickForest helps with neutral AI stack assessments where we don't sell a specific tool but put together the right mix for your situation. Book a growth consultation for concrete action plans.
“According to McKinsey, generative AI can generate between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion in extra value annually, especially in customer contact, marketing and sales, software engineering, and R&D”
Source: McKinsey – The economic potential of generative AI
Ready to build out your AI stack?
You now know which AI model is the best choice and when. The next step: concrete implementation that delivers ROI without your team getting bogged down in tools and experiments.
ClickForest helps Belgian SMEs with AI implementation that works:
AI audit: Identify highest impact use cases with concrete ROI calculation
Stack design: Choose the right mix of Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity for your situation
Workflow construction: From strategy to operational workflows with automation
Team training: From experimenting to structural use with concrete templates
GDPR compliance: Privacy-compliant setups without legal headaches
We don't sell a specific tool but build neutral, results-oriented AI stacks that fit in with your existing processes. No vendor lock-in, no vague strategies, but concrete efficiency gains and revenue growth.
Schedule a growth consultation to discuss which AI tools are right for your company and how to achieve concrete results within 4-6 weeks.
Want to know more first? Check out our case studies of Belgian companies that successfully use AI, or discover how we approach performance marketing in the AI era.
🚀 More leads, higher conversion, better ROI
This article gave you insights. Now it's time for action. Whether you want to build a profitable webshop, generate more revenue from performance marketing or SEO, or grow with AI-marketing - we'll help you move forward concretely.
💬 Discuss your challenge directly with Frederiek: Schedule a free strategy session or send us a message
📧 Prefer to email? Send your question to frederiek@clickforest.com or call +32 473 84 66 27
Strategy without action remains theory. Let's take your next step together.
Frequently asked questions
-
Neither is objectively "better". Gemini 3 Pro excels in multimodal tasks and Google integration. ChatGPT 5.1 has a broader ecosystem and more third-party tools. Choose based on your stack and use cases, not on benchmark scores that say little about your specific situation. Our AI tools comparison explains the practical differences.
-
For content production within Google Workspace, Gemini 3 Pro is often efficient because you can work directly in Docs. ChatGPT 5.1 has more community templates and prompts for copywriting. Claude Sonnet 4.5 often produces longer, more detailed texts. Test all three with your own content and measurable KPIs such as engagement and conversion. AI copywriting versus human creativity compares the strengths.
-
Choose Claude when safety and reliability are prioritized over speed and flexibility. Claude's focus on avoiding harmful output makes it suitable for customer-facing processes. For experimental workflows and rapid iterations, ChatGPT is often more practical.
-
Perplexity is an AI search engine that combines multiple foundation models with live web search. It doesn't have its own model but orchestrates GPT, Claude, and Gemini depending on your query. This flexibility is valuable for research but gives less control over specific model behavior.
-
All providers claim GDPR compliance, but correct implementation is your responsibility. Use business accounts with data processing agreements, not consumer versions. Do not enter sensitive customer data into public interfaces. ClickForest builds GDPR-compliant workflows with clear data separation between experimentation and production.
-
Yes, via API integrations or by exporting Shopify data and analyzing it in Gemini. For automated workflows, we recommend scenarios that connect Shopify with Gemini without manual copying. Combine this with Shopify marketing expertise for optimal results.
-
Consumer subscriptions cost a few tens of euros per month. Enterprise via Vertex AI, OpenAI API, or Anthropic varies greatly depending on usage. ROI is not in subscription costs but in efficiency gains and revenue growth. ClickForest calculates concrete business cases with payback periods of 3-6 months with structural implementation.
-
All four support Dutch at a high level. Gemini benefits from Google's investments in European languages. ChatGPT has a lot of Dutch training data. Claude often produces more natural Dutch due to its focus on conversation. Test yourself with your own content and target audience.
-
Yes, and we often recommend that. Use Gemini for Google-integrated workflows, ChatGPT for general tasks, Claude for safety-critical processes, and Perplexity for research. Via APIs and automation tools, you can link models to specific use cases. Discover how AI transforms online marketing through smart tool combinations.
-
Start with free versions of ChatGPT and Gemini for experimentation. Identify concrete use cases with measurable impact. Systematically build workflows with clear ROI before taking out enterprise licenses. ClickForest offers AI quick scans to identify the highest impact areas. Start with our AI marketing guide for a practical step-by-step plan.
Sources and references
AI model documentation and technical specifications:
Google Cloud: "Vertex AI Gemini API model reference" - https://cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/docs/generative-ai/model-reference/gemini
Google DeepMind: "Gemini: A Family of Highly Capable Multimodal Models" - https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/
OpenAI: "GPT-5 model documentation" - https://platform.openai.com/docs/models/gpt-5
Anthropic: "Claude 3.5 model card and capabilities" - https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-3-5-sonnet
Anthropic: "Introducing extended context for Claude" - https://www.anthropic.com/news/100k-context-windows
Perplexity AI: "How Perplexity Pro works" - https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-is-perplexity-pro
AI and marketing trends:
McKinsey Global Institute: "The economic potential of generative AI" - https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier
Stanford University HAI: "Artificial Intelligence Index Report 2025" - https://aiindex.stanford.edu/report/
Gartner: "Top strategic technology trends for 2025" - https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/gartner-top-10-strategic-technology-trends-for-2025
E-commerce and AI implementation:
Google Cloud: "AI solutions for retail" - https://cloud.google.com/solutions/retail
Shopify: "State of commerce report 2024" - https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/state-of-commerce
