Gemini alternative for iPhone: Nia or Gemini? The same model, a different job
Nia runs on Google's Gemini models, so the difference is not how clever the model is. It is in what each one can touch on your iPhone, and in who it is made for.
Nia is an AI voice assistant for iPhone that turns what you say into actions in the system's apps: Calendar, Reminders, Photos, Maps or Home. Gemini is Google's AI app, built around its services: Gmail, Google Calendar, Keep and Tasks. Both use Gemini models.
Compared in October 2026, with that month's Gemini app for iPhone.
Gemini and Nia, row by row
The mark shows which one wins each row. Where there is no mark, it depends on what you are after.
| Gemini | Nia | |
|---|---|---|
| The AI model | Gemini | Gemini, through Nia's server |
| Talking by voice | Wins this row: Gemini Live, very fluent | Yes, and with Gemini's voice on Plus and Pro |
| Calling it by voice | Lock Screen widget, Control Centre or Action button | Its control in Control Centre, on the Lock Screen or on the Action button, Siri, or "Hey Nia" with the app open, on Plus and Pro |
| Calendar | Google Calendar | The iPhone's default calendar, which can be a Google one if you have that account in Settings |
| Reminders | In Google Tasks and Keep | In the iPhone's Reminders app |
| iPhone alarms and timers | No, according to its App Store listing | Wins this row: Yes, from iOS 26 |
| Gmail and Google Drive | Wins this row: Built in | On Plus and Pro, with your Google account connected |
| The iPhone's Photos, Music, Home and Health | No: its App Store listing says it does not do device actions on iPhone | Wins this row: Photos and Music on every plan, Home on Plus and Health on Pro |
| WhatsApp and messages | Not on iPhone | Wins this row: It leaves it written and open, and you send it |
| Memory | It learns from your chats, and you can turn it off | On Plus (30 days) and Pro, on a screen where you search it, add to it or delete it |
| Images | Yes, and you tweak them in the chat | Yes, and they save themselves to Photos |
| What happens to your data | A sample is read by reviewers unless you turn activity off | Wins this row: Not used to train models, neither Nia's nor Google's |
| Where it works | Wins this row: iPhone, Android, web and Mac | iPhone only, with iOS 18 or later |
| Price | Free with limits; paid: Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra | Free, 5 commands a day; Plus £9.99 and Pro £24.99 a month |
What Gemini does better
All of Google
Gmail, Google Calendar, Keep, Tasks and Maps, connected out of the box and on the same account.
Gemini Live
A very natural voice conversation, and you can also show it what your camera sees.
Android, iPhone, web and Mac
The same app and the same history on any device, on the Mac too since April 2026.
Plans with storage
Google AI Plus and Pro include Google One storage, for anyone who already keeps their photos and files there.
What Nia does better
The iPhone's apps
Calendar, Reminders, alarms from iOS 26, Photos and Music, Home on Plus and Health on Pro: what you ask for ends up done in Apple's apps.
Several things in one sentence
An event, its alert and the message for whoever is coming, in a single turn and as a single command.
Alarms and messages
It sets system alarms and timers and leaves the SMS or the WhatsApp written and open for you to send. According to its App Store listing, the Gemini app for iPhone does not do device actions like setting alarms or sending SMS.
Your data does not train anything
Neither Nia's models nor Google's learn from what you say, and you do not have to hunt for the setting.
What if I already use Gemini?
You can keep using it for what lives in Google. Nia does not compete with your Google account: you can sign in with it and, on Plus and Pro, connect it to use Gmail and Drive from Nia. What it adds is what happens in the iPhone's apps, where the Gemini app does not take actions.
About Nia and Gemini
Is Nia Gemini?
No. Nia is an independent app that uses Google's Gemini models on its server, the way other apps use the same engine. What belongs to Nia is what happens around the model: understanding the request in your language, deciding which actions it takes and doing them in the iPhone's apps.
Why use Nia if I already have Gemini?
Because they do different jobs. Gemini shines inside Google: Gmail, Google Calendar, Keep and Tasks. Nia works with the iPhone's apps: Calendar, Reminders, alarms, Photos and, on Plus, Home. If your day lives in Apple's apps, Nia is the one that can touch them.
Can Gemini put a reminder in the iPhone's Reminders app?
No. Gemini saves reminders to Google Tasks and notes to Keep. Nia puts them in the Reminders app, with their alarm, and events in the iPhone's default calendar.
Do I need a Google account to use Nia?
No. You can sign in with Apple, with Google or with your email. A Google account is only needed to use Gmail and Drive from Nia: you connect it in Settings, on Plus and Pro.
What does each one cost?
Both have a free plan. Nia's free plan comes with 5 commands a day and 3 images in total; Plus costs £9.99 a month and Pro £24.99. Gemini has Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra, which include Google One storage; their prices are on Google's official page.
Sources
Checked on October 10, 2026.
- Tech.co: iPhone Users Get New Google Gemini Widgets
- App Store: Google Gemini
- 9to5Google: Gemini Live rolls out Google Calendar, Tasks, Keep apps access (9 Aug 2025)
- The Decoder: Google rolls out Gemini memory in Europe and wants you to bring your ChatGPT data along
- Google: Gemini Apps Privacy Hub
- Google Workspace Updates: Now available: The Gemini app for Mac (15 Apr 2026)
- Google One: Plans & Pricing to Upgrade Your Cloud Storage
Gemini and Google are trademarks of Google LLC. Nia is not affiliated with Google.
Shall we begin?
Download Nia, tell it the first thing and see what happens. The free plan asks for no card.
Free to start. Requires iOS 18. In 19 languages.
Last reviewed