Gemini chat, without the Google account
Smillee runs on Google Gemini under the hood. Gemini itself asks you to sign in with Google — here, the chat box below just works.
How this relates to Google's own Gemini
Let's be precise, because the distinction matters. Gemini is Google's AI model family. Google's own apps at gemini.google.com require a Google account and sign-in. Smillee is an independent site that accesses Gemini through Google's cloud APIs — we handle the account side on our servers, so on your side there's just a chat box.
Same model family, different front doors. You'd pick Google's app for deep Workspace integration (it can reach into your Gmail and Docs — because it's signed in as you). You'd pick this page when you don't want an AI signed in as you: no account linkage, no chat history accumulating on your Google profile, nothing to log out of on a shared computer. You trade the integrations for the anonymity, and for a lot of everyday use that's a good trade.
We're not affiliated with Google — we're a customer of their API, same as thousands of other products, and this site adds its own layers on top: image generation and a step-by-step Learn Mode tutor.
How it stacks up
There's no “best” free AI — it depends what you're doing. But here's the straight comparison against ChatGPT's free tier and Gemini, the two you've probably already tried.
| Smillee AI | ChatGPT (free) | Gemini (direct) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signup required | No | Yes (email) | Google account |
| Daily message limits | None for normal use | Tight on free tier | Generous |
| Price | Free | Free tier | Free tier |
| AI image generation | Yes | Limited on free | Yes |
| Adaptive step-by-step tutor | Yes | No | No |
| Underlying model | Google Gemini | GPT-4-class | Google Gemini |
Credit where it's due: ChatGPT has the slicker ecosystem and voice mode, and Gemini chews through long documents better than we do. What we're betting on is the friction — you get Gemini-grade answers without the signup or the message cap, and image generation and the tutor come along for free. If you want the long version, here's Gemini vs ChatGPT or our roundup of free ChatGPT alternatives.
What Gemini is particularly good at
In day-to-day use, Gemini's strengths are current-events-adjacent knowledge, multilingual fluency (it's notably strong at translation and code-switching mid-conversation), long structured answers like itineraries and comparisons, and reading code. Where it can wobble — like every frontier model — is precise arithmetic and confidently-stated citations, so double-check numbers that matter. Our Gemini vs ChatGPT breakdown goes feature by feature if you're deciding between ecosystems.
Related reading
- Comparisons
Google Gemini vs ChatGPT: Which Free AI Chatbot Wins in 2026?
I used Google Gemini and ChatGPT side by side for a few months. Here is where each one actually wins in 2026 — free tiers, context limits, coding, research, and the no-signup angle.
- Comparisons
ChatGPT Alternatives: 7 Free AI Chatbots You Can Use Without Signup in 2026
I tested seven free AI chatbots that work without an account - no signup, no credit card. Here is what each one is actually good at, and where they fall short.
- How-to
How to Write Better AI Prompts: 9 Techniques That Actually Work
I spent a week paying attention to which prompts got me useful answers and which ones wasted my time. Here are 9 prompt-writing techniques that held up, with copyable examples and before/after comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same Gemini as Google's?
Same model family, accessed officially through Google's cloud APIs. What differs is the wrapper: Google's app requires your Google sign-in and integrates with your Google services; Smillee requires nothing and integrates with nothing — which is the point.
Why would I use this instead of gemini.google.com?
Three common reasons: you don't want to sign in (shared or work computer), you don't want chats tied to your Google account, or you want the extras bundled here — image generation and the step-by-step tutor — in the same chat.
Is it the most capable Gemini version?
We run current production Gemini models via Vertex AI, tuned for fast streaming answers. Google reserves its very largest models for paid tiers; for everyday chat, writing, and explanations the difference is much smaller than the sign-in wall in front of it.
Are you affiliated with Google?
No. Smillee is an independent product built on Google's public cloud APIs. "Gemini" is Google's model; the site around it — the free access, tutor, image tools — is ours.
Does Google see my chats then?
Messages are processed by Google's API to generate replies, under API data terms — which are stricter than consumer-app terms and don't build an advertising profile of you. There's no Google account attached to anything you type here.