Guide
ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs Gemini: how each answers local questions
The three big AI assistants answer “best plumber near me” from different places. Gemini leans on Google Maps and your Google Business Profile. ChatGPT combines web search with Yelp’s ratings and reviews. Perplexity searches with its own crawler, integrates Yelp for local results and cites every source. To show up in all three, you need a strong Google profile, a complete Yelp page and a website their crawlers can read.
Side by side
| ChatGPT | Perplexity | Gemini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main local data | Yelp ratings and reviews; web search[1][2] | Its own search index; Yelp; Tripadvisor for travel[4][5] | Google Maps and Business Profiles[7] |
| Crawler to allow | OAI-SearchBot[3] | PerplexityBot[4] | Googlebot (normal Google Search)[8] |
| Shows sources? | Often, as links | Always, as numbered citations[6] | Sometimes, as links |
| Cites websites vs listings | Leans on listings (48.7% of citations)[9] | Cited Yelp in every industry in one test[10] | Leans on websites (52.1% of citations)[9] |
ChatGPT
ChatGPT searches the web through third-party search providers and partners, and in August 2026 Yelp confirmed its ratings and reviews power ChatGPT’s local results in relevant categories.[1][2] A study of 4,607 ChatGPT runs the same month found Yelp in about 96% of local answers.[11] It reads your website only if OAI-SearchBot is allowed.[3]
Priorities: your Yelp page, crawlable website, Bing Places listing.
Perplexity
Perplexity runs its own crawler, PerplexityBot, which follows robots.txt and isn’t used for model training.[4] It integrated Yelp data (maps, reviews, photos) for local searches and partners with Tripadvisor for travel.[5] Every answer lists numbered citations, so you can see exactly which sites it trusted.[6]
Priorities: Yelp, Tripadvisor if you’re in travel or dining, industry directories, crawlable website.
Gemini
Gemini uses public Google Maps information for business addresses, websites, ratings and hours.[7] Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode build on normal Google Search with no extra requirements.[8] Among chain locations, SOCi found Gemini recommended far more businesses than ChatGPT did.[12]
Priorities: a complete, verified Google Business Profile with fresh reviews. Here’s the checklist.
What works for all three
- Identical name, address, phone and hours everywhere.
- A steady flow of recent reviews on Google and Yelp.
- A website that says plainly what you do and where, and that AI crawlers can read. Check yours free.
- Mentions on local “best of” lists, associations and local news.
See all three at once. Our free check asks ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini the same customer questions and shows, side by side, who each recommends.
Sources
- OpenAI, “Introducing ChatGPT search,” Oct 31, 2024. openai.com
- Yelp Q2 2026 shareholder letter, Aug 6, 2026 (SEC filing). sec.gov
- OpenAI, “Overview of OpenAI crawlers.” developers.openai.com/api/docs/bots
- Perplexity, “Perplexity Crawlers.” docs.perplexity.ai/guides/bots
- Perplexity × Yelp, Mar 2024 (maginative.com); Tripadvisor × Perplexity, Jan 9, 2025 (tripadvisor.mediaroom.com)
- Perplexity Help Center, “How does Perplexity work?” perplexity.ai
- Google, Gemini Apps Help: Google Maps. support.google.com
- Google Search Central, AI features and your website. developers.google.com
- Yext, AI citations study (6.8M citations), Oct 9, 2025. Yext sells listings software. yext.com
- BrightLocal, AI search sources test (20 searches), Jul 22, 2025. brightlocal.com
- Steady Demand, 4,607 ChatGPT runs, August 2026. steadydemand.com
- SOCi, Local Visibility Index 2026, Jan 28, 2026. prnewswire.com