Google Gemini Sends More Traffic To Sites Than Perplexity: 

A new dataset from SE Ranking shows a clear change in how AI tools are sending users to websites. Google Gemini has recorded a sharp rise in referral traffic and has now moved ahead of Perplexity AI on this front.

The numbers are coming from over 100,000 websites that use Google Analytics. While the share of AI traffic is still small at the present juncture, it is the direction of movement is worth noting.

Growth Spikes After December

For most of the year, as you may notice, Gemini’s traffic contribution barely moved. That changed in December. The platform saw a jump of over 50 percent in one month, followed by another strong increase in January. Put together, the growth crossed the 100 percent mark in two months.

This was not part of a steady upward trend. It was a sudden shift after a long period of slow movement.

Perplexity Falls Behind

Gemini’s rise is costing Perplexity dear. A few months ago, Perplexity was well ahead and sending far more users to websites.

That lead is now gone. By January, Gemini was ahead globally and had built an even wider gap in the US market. The reversal happened quickly, showing how fast positions can change in the AI space.

ChatGPT Still Dominates

ChatGPT remains the biggest source of AI-driven traffic by a large margin. It still accounts for the majority of visits coming from AI tools.

That said, its numbers have dipped from their peak. Traffic dropped after October before showing a mild recovery in January. The lead is still strong, but it is no longer as wide as it was a few months ago.

Product Updates Likely Drove the Jump

The timing of Gemini’s growth lines up with the rollout of its newer models under the Gemini 3 series. Google introduced multiple versions within a short span and pushed them across its products.

One of those versions became the default in key features, increasing its reach. This wider exposure likely played a direct role in driving more users toward external websites.

AI Traffic Remains Limited

Even with this growth, AI platforms contribute a very small share of overall web traffic. The report places the figure at well below one percent globally.

Search engines continue to bring in the bulk of traffic. AI referrals are growing, but they are still in the early stages.

A Space Worth Watching

The data does not confirm a long-term shift yet. The spike is recent and tied to product changes. It may level out in the coming months.

Still, the change is significant enough to track. Gemini’s rise shows that traffic sources are starting to diversify, and newer platforms can gain ground quickly when backed by large ecosystems.

For now, ChatGPT leads, Gemini is catching up, and Perplexity has slipped behind. The next few months will show whether this reshuffle holds.