Comparison

Google vs Lens

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Google

This app provides a comprehensive search experience, integrating AI for quick answers and personalized content. It allows you to search using images, voice, or text, and offers features like song identification and real-time translation.

Highlights
  • AI Overviews for quick answers
  • Image search with Lens
  • Hum to Search for song identification
  • Personalized Discover feed
  • Real-time camera translation
  • Home screen search widget
Features
Read full description

Download the Google app to find quick answers, explore your interests, and ask anything on your mind in any way. Try AI in Google Search with AI Mode, Lens, Search Live, and more. Feature highlights*: • AI Mode: Get AI-powered responses to your toughest questions with AI Mode–talk, type, or snap a photo to get started, and ask follow-up questions to dig deeper. You’ll continue to see a range of helpful links so you can keep exploring across the web. • Google Lens: See something you like? Snap a photo and discover where to shop for it, find related images, and more. Refine your camera searches by adding words – whether you want those shoes but in ‘blue’, or want to learn how to ‘repair’ that broken bit on your bicycle. • Search Live: Have a live, real-time conversation in Search by using your voice and camera to easily get answers and on-screen links to the web when you need them. • AI Overviews: Get a snapshot of key information about a topic or question, like ’how to fix a broken zipper’, with links so you can easily explore more on the web. • Hum to Search: Can't remember the name of that song? Hum the tune and Google will help find it for you—no lyrics, artist name or perfect pitch required. You can also search for a song playing near you. • Discover: Stay up-to-date on topics that matter to you. Get personalized news, articles, and videos based on your interests. • Google Search Widget: Search faster from your home screen or lock screen, with easy shortcuts to AI Mode, Lens, and more. Google Search, totally reimagined with AI • Explore a new intelligent Search box that expands with your curiosity, offers AI powered suggestions and lets you search with text, videos and more. • Bring your toughest questions to Search. With a more seamless Search experience, you can go from an AI Overview on the search results page to asking follow-up questions in AI Mode, with links to the web. • Get help with planning, researching, brainstorming new ideas, and more with the latest Gemini models delivering frontier performance for agents and coding. • Bring your ideas to life by transforming your photos in Lens or creating images in AI Mode with Nano Banana. Available in select languages and locations. Search what you see with Google Lens: • Use your camera to identify what you’re looking at. Identify plants and animals, translate text in real-time, find similar products to buy, and even solve math problems with step-by-step guides. • Translate over 100 languages on things like road signs when you travel, menus, and more by pointing your camera at text. • Reverse image search: Find the source, similar photos, and related information for any image. • Get step-by-step homework help on math, physics and word problems, and testing your knowledge with Questions and Answers are now fully supported within the Google app. Search safely and securely: • All searches in the Google app are protected by encrypting the connection between your device and Google. • Privacy controls are easy to find and use. Tap your profile picture to access your menu and delete recent search history from your account with one click. • Search proactively filters webspam to help ensure that you see safe, high-quality results. Learn more about what the Google app can do for you: https://search.google/ Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy Your feedback helps us create products you'll love. Join a user research study here: https://goo.gl/kKQn99 *Features may not be available in all countries.

About

Lens

This app allows you to perform visual searches across multiple search engines simultaneously. Verify image authenticity, research people or places, find similar products, or locate celebrities using just an image.

Highlights
  • Multi-engine image search
  • Image source verification
  • People and place research
  • Product discovery
  • Celebrity search
  • Logo identification
Features
Read full description

Lens: AI Image Search Discover the power of visual search with Lens: AI Image Search! Effortlessly search images across top search engines like Google Lens, Google Images, Bing, Yandex, and TinEye - all in one place. Use Lens: AI Image Search to: - Verify the source and authenticity of images, such as photos, screenshots, and memes. - Research the background and identity of your potential dates based on their profile pictures. - Find out the location and context of the images you encounter while traveling or vacationing. - Search for similar or alternative products online based on their images. - Locate your favorite celebrities on the web using their photos. - Solve brand puzzles by identifying the logos and trademarks in the images. Lens: AI Image Search is a powerful tool to explore the web in a new way. Download Lens: AI Image Search today and start your image search journey! With Lens: AI Image Search, the world is just an image away. =================================== ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Subscription price: - 1 week: $6.99 (3-day free trial) - 1 month: $12.99 - 1 year: $39.99 - Subscription may be canceled at any time within the iTunes and App Store Apple ID Settings. All prices include applicable local sales taxes. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - The account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Privacy policy: https://sites.google.com/view/mobile-labs Terms of service: https://sites.google.com/view/mobi-labs-termofservice

Screenshots

Google4 screens
Lens4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Google at 5.1M against Lens's 1.2K. Google also leads on review sentiment (59% vs 44%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Google sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $0.89 per month and Lens sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Google holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google has 5.1M ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Google's written reviews are positive against 44% of Lens's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Google ships an update every 5 days, Lens every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Google versus Lens: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGoogleLens
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5.1M ratings) — better4.4 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews59.2% of reviews — better44.1% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1M — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size485 MB66 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperGoogleAnh Nguyen

Customer experience

Google

All ratings5,108,043 ratings
Positive91.4%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews10,467 reviews
Positive59.2%
Neutral5.7%
Negative35.1%

Lens

All ratings1,237 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative10.2%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive44.1%
Neutral4.4%
Negative51.5%

User reviews

Google

From 5.1M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Reliable and feature-packed
  • 👍 Seamless integration with other Google services
  • 🔍 Accurate and personalized search results
  • 📱 Intuitive and smooth interface
  • 🔍 Helpful Google Assistant

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🔍 Biased or irrelevant search results
  • 📱 Slow performance and freezing issues
  • 🔍 Forced use of Google Lens
  • 🔍 Difficulty removing unwanted content from feed

Lens

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 User friendly
  • 💡 Helpful for identifying furniture
  • 🚀 Accurate search results

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Confusing interface
  • 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Unreliable performance
  • 🔒 Unclear subscription model

Bugs and requests

Google

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Search bar freezes or takes a long time to load
  • Tabs disappearing or not saving properly
  • Inability to save images or access image search
  • Crashing or force closing issues
  • Inconsistent dark mode/light mode behavior

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to disable Google Lens
  • Improved tab management
  • Ability to customize news feed interests
  • Restore image download functionality
  • Dedicated search mode for trucks and larger vehicles

Lens

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Camera feature not working
  • Account issues (disappearing accounts, unable to restore)
  • Subscription issues (double charging, unable to cancel)

Requested features

3 requests
  • Clear search options
  • Ability to clear search history
  • Support for identifying non-consumer items

In-app purchases

22 purchases

Google

Subscriptions22
  • 30 GB$0.891 Month
  • 100 GB$1.991 Month
  • 100 GB1 Month trial3 variants$1.991 Month
Show 19 more
  • 100 GB3 Months trial$1.991 Month
  • 200 GB$2.991 Month
  • 200 GB1 Month trial3 variants$2.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (400 GB)$4.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (400 GB)1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)$9.991 Month
  • 2 TB1 Month trial3 variants$9.991 Month
  • 100 GB$19.991 Year
  • Google AI Pro (5 TB)1 Month trial2 variants$19.991 Month
  • Google AI Pro (5 TB)$19.991 Month
  • Google AI Pro (2 TB)$19.991 Month
  • 5 TB2 variants$24.991 Month
  • 200 GB$29.991 Year
  • 200 GB1 Year trial$29.991 Year
  • Google AI Plus (400 GB)$49.991 Year
  • 10 TB$49.991 Month
  • Google AI Plus (2 TB)$99.991 Year
  • 30 TB$149.991 Month
  • 5 TB$249.991 Year
4 purchases

Lens

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$24.99

Questions

Is Google free?
Google is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lens free?
Lens is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Google or Lens?
Google is rated higher. Google averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5.1M ratings, while Lens averages 4.4 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Google or Lens have ads?
Both Google and Lens show ads.
Which is updated more often, Google or Lens?
Google ships an update every 5 days, and Lens every 2 weeks. Most recently, Google was updated on September 27, 2026 and Lens on September 26, 2026.

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