help with Nails

Jacqueline
I have terrible natural nails. I try to take care of them but they are so brittle. I can literally bend my nails. I file them and out top coats on them every other night in hopes to strengthen them and zero luck. 
I'm thinking I want to treat myself this weekend and go get my nails done.
I've had acrylics before and honestly, I do love them. But, there's the up keep and such a commitment. Like if I stop than I have even thinner nails.
Would anyone recommend gel nails for brittle pathetically short nails? Like can you add length to them or is just your nails with special nail polish. 
Can't decide if I should go Gel or make the commitment to acrylic.