Gemini CLI
Google's open-source agentic AI coding assistant for your terminal
Google · Code Assistance
Launched Jun 25, 2025
Quick Answer
Gemini CLI is google's open-source agentic ai coding assistant for your terminal, made by Google. It offers a free tier with paid upgrades. Key uses: Codebase-wide edits, Terminal task automation, App scaffolding.
Last updated:
Users
Open-source; rapid adoption via free tier
What is Gemini CLI?
Gemini CLI is Google's open-source command-line AI agent that brings Gemini models directly into the terminal. It can understand codebases, edit files, run shell commands, generate apps, and automate workflows using a ReAct-style agent loop. It ships with a generous free tier via a personal Google account and integrates with MCP servers and Google Search grounding.
What's new in Gemini CLI in 2026?
Gemini CLI GA (Jun 2025) with free tier of 60 requests/min and 1,000/day; Gemini 3.5 Flash default (May 2026); MCP server support; extensions ecosystem; custom slash commands; checkpointing; deep integration with Gemini Code Assist in VS Code
How much does Gemini CLI cost?
Free (personal Google account)
$0
- Gemini 3.5 Flash/Pro access
- 60 requests/min, 1,000/day
- 1M token context
- MCP support
- Open-source
Gemini Code Assist Standard
$19/mo
- Higher limits
- Enterprise controls
- IDE integration
Vertex AI / API key
Usage-based
- Pay-per-token via Gemini API
- Enterprise SLA
- Higher rate limits
What can you do with Gemini CLI?
- Codebase-wide edits
- Terminal task automation
- App scaffolding
- Debugging
- Git workflows
- Content generation
Pros
- Open-source (Apache 2.0)
- Very generous free tier (Gemini via Google login)
- 1M token context
- Google Search grounding built-in
- MCP support
- Non-interactive/scriptable mode
Cons
- Newer than Claude Code/Cursor
- Gemini-only models
- Terminal-first UX
- Occasional agent loop errors
What are the best alternatives to Gemini CLI?
Compare Gemini CLI Head-to-Head
Frequently Asked Questions about Gemini CLI
How much does Gemini CLI cost?
Gemini CLI pricing: Free (personal Google account) at $0; Gemini Code Assist Standard at $19/mo; Vertex AI / API key at Usage-based.
Is Gemini CLI free?
Gemini CLI offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans unlock additional features.
What is Gemini CLI used for?
Gemini CLI is used for: Codebase-wide edits, Terminal task automation, App scaffolding, Debugging, Git workflows, Content generation.
What are the best alternatives to Gemini CLI?
Top alternatives to Gemini CLI include Cursor, Aider, Claude Code, Cursor, Cline.
What platforms does Gemini CLI support?
Gemini CLI is available on: macOS, Linux, Windows, Terminal, VS Code (via Gemini Code Assist).
Details
Vendor
Category
Code Assistance
Pricing Model
Launched
Jun 25, 2025
Underlying Models
Platforms
Integrations
Ideal For
- Developers in Google ecosystem
- Cost-conscious devs (free tier)
- Terminal-centric engineers
- CI/CD automation