Claude Code vs gemini-cli
Claude Code and gemini-cli are both coding agents. Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE, and CI, while gemini-cli is an open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal. Here's an independent, side-by-side look at how they compare — and which fits.
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE, and CI.
Visit Claude Code →
An open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal.
Visit gemini-cli →Claude Code and gemini-cli take different routes to the same job: one is a commercial product, the other open-source and self-hostable. Choose based on whether you want a managed experience or full control.
Side by side
| Spec | Claude Code | gemini-cli |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Agent | Agent |
| Model | Commercial | Open source |
| Pricing | Paid product | Open source |
| GitHub stars | — | 105,872 |
| Language | — | TypeScript |
| License | — | Apache-2.0 |
| Last activity | — | Jul 2026 |
Key differences
- Claude Code is a commercial product; gemini-cli is open-source and self-hostable.
- Pricing model differs — Claude Code is paid product, gemini-cli is open source.
Developers who want an agentic coding tool in the terminal, IDE, and CI that works against existing repositories..
you want an open-source, self-hostable option you control.
About Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that works in your terminal, IDE, and CI.
Full Claude Code profile →About gemini-cli
An open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal.
Full gemini-cli profile →Frequently asked
- What's the main difference between Claude Code and gemini-cli?
- Claude Code is a commercial product; gemini-cli is open-source and self-hostable.
- Is Claude Code or gemini-cli better?
- Neither is universally better. Claude Code is the stronger fit for Developers who want an agentic coding tool in the terminal, IDE, and CI that works against existing repositories; gemini-cli for an open-source, self-hostable option you control. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.
- Is Claude Code or gemini-cli free?
- Claude Code is a paid product; gemini-cli is free to run and self-host.
- Which is more popular, Claude Code or gemini-cli?
- We rank open-source projects by GitHub adoption, but at least one of these is a commercial product and stars don't measure commercial adoption — so compare them on capabilities and pricing instead.
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