Google's open-source terminal coding agent for Gemini models; since June 2026 it needs a paid Gemini API key or a Code Assist licence.
Open-source alternative toClaude CodeCursor
Gemini CLI at a glance
Checked 21 Oct 2026Gemini CLI is an Apache-2.0 command-line agent from Google that brings Gemini models into your terminal. It can query and edit large codebases, run shell commands, connect tools through MCP servers, run non-interactively in scripts (with JSON output), and pair with a VS Code companion. Install with npx, npm, Homebrew or MacPorts. On June 18, 2026 Google moved unpaid-tier and Google One users to Antigravity CLI; Gemini CLI now works with paid Gemini API keys, Vertex AI or a Gemini Code Assist Standard/Enterprise licence. Gemini models only; no local model support.
RepoQuarry. “Gemini CLI.” Checked 21 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/gemini-cliHow much of Claude Code does it replace?
- Personal use
- Partial: Partly Needs something paid: Paid Gemini API key, Vertex AI, or a Gemini Code Assist Standard/Enterprise licence
- For a business
- Partial: Partly
5 of 6 jobs. Close match for terminal editing, MCP and scripting, but Gemini models only, the free tier has ended, and Google steers new users to Antigravity CLI.
For write commits and pull requests, see other Claude Code alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.
How much of Cursor does it replace?
- Personal use
- Partial: Partly Needs something paid: Paid Gemini API key, Vertex AI, or a Gemini Code Assist Standard/Enterprise licence
- For a business
- Partial: Partly
4 of 7 jobs. Edits and answers questions about large codebases from the terminal; not an editor, so no tab completion and no cloud agents.
For code in an AI-first editor, multi-line tab completion and next-edit prediction, run agents in the cloud in the background, see other Cursor alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.
Facts, with sources
Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.
Gemini CLI is an open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal.github.com · gemini-cli#readme ↗ today
Apache License Version 2.0, January 2004github.com · LICENSE ↗ today
each Contributor hereby grants to You a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright licensegithub.com · LICENSE ↗ today
Gemini CLI will remain accessible via paid Gemini and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform API keys.developers.googleblog.com · an-important-update-transitioning-gemini-cli-to-antigravity-cli ↗ today
“Casual” usage: 4GB+ RAM (short sessions, common tasks and edits)geminicli.com · installation ↗ today
Windows 11 24H2+geminicli.com · installation ↗ today
Using npx (no installation required)github.com · gemini-cli#readme ↗ today
No licence changes since we started watching. Licence watch: follow Gemini CLI and we email you if its licence terms change.
Growth and activity in detail
Is it popular, and is anyone still working on it? From GitHub.
Numbers appear after the first nightly fetch from GitHub.