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Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI is an open source terminal coding agent by Google that runs Gemini models from the command line, with MCP, agent skills, subagents and hooks, under the Apache-2.0 license.

Terminal coding agent by Google · Updated

What Gemini CLI does

Gemini CLI is Google's open source agent for the terminal. It reads and edits files, runs shell commands, fetches web pages and can ground answers in Google Search. Its README describes Gemini 3 models with a 1 million token context window. It installs with npm or Homebrew and also comes preinstalled in Google Cloud Shell.

Gemini CLI can be extended with MCP servers, Agent Skills, extensions, subagents with their own context, and hooks that run scripts at points in the agent loop. It has a plan mode, sandboxing, checkpoints and a headless mode for scripts, and a GitHub Action (run-gemini-cli) for issue and pull request work. A VS Code companion extension and the Agent Client Protocol connect it to editors.

Gemini CLI changed how people sign in during 2026. Google's developer blog announced that from 2026-06-18 Gemini CLI stopped serving free personal Google accounts and Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, who were moved to Antigravity CLI. The routes still documented are a Gemini API key (with a free tier), Vertex AI, and Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licenses for organizations.

Who Gemini CLI is for

  • Developers who want an open source terminal agent they can read and fork
  • Teams on Google Cloud with Gemini Code Assist licenses or Vertex AI billing
  • Scripted and CI use through headless mode and the run-gemini-cli GitHub Action
  • Trying an agent at no cost with the free tier of a Gemini API key

Who should pick something else

  • Individuals who used a personal Google account or Google AI Pro or Ultra: Google moved that access to Antigravity CLI on 2026-06-18
  • Developers who want models from several vendors; OpenCode, Cline or Kilo Code support many providers
  • People who want a desktop editor rather than a terminal; Antigravity and Cursor are editors

Gemini CLI: one strength, one limit

Strength. Gemini CLI is open source under Apache-2.0 with 107,216 GitHub stars (2026-10-01), and its free API-key tier lets you try it without a subscription.

Limit. Gemini CLI no longer serves free personal Google accounts or Google AI Pro and Ultra plans since 2026-06-18, and the free API-key tier is limited to the Flash model.

What Gemini CLI costs

Free and open source under Apache-2.0; a Gemini API key has a free tier on the Flash model, and more use is billed per token or through Gemini Code Assist licenses.

Current prices: geminicli.com . We do not list prices: vendors change them often, so check the maker's own page before you buy.

Gemini CLI with agent skills and MCP servers

Skills. Gemini CLI supports Agent Skills natively. It reads workspace skills from .gemini/skills or .agents/skills and user skills from ~/.gemini/skills or ~/.agents/skills, plus skills shipped in extensions. Skills arrived as an experimental preview in v0.23.0 (2026-01-07) and were turned on by default in January 2026. gemini skills list and gemini skills install manage them. The open skills CLI installs into .agents/skills.

MCP. Gemini CLI adds MCP servers with gemini mcp add [options] <name> <commandOrUrl> [args...], where --scope picks user or project and --transport picks stdio, sse or http. Servers are saved under mcpServers in .gemini/settings.json (project) or ~/.gemini/settings.json (user); remote servers use url for SSE or httpUrl for streamable HTTP.

Browse agent skills and MCP servers that work with Gemini CLI.

Questions people ask

Is Gemini CLI still free?

Gemini CLI itself is free and open source. Model use is free with a Gemini API key within the free tier's daily limit on the Flash model, per its quota page read on 2026-10-01. The older free route through a personal Google account was retired on 2026-06-18, when Google moved those users to Antigravity CLI.

Does Gemini CLI support MCP and agent skills?

Yes. Add MCP servers with gemini mcp add or in .gemini/settings.json. Agent Skills load from .gemini/skills or .agents/skills, enabled by default since January 2026.

Alternatives to Gemini CLI

  • Google Antigravity: Google Antigravity is an agentic development platform by Google that runs coding agents in a desktop command center, a standalone IDE, a CLI called agy and extensions for other editors.
  • Claude Code: Claude Code is a terminal coding agent by Anthropic that reads a codebase, edits files and runs commands, and also works in VS Code, JetBrains, a desktop app and the web.
  • OpenAI Codex: OpenAI Codex is a coding agent by OpenAI that runs as an open source CLI on your machine and as a cloud agent in ChatGPT, editing code, running commands and opening pull requests.
  • OpenCode: OpenCode is an open source terminal coding agent by Anomaly that works with 75+ model providers, local models included, and also ships as a desktop app and IDE extension.
  • Goose: Goose is an open source AI agent, created by Block and now part of the Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation, that runs as a desktop app and CLI with any model provider.