Key takeaways
- Free tier: 60 requests/min and 1,000 requests/day with personal Google account
- Gemini 3 models with 1M token context window — largest among major coding agents
- Built-in tools include Google Search grounding, file ops, shell commands, MCP support
FAQ
What is Gemini CLI?
Gemini CLI is Google's open-source AI coding agent that runs in your terminal with access to Gemini 3 models.
Is Gemini CLI free?
Yes, the free tier includes 60 requests/minute and 1,000 requests/day with a personal Google account.
What's special about Gemini CLI's context window?
Gemini CLI has a 1M token context window — significantly larger than Claude Code or Codex.
Does Gemini CLI compete with Tembo?
Gemini CLI is a coding agent; Tembo orchestrates coding agents. They're complementary layers.
Executive Summary
Gemini CLI is Google's official open-source AI coding agent, offering the most generous free tier among major coding agents: 60 requests per minute and 1,000 requests per day with just a personal Google account. The standout feature is the 1M token context window — enough to load entire codebases that would overflow other agents.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | |
| Founded | 1998 (Gemini CLI: 2025) |
| Funding | Public company (GOOGL) |
| Employees | ~190,000 |
| Headquarters | Mountain View, CA |
Product Overview
Gemini CLI is Google's official open-source AI coding agent.[1] It brings Gemini directly into the terminal with the most generous free tier among major coding agents.
The standout feature is the 1M token context window — enough to load entire codebases that would overflow other agents. Combined with built-in Google Search grounding, Gemini CLI can answer questions with real-time information.[2]
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| 1M Token Context | Largest context window among major agents |
| Google Search Grounding | Real-time information in responses |
| Multimodal | Generate code from images, PDFs, sketches |
| MCP Support | Model Context Protocol for custom integrations |
| GitHub Action | Native CI/CD integration |
Product Surfaces / Editions
| Surface | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| CLI | Terminal-based agent | GA |
| GitHub Action | CI/CD automation | GA |
| Non-Interactive Mode | Scripting integration | GA |
Technical Architecture
Installation:[1]
# Quick start (no installation)
npx @google/gemini-cli
# Global install
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
brew install gemini-cli # macOS/Linux
Key Technical Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Local CLI |
| Model(s) | Gemini 3 models (1M context) |
| Integrations | Google Search, GitHub, MCP |
| Open Source | Yes (Apache 2.0) |
Authentication options:
- Google OAuth — Free tier with personal account (recommended) [3][4]
- Gemini API Key — More control, usage-based billing
- Vertex AI — Enterprise features, Google Cloud integration
Strengths
- Generous free tier — 1,000 requests/day with no payment required
- 1M token context — Largest context window among major agents
- Google Search grounding — Real-time information in responses[2]
- Multimodal — Generate code from images, PDFs, sketches
- MCP support — Extensible with custom integrations
- GitHub Action — Native CI/CD integration[5]
- Conversation checkpointing — Save and resume complex sessions
- Active development — Weekly stable releases
Cautions
- Google-only — Locked to Gemini models
- No IDE extension — Terminal-only (unlike Claude Code, Codex)
- Newer entrant — Less battle-tested than Claude Code
- No background execution — Runs in foreground
- No enterprise integrations — No Jira, no signed commits
- Google ecosystem dependence — Tied to Google account/Cloud
Pricing & Licensing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 60 req/min, 1,000 req/day, Gemini 3, 1M context |
| Gemini API | Pay-per-use | Usage-based billing |
| Vertex AI | Pay-per-use | Enterprise features, GCP integration |
Licensing model: Open source (Apache 2.0) + optional paid API
Hidden costs: None for free tier; Vertex AI requires Google Cloud account[1]
Competitive Positioning
Direct Competitors
| Competitor | Differentiation |
|---|---|
| Claude Code | Claude Code has 200K context; Gemini CLI has 1M |
| Codex CLI | Codex requires ChatGPT Plus; Gemini CLI is free |
| OpenCode | OpenCode is model-agnostic; Gemini CLI is Google-only but simpler |
| Cursor | Cursor is full IDE; Gemini CLI is terminal-only |
When to Choose Gemini CLI Over Alternatives
- Choose Gemini CLI when: You want free access, 1M context, or Google Search grounding
- Choose Claude Code when: You prefer Anthropic models or need IDE integration
- Choose Codex when: You want the OpenAI Mac app experience
- Choose OpenCode when: You need model flexibility across providers
Ideal Customer Profile
Best fit:
- Developers wanting free, powerful AI coding assistance
- Teams working with large codebases needing 1M token context
- Engineers who value Google Search grounding for real-time information
- GitHub users wanting native CI/CD integration
- Budget-conscious developers or students
Poor fit:
- Teams needing enterprise integrations (Jira, signed commits)
- Developers preferring IDE over terminal
- Organizations requiring model flexibility
- Users needing background execution
Viability Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Financial Health | Strong — Google has unlimited resources |
| Market Position | Challenger — newer but Google backing |
| Innovation Pace | Rapid — weekly releases |
| Community/Ecosystem | Growing — Google developer community |
| Long-term Outlook | Positive — Google is committed to AI |
Google has the resources to sustain Gemini CLI indefinitely. The risk is deprioritization if Google's AI strategy shifts, but current investment suggests long-term commitment.
Bottom Line
Gemini CLI is the most accessible entry point to AI coding agents. The free tier is genuinely generous — 1,000 requests per day is enough for serious development work without spending a dollar.
The 1M token context window is a real differentiator. For large codebases that overflow other agents' context limits, Gemini CLI can load everything at once.
Recommended for: Developers wanting free AI coding assistance with massive context window and Google Search grounding.
Not recommended for: Teams needing enterprise integrations, IDE experience, or model flexibility.
Outlook: Gemini CLI will continue improving as Google invests in Gemini models. Expect IDE extensions and more integrations as the product matures.
Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology