AI coding · Ranked 4 of 9 in Best AI coding assistants
What is Gemini CLI?
Short answer
Gemini CLI is a AI coding assistant from Google, best for terminal coding with Google account sign-in. It has a free plan (1,000 requests/day); paid plans start at $19.99 / mo.
| Fact | Gemini CLI | AI coding median (6 tools) |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 1,000 requests/day | 8 of 9 have one |
| Entry price | $19.99 / mo | $12.50 / mo |
| Top plan | $199.99 / mo | $150.00 / mo |
| 1st year | $239.88 | $150 |
| Paid plans | 3 | 2.5 |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux, Windows | — |
What does Gemini CLI do?
Gemini CLI covers these jobs, as listed on Google's pricing and feature pages.
- Terminal AI coding agent
- Free tier with Google sign-in
- Included in Google AI Pro and Ultra
- Gemini API key option
- Vertex AI option
How much does Gemini CLI cost?
Free, then $19.99 / mo to $199.99 / mo.
| Plan | Price | Billed monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Google account) | Free | Free | Gemini Code Assist individual tier, 1,000 requests/day |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99 / mo | $19.99 / mo | 1,500 requests/day in Gemini CLI |
| Google AI Ultra 5x | $99.99 / mo | $99.99 / mo | 2,000 requests/day in Gemini CLI |
| Google AI Ultra 20x | $199.99 / mo | $199.99 / mo | 2,000 requests/day in Gemini CLI |
What are the best Gemini CLI alternatives?
Closest on first-year cost: Devin, Claude Code, Cursor.
| Alternative | Free plan | From |
|---|---|---|
| Devin | Yes | $20 / mo |
| Claude Code | No | $17 / mo |
| Cursor | Yes | $8 / mo |
Is Gemini CLI better than Cursor?
Gemini CLI is best for terminal coding with Google account sign-in; Cursor for AI-first code editor. First year: $239.88 vs $96.
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI pricing | geminicli.com/docs/resources/quota-and-pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare