Gemini CLI vs Claude Code: What Changed and Which to Use Now

Build with AI · Claude Code

Most Gemini CLI vs Claude Code comparisons are out of date. In June 2026, Google moved most people off Gemini CLI. Here is what that means and which tool to pick today.

A year ago, this was an easy match up. Gemini CLI was free and open source. Claude Code was paid. Lots of people picked Gemini CLI to save money.

That changed in June 2026. I read Google's announcement, the Gemini CLI docs, and Anthropic's pages on October 20, 2026. Here is the honest, current picture.

What happened to Gemini CLI?

On May 19, 2026, Google's developer blog posted a big update. It said: "On June 18, 2026, Gemini CLI and Gemini Code Assist IDE extensions will stop serving requests for Google AI Pro and Ultra, as well as those using it free of charge using Gemini Code Assist for individuals."

Those users were pointed to a new tool called Antigravity CLI. Google says it "keeps the most critical features of Gemini CLI: Agent Skills, Hooks, Subagents, and Extensions (now as Antigravity plugins)." It is also built in Go and shares the same agent setup as the Antigravity desktop app.

The Gemini CLI docs now show this banner at the top of the page: "Unpaid tier and Google One users: Gemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI on June 18th, 2026."

One heads up. Some older Gemini CLI doc pages still describe "a generous free tier." The banner and Google's blog post are newer and clear, so I go with those. If you see an old guide that says Gemini CLI is free for everyone, it is out of date.

Who can still use Gemini CLI?

Gemini CLI did not vanish. Google's post says it stays for:

• Companies using Gemini CLI through a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license.
• Companies using Gemini Code Assist for GitHub through Google Cloud.
• People using paid Gemini API keys.

It is also still open source under the Apache 2.0 license, with about 107k stars on GitHub when I checked. The latest stable release was v0.64.0, released October 13, 2026. So the project is alive. It just is not the free tool for everyone that it used to be.

What Claude Code is

Claude Code is Anthropic's AI coding agent. Its docs say it "reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools." It runs in the terminal, in your editor, in a desktop app, and in the browser.

It is not on Claude's Free plan. When I checked on October 20, 2026:

• Pro: $17 a month billed yearly, or $20 billed monthly. It includes Claude Code.
• Max: from $100 a month, with more usage.

For more detail, see my Claude Code pricing guide.

Gemini CLI vs Claude Code side by side

Here is my summary card. The text table below says the same thing.

Both read a notes file about your project. Both can connect to outside tools through MCP. Both work from your terminal.

The real match up: Claude Code vs Antigravity CLI

If you are a solo user without a business license, Gemini CLI is mostly off the table. So the fair question is Claude Code vs Antigravity CLI.

Antigravity's pricing page, checked October 20, 2026:

• Individuals: $0 a month, with "Basic weekly rate limits."
• Google AI Pro: more rate limits. Google lists AI Pro at $19.99 a month.
• Google AI Ultra: even more rate limits, from $99.99 a month.

Google does not list exact limits for each tier on that page. So I cannot tell you how many tasks the free plan covers. Test it with your own work.

Here is how I would decide:

• Pick Antigravity CLI if you want to start free, or you already pay for Google AI Pro.
• Pick Claude Code if you already pay for Claude, or you want the tool I use and know best. My Claude Code review explains why.
• Stay on Gemini CLI if your company gives you a Code Assist license or a paid API key.

What each option costs per month

Here is the money side in one place, checked October 20, 2026. These are list prices before tax.

So at the paid level, the two big plans cost about the same. The real difference is the free tier. Antigravity has one. Claude Code does not.

Also note how Claude's limits work. Anthropic says your use of Claude on the web, desktop, mobile, and Claude Code "all draws from the same pool." So heavy chat use can eat into your coding time.

Features both have

The two tools are more alike than different. Both:

• Read and edit files in your project.
• Run commands in your terminal.
• Use a notes file to remember facts about your project.
• Connect to outside tools through MCP.

Claude Code also has skills, hooks, and subagents. Google says Antigravity CLI keeps the same kinds of features from Gemini CLI. So whichever you pick, you can grow into the advanced stuff later.

Moving from Gemini CLI to Claude Code

If you used Gemini CLI for free and lost access, here is a simple path to Claude Code:

1. Pick a plan. Claude Pro is the cheapest plan with Claude Code.
2. Install it. Anthropic's docs give a one line install command for Mac, Linux, and Windows.
3. Move your notes. Copy what you had in GEMINI.md into a CLAUDE.md file in your project.
4. Rebuild your extras. Claude Code has its own skills, hooks, and subagents. The ideas are close, but the files are different.
5. Test on a small task. Fix one bug or add one small feature before you trust it with more.

New to it? My guide on how to use Claude Code walks through your first session.

Why old comparisons mislead you

Search for this topic and you will find lots of posts from 2025. Many say Gemini CLI is the free choice and Claude Code is the paid one. That was true then. It is not true for most people now.

When you read any AI tool comparison, check three things:

• The date the post was written or updated.
• Whether the prices match the tool's own pricing page today.
• Whether the tool still exists in the same form.

AI tools change fast. A post that was right six months ago can send you the wrong way today.

Other options

Want a wider view? OpenAI's Codex is another strong terminal agent. I compare it in Claude Code vs Codex. For more choices, see my Claude Code alternatives list.