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Gemini CLI vs Codex CLI
Both are open source under Apache-2.0 and live in your terminal. Codex CLI runs on a ChatGPT plan or an API key. Gemini CLI now serves Gemini Code Assist teams and paid keys, after Google moved everyone else to Antigravity CLI.
Side by Side
| Google Gemini CLI | OpenAI Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| What It Is | Google's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent for the terminal: it reads and edits your codebase, runs shell commands, connects MCP servers and runs headless with gemini -p for scripts. Now built for Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise teams and paid Gemini API or Vertex AI keys; free and Google AI Pro/Ultra users moved to Antigravity CLI. | OpenAI's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent that runs locally in your terminal: it reads your repo, edits files and runs commands, with codex exec for scripts and CI. Sign in with ChatGPT or use an API key. |
| Category | AI Editors & Agents | AI Editors & Agents |
| Where It Runs | Terminal on macOS, Windows and Linux. VS Code companion extension, plus JetBrains and Zed through ACP. Preinstalled in Google Cloud Shell. | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows. The same plan covers the Codex IDE extension, desktop app and Codex cloud. |
| Sign-In and Models | Sign in with Google on a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or use a paid Gemini API or Vertex AI key. | Sign in with ChatGPT, or use an API key, where model access follows your key. |
| Scripting and CI | gemini -p runs headless, with JSON or streaming JSON output for scripts. | codex exec runs non-interactive tasks in scripts and pipelines. API-key use suits CI but skips cloud features like GitHub code review. |
| Free Option | None anymore. Free and Google AI Pro/Ultra access moved to Google's Antigravity CLI on June 18, 2026. | The CLI is free to install. Using it starts with ChatGPT Plus, or an API key billed at API rates. |
| Tags | ||
| Pricing | Comes with Gemini Code Assist: Standard $19 per user a month on a 12-month term, $22.80 monthly, with 1,500 CLI and agent requests a day. Enterprise is $45 on a 12-month term, $54 monthly, with 2,000. Or a paid API key at API rates. | Included with ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo: CLI, IDE extension, web and iOS. Pro is $100, $200 or $500 a month. Business is $25 per user a month billed monthly. Or bring an API key and pay API rates. |
| Website | geminicli.com | developers.openai.com |
| On Digidle |
Pricing and plan details checked October 29, 2026 on each vendor's official pages: Gemini CLI on GitHub, Gemini CLI quotas, Gemini CLI to Antigravity CLI, Code Assist pricing, Code Assist quotas, Codex pricing, Codex CLI, openai/codex on GitHub. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
Which One to Pick
Pick Gemini CLI If
Your team is on Gemini Code Assist through Google Cloud, or you want Gemini models on a paid key.
More on Gemini CLIPick Codex CLI If
You're an individual, already pay for ChatGPT, or want Codex cloud and the IDE extension on the same plan.
More on Codex CLIBuilt a tool in AI Editors & Agents? Get it featured at the top of its category for 30 days.
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