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Gemini CLI vs Cursor
Gemini CLI is Google's terminal agent, open source under Apache-2.0, now sold through Gemini Code Assist or paid keys. Cursor is an editor with an agent built in, and its plans now bundle Grok.
Side by Side
| Google Gemini CLI | Cursor | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | AI coding agent and VS Code-based editor with codebase-aware chat, autocomplete and agent mode. |
| 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. | Its own VS Code-based editor, plus a CLI. Cloud agents start on Premium. |
| Models | Gemini models, through a Code Assist license or a paid Gemini API or Vertex AI key. | Plus runs Grok models only. Premium and up add third-party models, billed separately at API list price. |
| Free Option | None anymore. Free and Google AI Pro/Ultra access moved to Google's Antigravity CLI on June 18, 2026. | Free plan with limited agent and chat requests. |
| 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. | Plus $8/mo (Grok models only), Premium $30/mo with 4x the usage, Super $100/mo, Ultra $200/mo. Teams from $30 per user a month. Plans also include Grok and X features. |
| Website | geminicli.com | cursor.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, Cursor pricing. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
Which One to Pick
Pick Gemini CLI If
You work in the terminal and your org already pays for Gemini Code Assist, or you want Gemini on a paid key.
More on Gemini CLIPick Cursor If
You want chat, autocomplete and an agent in one editor, with a free plan to start.
More on CursorBuilt a tool in AI Editors & Agents? Get it featured at the top of its category for 30 days.
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