Claude Code vs Gemini CLI
Detailed comparison of features, performance, and use cases
98/100
Claude Code
The industry-leading agentic coding tool that lives in your terminal, understands entire codebases, and autonomously executes complex multi-file development tasks with unmatched precision.
Quick Verdict
Claude Code excels at agentic coding and complex refactoring with a score of 98/100. Claude Code represents the pinnacle of agentic coding technology.
86/100
Gemini CLI
Google's open-source terminal AI agent bringing Gemini directly to your command line with built-in tools for search, file operations, shell commands, and MCP extensibility—free tier included.
Quick Verdict
Gemini CLI excels at terminal-first workflows and free ai coding with a score of 86/100. Gemini CLI democratizes AI-assisted terminal workflows with a generous free tier that rivals paid alternatives.
📊 Visual Score Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key performance metrics across six evaluation criteria
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Core AI Model(s) | Claude Opus 4.5 (flagship, 80.9% SWE-bench), Claude Sonnet 4, Claude Haiku 3.5. Opus 4.5 outperformed all human engineering candidates on Anthropic's internal hiring tests. | Gemini 3 Pro (most intelligent, 1M context), Gemini 3 Flash (fast, 78% SWE-bench). Configurable model selection. |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens standard, with Sonnet-1M support. Agentic search understands entire project structures without manual file selection. Monorepo baseline ~20K tokens, leaving 180K for active development. | 1M tokens with Gemini 3 Pro for massive codebase understanding. |
| Deployment Options | Terminal-native CLI via npm. Native VS Code and JetBrains IDE extensions. Headless mode for CI/CD and GitHub Actions. Enterprise deployment via AWS Bedrock or Google Cloud Vertex AI. | npm install -g @google/gemini-cli. Open-source for self-hosting and modification. |
| Offline Mode | Cloud-based, requires internet. Designed for real-time agentic workflows. | Cloud-based, requires internet for model inference. Local tools can execute offline. |
Core Features Comparison
Claude Code Features
- Agentic multi-file editing with autonomous planning and execution
- Industry-leading 200K token context window with full codebase understanding
- Native terminal integration with any IDE or editor
- Git workflow automation with PR creation and code review
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) for external tool integration
- Subagent architecture for complex task decomposition
- CLAUDE.md project memory for persistent context
Gemini CLI Features
- Free tier: 60 requests/min, 1000 requests/day with personal Google account
- Gemini 3 Pro and Flash models with 1M token context
- Built-in tools: Google Search grounding, file ops, shell commands, web fetch
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) for custom integrations
- ReAct loop for complex multi-step reasoning
- Open-source under Apache 2.0 license
- VS Code Gemini Code Assist integration
Pricing & Value Analysis
| Aspect | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing URL | View Claude Code Pricing | View Gemini CLI Pricing |
| Overall Score | 98/100 | 86/100 |
| Best For | Agentic Coding, Complex Refactoring, Multi-File Development, Code Architecture, Autonomous Task Execution | Terminal-First Workflows, Free AI Coding, Google Ecosystem Integration, Extensible Automation, Large Context Tasks |
Best Use Cases
Claude Code Excels At
- Autonomous feature implementation: describe functionality in natural language and Claude Code plans, implements across multiple files, runs tests, and creates PRs
- Large-scale codebase refactoring with full context awareness—maintains consistency across hundreds of files without losing context
- Legacy code modernization by analyzing entire codebases and executing systematic upgrades with rollback capabilities
- CI/CD integration via headless mode for automated code review, testing, and deployment workflows
- Complex debugging: paste an error, and Claude Code analyzes the codebase, identifies root causes, and implements verified fixes
Gemini CLI Excels At
- Free AI coding assistance with generous rate limits for individual developers and small teams
- Large codebase understanding with 1M token context—analyze entire repositories without truncation
- Extensible automation by connecting Figma, Stripe, Datadog, and other tools via MCP integrations
Performance & Integration
| Category | Claude Code | Gemini CLI | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDE Support | Terminal-native (works with ANY editor), plus native extensions for VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and JetBrains IDEs. | Terminal-native, IDE-agnostic. VS Code integration via Gemini Code Assist. | Tie |
| Community | Active community | Active community | Tie |
| Data Richness | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Tie |
| Overall Score | 98/100 | 86/100 | Claude Code |
The Bottom Line
Both Claude Code and Gemini CLI are capable AI coding tools, but they serve different needs. Claude Code scores higher (98/100 vs 86/100) and excels in agentic coding and complex refactoring. The choice depends on your specific workflow, team size, and technical requirements.
Choose Claude Code if: you prioritize agentic coding and complex refactoring and want the higher-rated option (98/100).
Choose Gemini CLI if: you prioritize terminal-first workflows and free ai coding and don't mind a slightly lower score for specialized features.