Which is better for agentic coding, Windsurf or Gemini CLI?

Windsurf scores higher (91/100 vs 86/100) based on our comprehensive evaluation. Windsurf excels in AI-Native Development and Large Codebases, while Gemini CLI is better suited for Terminal-First Workflows and Free AI Coding.

What's the price difference between Windsurf and Gemini CLI?

Both Windsurf and Gemini CLI offer various pricing tiers. Windsurf has detailed pricing on their website. Gemini CLI also provides transparent pricing. Check our comparison table above for the latest pricing details.

Which has better IDE support, Windsurf or Gemini CLI?

Windsurf supports major IDEs. Gemini CLI supports popular development environments. Both tools integrate well with modern development workflows.

Should I switch from Gemini CLI to Windsurf?

Consider switching if you need AI-Native Development. Windsurf scored 91/100 in our evaluation compared to Gemini CLI's 86/100. However, Gemini CLI may still be better if you prioritize Terminal-First Workflows.

Windsurf vs Gemini CLI

Detailed comparison of features, performance, and use cases

91/100

Windsurf

An AI-powered code editor focused on agentic workflows, multi-file editing, and in-editor refactoring. Now part of OpenAI following the acquisition of Codeium in late 2025.

AI-Native DevelopmentLarge CodebasesAgentic WorkflowsOpenAI Ecosystem Users

Quick Verdict

Windsurf excels at ai-native development and large codebases with a score of 91/100. Windsurf, now part of OpenAI following the acquisition of Codeium, competes in the Cursor-class editor category with an emphasis on agentic workflows.

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.

Terminal-First WorkflowsFree AI CodingGoogle Ecosystem IntegrationExtensible AutomationLarge Context Tasks

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	Windsurf	Gemini CLI
Core AI Model(s)	Primarily powered by OpenAI models (GPT-4.1, o3) with the Cascade agent for agentic workflows. Legacy Codeium models may still be used for low-latency autocomplete.	Gemini 3 Pro (most intelligent, 1M context), Gemini 3 Flash (fast, 78% SWE-bench). Configurable model selection.
Context Window	Supports large context windows via OpenAI's frontier models. Cascade agent maintains multi-file context for complex refactoring tasks.	1M tokens with Gemini 3 Pro for massive codebase understanding.
Deployment Options	Desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Enterprise plans available with SSO and team management features.	npm install -g @google/gemini-cli. Open-source for self-hosting and modification.
Offline Mode	Limited offline capabilities; core AI features require cloud connectivity to OpenAI's infrastructure.	Cloud-based, requires internet for model inference. Local tools can execute offline.

Core Features Comparison

Windsurf Features

Cascade agent for autonomous multi-step coding tasks
Agentic workflows for multi-step tasks
Context-aware code completion and refactoring
Multi-file edits and project-wide reasoning
Native editor experience with low-latency responses
Deep integration with OpenAI models

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	Windsurf	Gemini CLI
Pricing URL	View Windsurf Pricing	View Gemini CLI Pricing
Overall Score	91/100	86/100
Best For	AI-Native Development, Large Codebases, Agentic Workflows, OpenAI Ecosystem Users	Terminal-First Workflows, Free AI Coding, Google Ecosystem Integration, Extensible Automation, Large Context Tasks

Best Use Cases

Windsurf Excels At

Multi-file feature development with agent-guided refactors
Complex codebase changes coordinated across modules
Rapid iteration with in-editor AI for generation and fixes
Teams invested in the OpenAI ecosystem seeking a native editor experience

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	Windsurf	Gemini CLI	Winner
IDE Support	Windsurf is a standalone VS Code-based editor. Also offers extensions for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim.	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	91/100	86/100	Windsurf

The Bottom Line

Both Windsurf and Gemini CLI are capable AI coding tools, but they serve different needs. Windsurf scores higher (91/100 vs 86/100) and excels in ai-native development and large codebases. The choice depends on your specific workflow, team size, and technical requirements.

Choose Windsurf if: you prioritize ai-native development and large codebases and want the higher-rated option (91/100).

Choose Gemini CLI if: you prioritize terminal-first workflows and free ai coding and don't mind a slightly lower score for specialized features.

Try Windsurf Try Gemini CLI