On Wednesday, Google unveiled its latest artificial intelligence (AI) command-line interface tool, known as Gemini CLI. This innovative tool serves as an AI agent, capable of assisting developers with routine coding tasks while also completing actions autonomously. Notably, it operates directly within the terminal environment, eliminating the need for developers to switch between different windows or applications to utilize its features. Currently, Gemini CLI is available in preview mode and can be accessed free of charge by anyone interested. The open-source tool is being hosted on GitHub.
Google Releases Gemini CLI to Compete With OpenAI
In a recent blog post, Google, based in Mountain View, announced the introduction of Gemini CLI in its preview phase. This command-line tool follows the launch of OpenAI’s Codex CLI two months earlier. Distinctively, Google’s Gemini CLI features integration with Gemini Code Assist, and it remains entirely free for users. Those eager to experiment with this open-source tool can find it on its GitHub listing.
However, there are some limitations to consider. While Gemini CLI is offered at no cost, the features of Gemini Code Assist will vary depending on the user’s subscription plan. The tool also enforces rate limits, allowing for 60 model requests per minute and a total of 1,000 requests per day. These limits should be adequate for most developers unless they are engaged in large-scale enterprise projects.
Powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini CLI boasts a robust context window of one million tokens. It is released under the Apache 2.0 license, which supports both academic and commercial applications. To get started, users can log in with a personal Google account to obtain a free Gemini Code Assist license.
Moreover, professional developers who require the capability to operate multiple agents simultaneously or access specific AI models can utilize a Google AI Studio or Vertex AI key, incurring charges based on their usage.
In addition to assisting in coding, debugging, and project organization through natural language prompts, Gemini CLI includes integrated tools for enhancing prompts with Google Search. It also supports Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting with external data hubs and allows for the generation of images and videos via the company’s Veo and Imagen models.
