Claude vs Gemini CLI
A detailed comparison to help you choose the right AI tool for your needs.
Our Pick
Claude
Claude edges out Gemini CLI with superior overall performance and features that make it the better choice for most users.
Try ClaudeFeature Comparison
Feature
Claude
Gemini CLI
Ratings
Overall Rating
4.8
4.6
Coding
4.9
4.5
Writing
4.9
4.4
Reasoning
4.8
4.6
Speed
4.3
4.7
Value
4.6
5.0
Pricing
Monthly Price
$20
$0
Free Tier
Input (per 1M tokens)
-
$1.25
Output (per 1M tokens)
-
$5
Features
Context Window
200K
1000K
Vision/Images
Audio
Video
Code Generation
AI Agents
Claude
Pros
- Best for writing and analysis
- Projects feature for organization
- Artifacts for interactive content
- Strong on accuracy and nuance
- Handles sensitive data well
Cons
- Slower than GPT-4o
- Limited free tier
Gemini CLI
Pros
- Most generous free tier (1,000/day)
- 1M token context window
- Fully open source (Apache 2.0)
- Built-in Google Search grounding
- MCP support for extensions
Cons
- Newer than Claude Code
- Less proven in enterprise settings
Choose Claude if you need:
Long-form writing, analysis, research, professional use
Choose Gemini CLI if you need:
Budget-conscious developers, large codebases, Google ecosystem users
Ready to get started?
Both tools offer free tiers or trials. Try them out and see which one works best for your workflow.