Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex CLI
Gemini CLI and OpenAI Codex CLI are both terminal AI coding tools. Here's how they line up on the things that actually decide it — price, platform, and what they plug into.
| Gemini CLI | OpenAI Codex CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free tier |
| Platform | windows, mac, linux | windows, mac, linux |
| Works with | gemini | chatgpt |
| In one line | Google's free, open-source terminal coding agent — runs agentic file editing, shell commands, and live web search via @search grounding, powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro. | OpenAI's free, open-source terminal coding agent — runs agentic file editing, shell commands, and multi-step tasks powered by o4-mini. |
Which should you pick?
On budget alone, Gemini CLI is the lower-cost entry (free), so it's the safer place to start if you're not ready to pay. They target different setups, so let what you already use break the tie. For the full picture, read the reviews below — the verdict is where the real difference shows up.