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Gemini CLI alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Gemini CLI: free Google-account access was withdrawn in June 2026, and not optimised for Google's newest models. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Gemini CLI, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Claude Code currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Qwen Code logoQwen CodeOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux4 of 466.5
2OpenCode logoOpenCodeOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux +14 of 457.2
3goose logogooseOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux4 of 455.3
4Crush logoCrushOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux3 of 353.6
  1. Qwen Code logo

    1. Qwen CodeTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want an open-source terminal agent built around Qwen models

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gemini CLI

    An open-source CLI forked from Gemini CLI, built around Alibaba's Qwen models.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Tuned for Qwen coding models
    • IDE integrations for VS Code, Zed and JetBrains

    Cons

    • Recommended setup relies on Alibaba Cloud accounts
    • Documentation and community lean towards Chinese users
    • Feature set changes quickly
    Visit Qwen Code Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Qwen Code a good Gemini CLI alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Install
    npm, Homebrew or installer; Node.js 22+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwenlm.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Homebrew
    brew install qwen-code
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwenlm.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    IDE integrations
    VS Code, Zed, JetBrains
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwenlm.github.io(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    Apache 2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. OpenCode logo

    2. OpenCode

    Best for: Terminal-first developers who want an open-source agent and freedom to switch models

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gemini CLI

    Open-source terminal agent that works with Gemini and most other providers.

    Pros

    • Free, open source and model-agnostic
    • Free built-in models to start without an account
    • Terminal, desktop, web and IDE versions

    Cons

    • Free models are limited and data is kept when you use them
    • Rapid releases can break configurations
    • Fewer enterprise controls than commercial agents
    Visit OpenCode Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is OpenCode a good Gemini CLI alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    100% free to use
    Checked Oct 25, 2026opencode.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Free models
    Usable without an account
    Checked Oct 25, 2026opencode.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Interfaces
    Terminal, desktop app and IDE extension
    Checked Oct 25, 2026opencode.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026opencode.ai(opens source in a new tab)
  3. goose logo

    3. goose

    Best for: Developers who want a free, vendor-neutral local agent with a desktop app

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gemini CLI

    Open-source local agent with a desktop app as well as a CLI.

    Pros

    • Free and Apache 2.0 licensed
    • Desktop app as well as a CLI
    • Works with 15+ providers and existing subscriptions

    Cons

    • General-purpose focus means fewer coding-specific features
    • Quality depends on the model and extensions you set up
    • You manage your own API costs
    Visit goose Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is goose a good Gemini CLI alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache 2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goose-docs.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Desktop app for macOS, Linux and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goose-docs.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Model providers
    15+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goose-docs.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Extensions
    70+ via MCP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goose-docs.ai(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Crush logo

    4. Crush

    Best for: Terminal users who want a fast, well-designed agent that works with many model providers

    Open sourcemacOS, Windows, Linux

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gemini CLI

    A good-looking open-source terminal agent from Charm that supports many models.

    Pros

    • Polished, fast terminal interface
    • Switch models mid-session
    • Runs on macOS, Linux, Windows and BSD

    Cons

    • Terminal only, no IDE or cloud agents
    • No team or admin features
    • You manage your own API keys and costs
    Visit Crush Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Crush a good Gemini CLI alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Platforms
    macOS, Linux, Windows and BSD
    Checked Oct 25, 2026charm.sh(opens source in a new tab)
    Model choice
    Your LLM of choice
    Checked Oct 25, 2026charm.sh(opens source in a new tab)
    Interface
    Terminal
    Checked Oct 25, 2026charm.sh(opens source in a new tab)

The best Gemini CLI alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Claude Code logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for most people

Claude Code

A polished commercial terminal agent with strong results on long tasks.

Qwen Code logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for a free option

Qwen Code

An open-source CLI forked from Gemini CLI, built around Alibaba's Qwen models.

OpenAI Codex logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

OpenAI Codex

OpenAI's open-source CLI, included with ChatGPT plans including a free tier.

OpenCode logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for open source

OpenCode

Open-source terminal agent that works with Gemini and most other providers.

goose logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for Mac

goose

Open-source local agent with a desktop app as well as a CLI.

Crush logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for Windows

Crush

A good-looking open-source terminal agent from Charm that supports many models.

Claude Code logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for Linux

Claude Code

A polished commercial terminal agent with strong results on long tasks.

Claude Code logo

Best Gemini CLI alternative for working in the browser

Claude Code

A polished commercial terminal agent with strong results on long tasks.

Gemini CLI alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Gemini CLI?

Claude Code ranks first right now. A polished commercial terminal agent with strong results on long tasks. Qwen Code and OpenAI Codex follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Gemini CLI?

Yes. Qwen Code (open source), OpenAI Codex (free plan + paid), OpenCode (open source) and goose (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gemini CLI?

Yes: Qwen Code, OpenCode, goose and Crush.

Which Gemini CLI alternatives work on Linux?

Claude Code, Qwen Code, OpenAI Codex, OpenCode and goose run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Gemini CLI?

The complaints we hear most: free Google-account access was withdrawn in June 2026; not optimised for Google's newest models; long-term direction is uncertain beside Antigravity CLI.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Gemini CLI, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.