AppBreakup
Submit an app

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Common reasons people leave Gemini CLI: free Google-account access was withdrawn in June 2026, and not optimised for Google's newest models.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
1OpenAI Codex logoOpenAI CodexFree plan + paidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +25 of 559.6
2OpenCode logoOpenCodeOpen sourceYesmacOS, Windows, Linux +14 of 457.2
  1. OpenAI Codex logo

    1. OpenAI CodexTop pick

    Best for: ChatGPT subscribers who want a local and cloud coding agent without another bill

    Free plan + paidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gemini CLI

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

    Pros

    • Included with ChatGPT plans, including a limited free tier
    • Same agent locally and in cloud sandboxes
    • Open-source CLI that can be scripted in CI

    Cons

    • Only uses OpenAI's models
    • Usage limits are shared with other ChatGPT features
    • Cloud tasks need your repo connected to OpenAI
    Visit OpenAI Codex Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 OpenAI Codex a good Gemini CLI alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Included with
    ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, Enterprise
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.openai.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus plan
    $20 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.openai.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plans
    $100, $200 or $500 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.openai.com(opens source in a new tab)
    IDE support
    VS Code and forks, JetBrains, Xcode
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.openai.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CI automation
    codex exec
    Checked Oct 25, 2026developers.openai.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)

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.