Agents UI
Claude Code is a proprietary agent on Anthropic's models; Gemini CLI is Google's open-source agent with a generous free tier and a large context window. Both support MCP and run in the terminal.
At a glance
| Feature | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Anthropic | |
| Price | Included in Claude plans / API usage | Free tier + usage-based |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| License | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 |
| Interface | CLI | CLI |
| Terminal-native | Yes | Yes |
| MCP support | Yes | Yes |
When to choose Claude Code
You want Anthropic's models and mature agentic behavior.
Claude Code strengths
- Strong agentic reasoning over large codebases
- First-class MCP support
- Runs directly in the terminal
When to choose Gemini CLI
You want an open-source agent with a free tier and very large context.
Gemini CLI strengths
- Open source with a generous free tier
- MCP support
- Large context window
How Agents UI compares
If your work centers on AI coding agents, it's worth weighing a third option. Agents UI is an open-source macOS terminal built specifically to run agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Gemini CLI — with multi-agent orchestration, SSH, and a Python SDK in one workspace. Explore the best terminals for multi-agent workflows to see where it fits.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code better than Gemini CLI?
Claude Code is a proprietary agent on Anthropic's models; Gemini CLI is Google's open-source agent with a generous free tier and a large context window. Both support MCP and run in the terminal.
When should I choose Claude Code?
You want Anthropic's models and mature agentic behavior.
When should I choose Gemini CLI?
You want an open-source agent with a free tier and very large context.