Codex vs Gemini CLI: Side-by-Side Comparison 2026

Codex vs Gemini CLI comparison 2026. Side-by-side features, pricing & capabilities.

Codex is an AI agent and a CLI-based coding agent from OpenAI — asynchronous autonomous coding agent. Gemini CLI is a CLI-based coding agent from Google — open-source ai agent for your terminal.

Codex🏆 Approved

OpenAI's autonomous coding agent. Available via web, desktop app (macOS), CLI (macOS/Linux/Windows), and VS Code extension.

  • ✓ Code completions
  • ✓ AI chat
  • ✓ Agentic mode
  • ✓ Multi-file editing
  • ✓ Terminal commands

Free / $8/mo · 6 plans

Gemini CLI

Open-source AI agent that runs in your terminal. Uses a ReAct loop with built-in tools for file operations, shell commands, web search, and MCP server support. Free with generous daily limits.

  • ✓ ReAct agentic loop
  • ✓ File operations and shell commands
  • ✓ Web search grounding
  • ✓ MCP server support
  • ✓ 1M token context window

Free / $19.99/mo · 4 plans

Feature Codex Gemini CLI
Category Agent / CLICLI
Starting Price Free Free
Model Family GPT / CodexGemini
Documentation ✓ —
Open Source Yes (CLI)Yes (Apache 2.0)

Pricing verified Feb 25, 2026. Codex pricing | Gemini CLI pricing

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Key Differences

  • Category: Codex is an AI agent and a CLI-based coding agent; Gemini CLI is a CLI-based coding agent.
  • Starting price: Codex starts at $8/mo; Gemini CLI starts at $19.99/mo.
  • Model family: Codex uses GPT / Codex; Gemini CLI uses Gemini.
  • Open source: Codex: Yes (CLI). Gemini CLI: Yes (Apache 2.0).
  • Platforms: Codex runs on Linux, Web, Windows (experimental), macOS; Gemini CLI runs on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • Provider: Codex is built by OpenAI; Gemini CLI is built by Google.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Codex if you want asynchronous coding tasks you can fire off and review when ready. Choose Gemini CLI if you want AI pair programming directly in your terminal. Read our full reviews to see which fits your workflow.

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