TL;DR: Google is launching Gemini CLI, a free, open-source AI assistant for the terminal. Powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro with a massive 1 million token context and an aggressive free tier, it’s coming directly for tools like Cursor and Claude.
For many developers, “home” isn’t a heavy IDE or a web app. It’s the terminal. That good old command line: fast, efficient, universal. What if the most advanced AI could integrate seamlessly right into it?
That’s precisely the promise from Google. On June 25, 2025, the Mountain View firm unveiled Gemini CLI, a new tool that could very well change our habits. And believe me, this isn’t just another gadget. It’s a direct and strategic response to the increasingly sharp competition in the AI-assisted developer tool space.
Let’s break down this announcement that’s shaking things up.
🚀 So, What Exactly is Gemini CLI?
To put it simply, Gemini CLI brings Google’s brain, Gemini, directly into your command line. It’s an open-source AI agent you can call upon to perform a multitude of tasks without ever leaving your favorite environment.
The star of the show is the model powering it: Gemini 2.5 Pro. And with it, its famous and gigantic 1 million token context window. In practical terms, this means you can “feed” it entire codebases, long documentation, or complex files to analyze in a single go.
But Google is keen to stress that this is not just a coding tool. Gemini CLI is designed as a versatile agent capable of:
- Generating code, tests, and documentation.
- Solving problems and debugging.
- Conducting in-depth research.
- Generating creative content.
- Managing tasks.
In short, a true local Swiss Army knife in your terminal.
🤯 A Free Tier That’s Shaking Up the Competition
Where Google is hitting really hard is the pricing model. For individual developers, Gemini CLI is available for free by simply logging in with a personal Google account. And the limits of this free offer are… how should I put this… spectacular.
Get this:
- 60 requests per minute
- 1,000 requests per day
This is, by a long shot, the most generous free offer on the market today. For daily use, even intensive use, it will be very difficult to hit these ceilings.
Insight: Putting the Pressure on the Market?
To put things in perspective, these limits are designed to be virtually “unlimited” for a human. Where competitors often create a wide gap between their free and paid tiers, Google seems to want to flood the market by offering nearly unrestricted access to its Pro model. It’s a clear strategy to massively attract developers to its ecosystem, using generosity as a competitive weapon.
For professionals or teams with more specific needs (like using Vertex AI keys or running multiple agents), paid options exist, but the message is clear: the front door is wide open.
🛠️ Features Built for Developers
Beyond the powerful model and the free tier, Gemini CLI includes features that show Google has been listening to developer needs.
- Grounding with Google Search: This might be one of the biggest advantages. Gemini CLI can use Google Search to base its answers on real-time web information. Say goodbye to AI models with knowledge cut-off dates in 2023!
- Extensibility (Apache 2.0): The tool is fully open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. You can inspect the code, understand how it works, and even contribute. It’s a pledge of transparency and trust.
- Easy Customization: No need for complex menus. A simple
GEMINI.mdfile at the root of your project allows you to adjust instructions, provide context, and customize the AI’s behavior for your specific needs. - Automation: The tool can be called non-interactively within your shell scripts, paving the way for automating complex tasks.
⚔️ Gemini CLI vs. Cursor and Claude: The Match is On
Let’s not be naive; this launch is no accident. It’s part of a fierce battle for dominance in AI developer tools. And the targets are clearly identified.
On one side, you have tools like the Cursor code editor, which offer an “AI-native” approach by reinventing the IDE around artificial intelligence. It’s a brilliant strategy, but it requires developers to adopt a new tool. Google’s approach with Gemini CLI is different: integrate that same power into the existing and universal tool that is the terminal. It’s less disruptive to the workflow, and that could be a major advantage.
On the other side, there’s competition from the models themselves, especially those from Anthropic (Claude). While Claude is excellent for coding, Google is playing its ecosystem card here. Gemini CLI is presented as the natural companion to Gemini Code Assist (available in VS Code), sharing the same underlying technology. Google doesn’t just want to sell you access to a model; it wants to integrate it as close to your keyboard as possible, whether you’re in your IDE or your terminal. The aggressive free tier is the icing on the cake to make the offer almost irresistible. And if you’re used to coding with an chatbot in your browser, I can only recommend you check out Phind AI.
✅ Ready to Try It? Here’s How to Get Started
Itching to get your hands on it? That’s understandable. Getting started is very simple. All you need to do is install Gemini CLI (currently in preview). The only requirement is to log in with a personal Google email address.
The process takes literally less than a minute. For the more curious who want to take a look at the source code or contribute, everything is happening on the project’s GitHub repository.
In conclusion, the launch of Gemini CLI is much more than just a product news item. It’s a statement of intent from Google. The war to win over developers is now moving to the heart of their workflow: the terminal. By betting on open source, impressive firepower, and unprecedented free access, Google isn’t just following the trend—it’s trying to define it.
And for us, the developers, this fierce competition is excellent news. It promises us tools that are ever more powerful, better integrated, and more accessible.
