---
title: "Aider vs Gemini CLI"
description: "Aider and Gemini CLI are both terminal agents. Aider is free to install, Gemini CLI is usage-based."
canonical_url: "https://whichcoding.tools/compare/aider-vs-gemini-cli"
---
# Aider vs Gemini CLI

> Aider is a terminal agent by Aider AI. Gemini CLI is a terminal agent by Google. Every cell below is read from the directory data and points back to a vendor page.

## General

|  | Aider | Gemini CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Layer | Terminal agent | Terminal agent |
| Vendor | Aider AI | Google |
| Website | [aider.chat](https://aider.chat) | [geminicli.com](https://geminicli.com) |
| Platforms | macOS, Linux, Windows | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| License | Apache-2.0 (Open source) | Apache-2.0 (Open source) |
| Status | active | active |

## Pricing

|  | Aider | Gemini CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Entry price | Free | Usage-based |
| Top individual plan | Free | — |
| Team plan | — | — |
| Included usage | — | — |
| Beyond the plan | — | API list price |
| Part of a plan | — | — |

## Models

|  | Aider | Gemini CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Providers | OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, DeepSeek, OpenRouter | Google |
| Bring your own key | BYOK | BYOK |
| Local models | Yes | No |

## Features

|  | Aider | Gemini CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subagents | No | Yes |
| MCP client | No | Yes |
| ACP agent | No | Yes |
| Sandboxing | No | Yes |
| Checkpoints | Yes | Yes |
| Plugins | No | Yes |
| Hooks | No | Yes |

## Works with

|  | Aider | Gemini CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Runs | — | — |
| Runs inside | Claude Squad, cmux, Vibe Kanban | agent-manager, Claude Squad, cmux, Devin Desktop, dmux, JetBrains AI, OpenHands, Superset, Vibe Kanban, Warp, Zed |
| Pricing verified | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-23 |

## Related

[Add more tools](https://whichcoding.tools/compare?tools=aider,gemini-cli), up to four at a time.

Data: CC BY 4.0. Credit whichcoding.tools and link to https://whichcoding.tools. Full terms in [LICENSE-DATA](https://github.com/benjamincanac/whichcodingtools/blob/main/LICENSE-DATA).

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