Why This Page Exists
Claude Code is what I use daily and what I recommend most often. But I'm not here to sell you a subscription you don't need.
If you're already paying $20/month for ChatGPT Plus or Gemini Advanced, both Google and OpenAI now offer their own coding agents that work directly on your computer — similar to what Claude Code does. They're real tools, not toys, and depending on your workflow one of them might be the better fit.
This page gives you the honest breakdown so you can make the right call for your situation.
Gemini CLI
Google's terminal-based AI agent. It uses Gemini models (2.5 Pro and Flash) and works directly on your files, similar to Claude Code.
Who it's for
- Users with a Google account (generous free tier available)
- Gemini Advanced subscribers ($20/month) who want more usage
- Anyone working heavily in the Google ecosystem (Workspace, Cloud)
How to install
Install Node.js
Same as Claude Code — you need Node.js installed. If you followed the Claude Code guide, you already have it.
Install Gemini CLI
Open your terminal and run:
Or install it globally:
Check Google's official documentation for the latest install command, as this may change.
Authenticate
Sign in with your Google account when prompted. Gemini CLI uses your existing Google credentials.
Key strengths
- Massive context window. Gemini 2.5 Pro handles 1 million+ tokens — entire codebases fit in a single conversation.
- Free tier. You can use Gemini CLI without paying anything. The free usage is generous enough for light work.
- Google integration. If your work lives in Google Workspace, Gemini understands that ecosystem natively.
- Open source. The CLI tool itself is open source on GitHub.
Key trade-offs
- Newer and less mature. Claude Code has a larger community and more battle-tested workflows.
- Different model strengths. Gemini is strong on breadth and speed. Claude tends to be stronger on nuance, careful reasoning, and following complex instructions.
Large codebases where context window matters, Google Workspace power users, and anyone who wants to try a coding agent without paying for a new subscription.
OpenAI Codex CLI
OpenAI's answer to Claude Code. A terminal-based coding agent that uses GPT-4o and o3 models to work directly on your files.
Who it's for
- ChatGPT Plus subscribers ($20/month)
- ChatGPT Pro subscribers ($200/month)
- Teams and Enterprise ChatGPT users
How to install
Install Node.js
Same requirement as the other CLI tools. Install from nodejs.org if you haven't already.
Install Codex CLI
Open your terminal and run:
Check OpenAI's documentation for the latest install instructions.
Authenticate
Log in with your OpenAI/ChatGPT account. Codex uses your existing ChatGPT subscription for model access.
Key strengths
- OpenAI ecosystem. If you use GPTs, the API, or other OpenAI tools, Codex fits naturally into that workflow.
- Model variety. Access to GPT-4o for speed and o3 for complex reasoning within the same tool.
- Familiar patterns. If you've used ChatGPT extensively, the interaction patterns feel natural.
Key trade-offs
- Newer entrant. Codex CLI launched after Claude Code and Gemini CLI. The community and documentation are still growing.
- Requires a paid subscription. Unlike Gemini CLI, there's no meaningful free tier for Codex.
Existing ChatGPT subscribers who want coding-agent capabilities without paying for another subscription.
Honest Comparison
| Feature | Claude Code | Gemini CLI | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $20–200/mo (Claude sub) | Free / $20/mo (Gemini Advanced) | $20–200/mo (ChatGPT sub) |
| Top model | Claude Opus / Sonnet | Gemini 2.5 Pro | GPT-4o / o3 |
| Context window | 200K tokens | 1M+ tokens | 200K tokens |
| Maturity | Most mature | Newer | Newest |
| Strengths | Complex reasoning, careful instruction-following | Huge context, free tier, Google ecosystem | GPT ecosystem, model variety |
| Install | npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code | See Google docs | npm i -g @openai/codex |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Robert's Take
I use Claude Code as my primary tool. It's what powers most of what you see on this site and in my TikTok content. The quality of Claude's reasoning and its ability to follow complex, multi-step instructions is ahead of the alternatives in my experience.
That said, I also use Gemini — especially when I need to process something with a massive context window or when I'm working within Google Workspace. The free tier makes it easy to reach for when I just need a quick task done.
My honest recommendation:
- Already paying for ChatGPT? Try Codex first. If it handles your needs, there's no reason to pay for another subscription.
- Already paying for Gemini? Try Gemini CLI. The free tier is generous, and the context window is unmatched.
- Starting fresh with no subscription? I'd go with Claude Code. The model quality and maturity of the tooling make it the strongest all-around option right now.
- Want to try before you pay? Start with Gemini CLI's free tier. It costs nothing and gives you a real feel for what a coding agent can do.
The right answer isn't which tool is "best" — it's which one fits your workflow and what you're already paying for.
Ready to Get Started?
- Going with Claude Code? Follow the complete installation guide.
- Don't want the terminal at all? Try Claude Co-Work — the visual interface for Claude's agent capabilities.
- Comparing the AI platforms more broadly? Read the Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini comparison.