Coding agents beyond Claude Code.

You don’t need to buy the wrong subscription just because someone on TikTok showed a terminal. If you already pay for ChatGPT or Gemini, check what you can use first.

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 for ChatGPT Plus, ChatGPT Pro, Google AI Pro, or Google AI Ultra, check what you can use before adding another subscription. OpenAI now separates normal ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work, and Codex inside the ChatGPT desktop app; Google has moved individual users toward Antigravity. 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.

Google Antigravity and Gemini CLI

Google’s coding-agent story changed in May and June 2026. Gemini CLI still exists for some enterprise and Google Cloud paths, but individual/free Gemini CLI access stopped serving requests on June 18, 2026. For most people setting this up today, start with Antigravity CLI, which shares the same agent harness as the Antigravity 2.0 desktop app.

Who it’s for

• People who already pay for Google AI Pro or Ultra
• Teams building heavily inside Google Cloud, Firebase, Android Studio, or Google Workspace
• Users who want huge context windows and fast model responses

How to install

1. Install Node.js. Same as Claude Code — you need Node.js installed. If you followed the Claude Code guide, you already have it.
2. Use the path that fits your account. If you are on an enterprise or Google Cloud path where Gemini CLI still applies, open your terminal and run:

   npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli

   Or install it globally:

   npm install -g @google/gemini-cli

   If you are an individual or free user, follow Google’s Antigravity setup instead of investing time in a new old-CLI setup.
3. Authenticate. Sign in with your Google account when prompted. Enterprise and API-key access can follow different rules.

Key strengths

• Massive context window. Gemini CLI documentation lists Gemini 2.5 Pro with a 1M-token context window.
• Google grounding. Built-in Google Search grounding, file operations, shell commands, and web fetching.
• Antigravity direction. Antigravity 2.0 is built for multi-agent work, scheduled tasks, and a shared desktop/CLI agent harness.
• Enterprise continuity. Google says enterprise Gemini CLI access remains available through paid Gemini Code Assist and Google Cloud paths.

Key trade-offs

• Transition risk. The June 18, 2026 consumer cutoff has passed. Don’t build your whole workflow around the old CLI unless your account type still supports it.
• Different model strengths. Gemini is strong on breadth, speed, and context. Claude tends to be stronger on nuance, careful reasoning, and following complex instructions.

Best for. Large-context work, Google-heavy teams, and people comfortable following Google’s Antigravity transition instead of betting on the old Gemini CLI path.

OpenAI Codex CLI

OpenAI’s project and coding agent. Codex now spans the CLI, IDE extension, web, ChatGPT desktop app, cloud tasks, and mobile access through ChatGPT. OpenAI merged the standalone Codex app into the ChatGPT desktop app on July 9, 2026. Codex sits beside ChatGPT Work: Work is the broader business agent for apps, files, docs, sheets, slides, and Sites; Codex is the lane for project folders, code, websites, scripts, and change-review workflows. The important part: both use your ChatGPT login.

Who it’s for

• ChatGPT users who want to try agentic work before buying another AI subscription
• ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers who need higher capacity or credits
• ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, and Edu workspaces
• Free and Go users, with plan-dependent limits and fewer paid Work features

How to install

1. Install Node.js. Same requirement as the other CLI tools. Install from nodejs.org if you haven’t already.
2. Install Codex CLI. Open your terminal and run:

   npm install -g @openai/codex

   Check OpenAI’s documentation for the latest install instructions.
3. Authenticate. Log in with your OpenAI/ChatGPT account. Codex usage is tied to eligible ChatGPT plans and agentic usage limits.

Key strengths

• Included with ChatGPT plans. OpenAI says Codex is included across ChatGPT plans, including Free and Go; usage limits vary by plan.
• Multiple surfaces. CLI, IDE, web, ChatGPT desktop app, cloud tasks, and mobile access all connect through your ChatGPT account.
• Agent command center. The ChatGPT desktop app lets you choose Chat, Work, or Codex depending on whether you need normal chat, multi-app business work, or project/code work.
• More than code. Plugins, skills, automations, browser work, and Computer Use on Mac or Windows can handle broader project work when configured correctly.

Key trade-offs

• Limits are real. Larger repos, long-running tasks, Work, Codex, ChatGPT for Excel, and workspace agents can draw from the same agentic usage or credit pool when available on your plan.
• Data controls matter. ChatGPT training controls apply to Codex for Plus and Pro users; Business and Enterprise defaults are different.

Best for. Existing ChatGPT subscribers who want coding-agent capabilities without paying for another subscription.

Honest comparison

Feature	Claude Code	Google agents	OpenAI Codex
Price	$20–200/mo (Claude sub)	Varies by Google AI / enterprise plan; old Gemini CLI no longer serves individual/free users	Codex included across ChatGPT plans; Work rolls out on paid plans; usage and credits vary
Top model	Claude Opus / Sonnet	Gemini models through supported Google paths; Antigravity is Google’s current individual-user direction	Depends on Codex client/version and model settings
Context window	200K tokens	1M+ tokens	200K tokens
Maturity	Most mature	Consumer transition completed; enterprise paths differ	Fast-moving
Strengths	Complex reasoning, careful instruction-following	Huge context, Google grounding, Antigravity multi-agent direction	ChatGPT subscription access, Work/Codex split, app/CLI/IDE/cloud/mobile surfaces
Install	npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code	Follow Antigravity docs, or Gemini CLI docs if your enterprise path still supports it	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 ChatGPT Work or Codex first. If the task is a spreadsheet, deck, document, or multi-app workflow, start with Work. If it touches a project folder, repo, or website, start with Codex. If either handles your needs, there’s no reason to pay for another subscription.
• Already paying for Gemini? Check Antigravity first. Gemini CLI may still work through some enterprise paths, but the individual/free route has moved.
• 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? Check the current Antigravity/Gemini free path first. Verify the setup page before you commit to a workflow.

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 Cowork — the visual interface for Claude’s agent capabilities.
• Comparing the AI platforms more broadly? Read the Claude vs ChatGPT vs Gemini comparison.