Is Gemini CLI Free? What Changed in June 2026

Gemini CLI is Google's command-line AI agent. You run it in your terminal and it can read your files, write code, run commands and automate tasks using Gemini models. For a while it had one of the most generous free tiers around, which is why so many guides still describe it as free with a Google login. That's no longer the whole story, so here's where things stand.

Gemini CLI access routes, free and paid

How you sign in	Free?	Daily requests in Google's docs
Gemini API key, unpaid tier	Yes	250, Flash model only
Sign in with Google (Code Assist for individuals)	Replaced by Antigravity CLI for unpaid users	Listed as 1,000
Vertex AI Express Mode	Yes, for a limited time	Varies by account
Google AI Pro	No, subscription	1,500
Google AI Ultra	No, subscription	2,000
Code Assist Standard and Enterprise	No, organisation licence	1,500 and 2,000

Google's quota page still describes Gemini CLI as having a generous free tier, but the banner at the top says the replacement by Antigravity CLI applies to unpaid tier and Google One users. Read the two together and the practical answer is that the Google-login free tier is the one that's gone.

The free API key route

If you want to keep using Gemini CLI without paying, the API key is the route. The README explains you get a key from Google AI Studio and set it as an environment variable, then run gemini. Google's docs say the unpaid tier allows 250 model requests per user per day, with requests going to the Flash model only. Requests are also limited per minute and depend on availability when demand is high.

Set your key and start Gemini CLI

export GEMINI_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"
gemini

That's enough for light scripting and small coding jobs. It isn't enough for long agent sessions, and you can't choose the bigger Pro models on the free key.

Vertex AI Express Mode

Google also lists Vertex AI Express Mode, which works without enabling billing. The catch is time: the docs say you get 90 days before you need to enable billing, and quotas and models vary by account. It's useful for a trial, not a permanent free setup.

Why Google is pointing people to Antigravity

The Gemini CLI README now says it isn't optimised for the latest Gemini models, and recommends Antigravity CLI for the best coding experience with them. Antigravity's own pricing page lists a free Individual plan with no subscription, unlimited Tab completions and Command requests, and basic weekly rate limits. For most people who were using Gemini CLI for free with a Google account, that's the like-for-like free option now.

The key behind it is explained in my guide to the Gemini API free tier.

What the free key is good for

Within 250 requests a day, the free key handles a surprising amount of everyday work if you keep each job small. Good fits include explaining an unfamiliar script, writing a quick shell command, renaming a batch of files, drafting a README, or turning meeting notes in a text file into a task list. Each step of an agent task counts as a request, so a single complicated job can use more of the allowance than you'd expect.

To check which route you're on, look at how you signed in. If you set GEMINI_API_KEY, you're on the API key tier and its limits apply. If you were signing in with Google on a personal account and it now refuses, that's the June 2026 change, not a problem with your setup.

Paid ways to keep using Gemini CLI

• Google AI Pro or Ultra subscriptions, which Google lists at higher daily request allowances on a fixed subscription.
• Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences through your organisation; set your Google Cloud project before you run it.
• Pay as you go by signing in with a Gemini API key on a paid tier or with Vertex AI.

Google notes that tiers not listed on its quota page, including Google AI Plus, aren't supported for Gemini CLI. So a Google AI Plus subscription doesn't give you a higher Gemini CLI allowance.

Google's newer route into agentic coding is explained in my guide to what Google Antigravity's free plan covers.

If you're moving from Gemini CLI to Antigravity

The switch is less painful than it sounds. Antigravity CLI is also terminal-first, runs autonomous coding agents, executes shell commands and manages background subagents, according to Google. Install it, sign in with the same Google account, and try the same small task you'd normally give Gemini CLI so you can compare the results side by side before you move a bigger project across.

Gemini CLI or another coding agent?

If you're choosing a terminal agent from scratch, it's worth comparing the options. My guide to Gemini CLI and Claude Code sets out how they differ, and my page on whether Gemini is free covers the chat app and its free plan.

My verdict

Gemini CLI is free to install and you can still use it free with an API key, but only on the Flash model and a modest daily allowance. If you were relying on the free Google sign-in, switch to Antigravity CLI, which is where Google now sends unpaid users. Pay for Gemini CLI only if your organisation already has a Code Assist licence or you're on Google AI Pro anyway.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gemini CLI open source?

Yes. The Gemini CLI repository says it's fully open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.

How many free requests does Gemini CLI allow with an API key?

Google's quota page lists 250 model requests per user per day on the unpaid API key tier, using the Flash model only.

Can I still sign in to Gemini CLI with a free Google account?

Google's docs say Gemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI on 18 June 2026 for unpaid tier and Google One users.

Does Google AI Plus work with Gemini CLI?

No. Google's quota page says tiers not listed, including Google AI Plus, aren't supported.

Is there a free alternative to Gemini CLI from Google?

Yes. Google Antigravity has a free Individual plan with no subscription and basic weekly rate limits.