free-pi vs Gemini CLI
Gemini CLI's free sign-in ended on June 18, 2026, and "Login with Google" no longer works for free users. free-pi is still free: run npx free-pi-cli, sign in with GitHub, and you're coding in seconds.
Facts checked on from official sources
Why developers pick free-pi
Free means free
No credit card and no API key, just a GitHub sign-in.
Web search and live library docs, built in
free-pi can search the web and pull current docs for the library you are using, with no API keys to set up.
Seconds to first prompt
npx free-pi-cli, click through GitHub, and start coding.
A fresh allowance every day
Your free daily allowance refills every day, so tomorrow always starts with usage in the tank.
Ads stay in the terminal
Ad text never enters the model's context, and a sandbox test in the open-source code enforces it.
Your model, your call
Pick from a catalog with DeepSeek V4 Flash as the default. You can even pick Gemini models from free-pi's catalog.
Lean, extensible, open
Built on Mario Zechner's pi agent harness, with an MIT-licensed CLI you can read on GitHub.
Lighter from the first request
in our October 2026 test, free-pi sent about 3,400 tokens of instructions and tool definitions on a fresh request; Gemini CLI sent about 8,000.
At a glance
| free-pi | Gemini CLI | |
|---|---|---|
| Tokens of instructions and tools on a fresh request (our test) | Yes~3,400 | ~8,000 |
| Free sign-in still works | YesGitHub sign-in | No"Login with Google" stopped for free users on June 18, 2026 |
| API key needed | YesNone | NoNeeds a Gemini API key (or enterprise access) |
| Card needed | YesNo | Paid API keys and enterprise plans need billing |
| Free usage | YesFree daily allowance that refills every day | NoUnpaid API key, Flash model only (per Google's docs) |
| Open-source CLI | YesMIT | YesApache-2.0 |
| MCP servers | YesSupported | YesSupported |
| One-command reverse-engineering tools | Yes/reverse-engineer-anything loads 200+ REA tools | NoNot mentioned in its docs |
| Get started | npx free-pi-cli and sign in with GitHub | Get an API key, then configure the CLI |
What changed in June 2026
On May 19, 2026, Google announced it was replacing Gemini CLI with Antigravity CLI. On June 18, 2026, Gemini CLI stopped serving requests for Google AI Pro and Ultra users, and for people using it free through Gemini Code Assist for individuals.
Those users can no longer use "Login with Google" with Gemini CLI. Gemini CLI now runs on a Gemini API key or enterprise access. Google's docs list the unpaid API key tier at 250 requests per day, Flash model only. Antigravity's free plan has "basic weekly rate limits"; Google's pricing page gives no numbers.
If your free Gemini CLI just stopped working, that's why.
Which one should you use?
Pick free-pi if…
- You want a free coding agent with no card and no API key.
- You want to be coding in under a minute with
npx free-pi-cli. - You like a daily allowance that refills on its own.
- You want ads kept out of the model's context, with a test to prove it.
- You want MCP servers, a todo list for long tasks, and a model picker in one lean terminal tool.
- You want 200+ reverse-engineering tools one slash command away.
- You want optional $5 and $10 credit packs, only if you ever want more.
Try it in one command
Pick Gemini CLI if…
- You enjoy re-learning a new CLI every time Google renames one.
- You like managing API keys and weekly rate limits.
- You prefer paying for stuff because you don't like free stuff.
- You miss the days of reading migration notices.
FAQ
Is Gemini CLI still free?
Not with Google sign-in. Since June 18, 2026, free users can't use "Login with Google" with Gemini CLI. It now needs a Gemini API key; Google's docs list an unpaid key at 250 requests per day, Flash model only. free-pi stays free with a GitHub sign-in.
What replaced Gemini CLI?
Antigravity CLI. Google announced the switch on May 19, 2026, and it took effect on June 18, 2026. Its free plan has "basic weekly rate limits," with no numbers stated.
Can I use Gemini models in free-pi?
Yes. Open the model picker and choose a Gemini model from free-pi's catalog. DeepSeek V4 Flash is the default.
How does free-pi stay free?
Ads in your terminal (never inside the model's context) and session data that helps train better models. That's the deal that keeps it free.