# free-pi vs Gemini CLI

Canonical: https://freepi.ai/vs/gemini-cli

Facts checked on 2026-10-20 from official sources.

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.

Try it: `npx free-pi-cli`

## 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) | ✓ ~3,400 | ~8,000 |
| Free sign-in still works | ✓ GitHub sign-in | ✗ "Login with Google" stopped for free users on June 18, 2026 |
| API key needed | ✓ None | ✗ Needs a Gemini API key (or enterprise access) |
| Card needed | ✓ No | Paid API keys and enterprise plans need billing |
| Free usage | ✓ Free daily allowance that refills every day | ✗ Unpaid API key, Flash model only (per Google's docs) |
| Open-source CLI | ✓ MIT | ✓ Apache-2.0 |
| MCP servers | ✓ Supported | ✓ Supported |
| One-command reverse-engineering tools | ✓ `/reverse-engineer-anything` loads 200+ REA tools | ✗ Not 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.

### 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.

## Sources

- [Gemini CLI on GitHub](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli)
- [Google Developers Blog: Transitioning Gemini CLI to Antigravity CLI](https://developers.googleblog.com/an-important-update-transitioning-gemini-cli-to-antigravity-cli)
- [Gemini Code Assist for individuals notice](https://developers.google.com/gemini-code-assist/resources/privacy-notice-gemini-code-assist-individuals)
- [Gemini CLI quota and pricing](https://www.geminicli.com/docs/resources/quota-and-pricing)
- [Antigravity pricing](https://antigravity.google/pricing)
- [free-pi CLI on GitHub](https://github.com/dennisonbertram/free-pi-cli)
- [freepi.ai](https://freepi.ai)

Gemini CLI is a trademark of its owner. free-pi is not affiliated with or endorsed by Gemini CLI.