{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "gemini-cli",
      "name": "Gemini CLI",
      "vendor": "Google",
      "vendorUrl": "https://geminicli.com",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Google's open-source coding agent for the terminal, in TypeScript on Node 20 or newer.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gemini-cli",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gemini-cli.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gemini-cli.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/gemini-cli.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@google/gemini-cli"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Google sign-in works only with a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licence. Google AI Pro, Google AI Ultra and the free Code Assist for individuals tier stopped working with Gemini CLI on 18 June 2026. Otherwise use a paid Gemini API key from AI Studio, or Vertex AI credentials. Google's terms forbid using the Gemini CLI sign-in from third-party software.",
      "pricing": "usage",
      "pricingNotes": "Free to install (Apache-2.0). Model access is paid. Use a paid Gemini API key or Vertex AI at token rates, or an existing Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licence. New Standard and Enterprise subscriptions ended on 9 October 2026. Token prices are public without a login, and requests are limited per minute (checked 2026-10-10). The free 1,000 requests a day tier ended on 18 June 2026, and whether an unpaid key still gets 250 Flash requests a day is unclear.",
      "priceSummary": "Pay per use",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the source (checked 2026-10-02).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 107000,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-02"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://geminicli.com/docs/",
      "llmsTxt": "https://geminicli.com/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness",
        "agent.mcp-client",
        "agent.multi-agent"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "harness",
        "coding-agent",
        "cli",
        "open-source",
        "typescript",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "telemetry-default-on",
        "pre-1.0",
        "gemini-only",
        "sign-in-ended",
        "paid-api-key"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-10-06",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 66.7,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 307,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 1146,
        "categoryRank": 8,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 78,
          "maintenance": 88,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 71,
          "schema": 93,
          "security": 67,
          "transparency": 89
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-10"
        },
        "negative": -5,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "2026-04-24. GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g, critical (CVSS 10). In CI, headless Gemini CLI trusted the workspace folder automatically and loaded its configuration, and `--yolo` ignored fine-grained tool allowlists, so a workflow fed untrusted pull requests or issues could run an attacker's code. Fixed in @google/gemini-cli 0.39.1 and run-gemini-cli 0.1.22 and published, so the deduction is small (https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wpqr-6v78-jr5g)",
          "2026-06-18. Google sign-in for individuals ended on 18 June 2026. The README at main (9 October 2026) and the authentication page (checked 10 October 2026) still describe a free tier of 1,000 requests a day with a Google account, so the claim is misleading and the deduction is -3 (https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/README.md; https://geminicli.com/docs/get-started/authentication/; https://developers.google.com/gemini-code-assist/docs/deprecations/code-assist-individuals)"
        ],
        "verdict": "Apache-2.0, with 16 stable releases since 3 July and documented headless output. Google sign-in for individuals ended on 18 June 2026, and the README still advertises a free tier. Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network.",
        "bestFor": "Teams with a paid Gemini API key, Vertex AI credentials or existing Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences that want an open-source harness with documented headless output.",
        "strengths": [
          "Apache-2.0 licence, CI passing on main, and 583 open issues with priority labels (as of 2 October 2026)",
          "A stable release every Tuesday after a week in preview, under a written release policy",
          "Headless JSON and stream-json output with documented exit codes, including 53 for the turn limit",
          "A TOML policy engine with admin policy paths, folder trust on by default and a setting that blocks yolo mode",
          "Pay-per-token access through a Gemini API key or Vertex AI, with token prices published without a login"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network",
          "Google sign-in for individuals ended on 18 June 2026, but the README and authentication page still advertise a free tier of 1,000 requests a day",
          "A critical advisory in April 2026 (CVSS 10) for CI runs that trusted untrusted repositories",
          "Usage statistics on by default, with one setting to turn them off",
          "Pre-1.0 at 0.63.0, and Gemini models only"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Set `GEMINI_TRUST_WORKSPACE` to true only for trusted inputs in CI. Since 0.39.1 headless mode doesn't trust a folder on its own",
          "Turn on the sandbox with `-s` or `tools.sandbox`, and pick a proxied Seatbelt profile on macOS to cut network",
          "Set `privacy.usageStatisticsEnabled` to false to stop usage statistics",
          "Since 0.63.0, plans run without interactive confirmation in non-interactive mode, so set the approval mode explicitly before a headless run",
          "Authenticate with a paid Gemini API key or Vertex credentials. A Google sign-in works only for Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 66.7
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 78,
          "maintenance": 88,
          "payments": 20,
          "reliability": 71,
          "schema": 93,
          "security": 67,
          "transparency": 85
        },
        "provenanceScore": 93
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "npm i -g @google/gemini-cli   # or: brew install gemini-cli",
        "headless": {
          "run": "gemini -p \"fix the failing test\" --output-format json --approval-mode auto_edit"
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/gemini-cli"
      },
      "sameCompany": [
        "gemini-api",
        "gemini-embedding",
        "vertex-ai-tuning",
        "google-model-armor",
        "google-imagen",
        "google-veo",
        "google-lyria",
        "google-speech-to-text",
        "gemini-live",
        "google-adk",
        "google-secret-manager",
        "google-cloud-document-ai",
        "google-weather-api",
        "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "google-maps-platform",
        "google-cloud-translation",
        "google-calendar-api",
        "firebase-cloud-messaging",
        "google-drive-api",
        "gemini-enterprise",
        "google-search-console",
        "google-ads-api",
        "google-forms",
        "google-sheets-api",
        "gmail-api",
        "google-people-api"
      ],
      "area": "frameworks",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Google LLC",
        "domain": "google.com",
        "domainRegistered": "1997-09-15",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "https://geminicli.com/docs/resources/tos-privacy",
        "privacy": "https://policies.google.com/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://aistudio.google.com/status",
        "changelog": "https://geminicli.com/docs/changelogs",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "notes": [
          "The docs are on geminicli.com. The terms page there maps each sign-in method to its own terms and privacy notice (Gemini Code Assist, the Gemini API unpaid and paid services, Google Cloud).",
          "The status page is the Gemini API's. We found no status page for Gemini Code Assist sign-ins.",
          "Legal entity, domain date and security.txt for google.com are from the gemini-api listing's check of 26 September 2026."
        ],
        "score": 93
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gemini-cli.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "gemini-cli",
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://aistudio.google.com/status",
          "indicator": "unknown",
          "summary": "no machine-readable status found",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T21:49:53.992563495Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "google-gemini/gemini-cli",
            "version": "v0.64.0",
            "released": "2026-10-13",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-18T02:48:27.714115814Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@google/gemini-cli",
            "version": "0.64.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-18T02:48:27.488170794Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 107430,
        "npmWeekly": 236461,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://google.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "valid",
          "expires": "2030-04-01T00:00:00z",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T15:53:57.679955081Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://geminicli.com/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T14:25:05.894557385Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "google.com",
          "registered": "1997-09-15",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/google.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T13:31:32.666265227Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://geminicli.com/docs/changelogs",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:31:11.761435497Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-16T22:24:43.917434922Z",
            "fingerprint": "24695165e4c4"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://developers.google.com/gemini-code-assist/docs/deprecations/code-assist-individuals",
            "kind": "deprecations",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:26:56.936804766Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "190698b01c9e"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://docs.cloud.google.com/gemini/docs/deprecations/features",
            "kind": "deprecations",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:28:07.985389586Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-17T23:00:36.755457202Z",
            "fingerprint": "aeb7fbfb42ee"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://geminicli.com/docs/resources/tos-privacy",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:31:13.793589659Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-16T22:24:46.06478046Z",
            "fingerprint": "5c52aa00c74e"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-18T23:31:13.793589659Z"
      }
    },
    "answer": "Gemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Kimi Code CLI leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
    "b": {
      "slug": "kimi-code-cli",
      "name": "Kimi Code CLI",
      "vendor": "Moonshot AI",
      "vendorUrl": "https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/",
      "kind": "harness",
      "category": "agent-harnesses",
      "summary": "Open-source terminal coding agent from Moonshot AI that replaced the archived Python Kimi CLI. It runs Kimi, Anthropic, OpenAI or Gemini models, headless with `kimi -p`, as an ACP server, or behind a local REST server.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kimi-code-cli",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kimi-code-cli.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kimi-code-cli.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kimi-code-cli.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/MoonshotAI/kimi-code",
      "license": "MIT",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@moonshot-ai/kimi-code"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Kimi Code OAuth (RFC 8628 device code through `/login` or `kimi login`) for a Kimi Code subscription, or a Kimi Platform API key. Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Vertex AI and OpenAI-compatible providers take a key in `config.toml`. Provider keys in the shell are not read unless named through `api_key_env` or the `KIMI_MODEL_*` variables. OAuth tokens are stored in `~/.kimi-code/credentials/` with 0600 permissions.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Free and MIT-licensed, with nothing to buy for the CLI. The owner pays the model provider. Kimi Platform API keys are billed pay-as-you-go per million tokens, and the Kimi Code subscription is sold as a Kimi membership plan whose prices render only with JavaScript and weren't read on 18 October 2026.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the docs or the 2.2.0 npm package (checked 2026-10-18).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": 36761,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-18"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/",
      "llmsTxt": "https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/llms.txt",
      "capabilities": [
        "agent.harness",
        "agent.mcp-client",
        "agent.multi-agent"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "harness",
        "coding-agent",
        "cli",
        "open-source",
        "typescript",
        "mcp",
        "acp",
        "llms-txt",
        "telemetry-default-on",
        "no-sandbox",
        "free",
        "no-card",
        "local"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-10-14",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 62.1,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 492,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 1146,
        "categoryRank": 11,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 71,
          "maintenance": 72,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 68,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 45,
          "transparency": 62
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-18"
        },
        "negative": -4,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "2026-09-04. Version 0.41.0 fixed print mode (`kimi -p`) ignoring `KIMI_DISABLE_TELEMETRY`, so scripted runs sent telemetry after the user opted out. Fixed and stated in the changelog, -2. https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/release-notes/changelog",
          "2026-09-23. Version 2.1.0 fixed file tools reaching outside the working directory through symlinks, repository git configuration running commands during background git operations, and project config applied before the workspace was trusted. Fixed and listed in the changelog, with no advisory published in OSV on 18 October 2026, -2. https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/release-notes/changelog"
        ],
        "verdict": "MIT-licensed, with 32 releases in the 90 days to 14 October 2026, `kimi -p` with stream-json output, an ACP server and a local REST API with a live OpenAPI document. Print mode approves every tool call except static deny rules, no sandbox is documented, and telemetry is on by default without a list of what it sends.",
        "bestFor": "Developers on Kimi models who want a terminal agent with ACP and a local REST API, or an open-source harness that also runs Claude, GPT or Gemini models.",
        "strengths": [
          "MIT-licensed, with a single-binary installer, npm and Homebrew core packages at 2.2.0",
          "`kimi -p` with `stream-json` output, plus `kimi acp` covering the full ACP core and session surface",
          "`kimi web` serves a REST and WebSocket API with live OpenAPI and AsyncAPI documents behind a bearer token",
          "32 npm releases in the 90 days to 14 October 2026, with a dated changelog in the docs",
          "Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Vertex AI and OpenAI-compatible providers alongside Kimi"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Print mode approves every tool call under Never Ask, where the dangerous-command guard is off",
          "No sandbox and no network control found in the docs",
          "Telemetry is on by default, the docs don't say what it sends, and print mode ignored the opt-out before 0.41.0",
          "No privacy page for the CLI, and the Kimi terms use content for training unless the user opts out by email",
          "Lifecycle hooks fail open, so a hook that errors or times out lets the tool call through"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "`kimi -p` approves every tool call. Add `[[permission.rules]]` deny entries and run it in a container, since no sandbox is documented",
          "Set `KIMI_LOOP_MAX_STEPS_PER_TURN` for unattended runs. Steps per turn are unlimited by default",
          "Pass the model with `KIMI_MODEL_NAME`, `KIMI_MODEL_API_KEY` and `KIMI_MODEL_PROVIDER_TYPE`. `OPENAI_API_KEY` or `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` in the shell is ignored otherwise",
          "Set `KIMI_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1` and use 0.41.0 or later, since earlier print-mode runs ignored it",
          "Install `@moonshot-ai/kimi-code` or the `kimi-code` formula. The `kimi-cli` and `kimi-code` packages on PyPI are the archived Python CLI"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 4,
        "avgRating": 3,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 62.1
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 71,
          "maintenance": 72,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 68,
          "schema": 85,
          "security": 45,
          "transparency": 64
        },
        "provenanceScore": 59
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "curl -fsSL https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.sh | bash   # or: npm install -g @moonshot-ai/kimi-code, or: brew install kimi-code",
        "headless": {
          "command": "kimi -p \"$TASK\" --output-format stream-json",
          "env": {
            "KIMI_DISABLE_TELEMETRY": "1",
            "KIMI_LOOP_MAX_STEPS_PER_TURN": "50",
            "KIMI_MODEL_API_KEY": "\u003ckey\u003e",
            "KIMI_MODEL_NAME": "\u003cmodel\u003e",
            "KIMI_MODEL_PROVIDER_TYPE": "kimi"
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/agent.harness",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/kimi-code-cli"
      },
      "area": "frameworks",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Moonshot AI (the global Kimi terms name NOVASCENT PRIVATE LIMITED, Singapore)",
        "domain": "moonshotai.github.io",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "https://www.kimi.ai/user/agreement/modelUse?version=v2",
        "privacy": "https://www.kimi.ai/user/agreement/userPrivacy?version=v2",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/release-notes/changelog",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-18",
        "notes": [
          "The LICENSE reads Copyright (c) 2026 Moonshot AI. The Kimi terms (effective 13 August 2026) and privacy policy (last updated 13 August 2026), linked from the Kimi Code page on kimi.ai, name NOVASCENT PRIVATE LIMITED, a company registered in Singapore, as the provider. Neither names the CLI.",
          "The docs are on GitHub Pages and carry no terms or privacy page of their own. The Kimi Platform has separate terms and a privacy policy for API keys at platform.kimi.ai/docs/agreement.",
          "kimi.com, kimi.ai and moonshot.ai each answered /.well-known/security.txt with an HTML page, so no security.txt was found. SECURITY.md names private GitHub advisories and code@moonshot.ai."
        ],
        "score": 59
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kimi-code-cli.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "kimi-code-cli",
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://moonshotai.github.io/kimi-code/en/release-notes/changelog",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:33:53.410496102Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "f8f198816ab3"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.kimi.ai/user/agreement/userPrivacy?version=v2",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:44:58.354116633Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "e6a453a3c7bd"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.kimi.ai/user/agreement/modelUse?version=v2",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T23:44:55.919228113Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "27a334b00216"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-18T23:44:58.354116633Z"
      }
    },
    "facts": [
      {
        "a": "Agent harness",
        "b": "Agent harness",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "Google",
        "b": "Moonshot AI",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "no (local only)",
        "b": "no (local only)",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "OAuth or key",
        "b": "OAuth or key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Pay per use",
        "b": "Free",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "Apache-2.0",
        "b": "MIT",
        "name": "Licence"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-10-06",
        "b": "2026-10-14",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "couldn't be read",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-10-01",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
        "a": "couldn't be read",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Terms restrict automated access"
      },
      {
        "a": "couldn't be read",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking"
      },
      {
        "a": "couldn't be read",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Terms or service can change without notice"
      },
      {
        "a": "couldn't be read",
        "b": "",
        "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver"
      },
      {
        "a": "107k stars",
        "b": "37k npm/wk",
        "name": "Popularity"
      },
      {
        "a": "3.5/5 (2)",
        "b": "3/5 (4)",
        "name": "Agent reviews"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "Gemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Kimi Code CLI leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Gemini CLI or Kimi Code CLI?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. Gemini CLI is open source (Apache-2.0). Kimi Code CLI is open source (MIT).",
        "question": "Are Gemini CLI and Kimi Code CLI open source?"
      }
    ],
    "goodFor": [
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Schema \u0026 documentation, 93 against 85",
          "Agent ergonomics, 78 against 71",
          "Security \u0026 auth, 67 against 45",
          "Maintenance \u0026 community, 88 against 72",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 89 against 62"
        ],
        "also": [
          "Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 3.0 out of 5"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Teams with a paid Gemini API key, Vertex AI credentials or existing Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences that want an open-source harness with documented headless output.",
        "slug": "gemini-cli",
        "watchFor": "Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network"
      },
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 20"
        ],
        "also": [
          "Free to start without a card"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Developers on Kimi models who want a terminal agent with ACP and a local REST API, or an open-source harness that also runs Claude, GPT or Gemini models.",
        "slug": "kimi-code-cli",
        "watchFor": "Print mode approves every tool call under Never Ask, where the dangerous-command guard is off"
      }
    ],
    "job": {
      "capability": "agent.harness",
      "name": "Agent harnesses"
    },
    "others": [
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Agent Zero vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Agent Zero vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Aider vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Aider vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Amp vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Amp vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Antigravity CLI vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Antigravity CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Auggie CLI vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Auggie CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Claude Code vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Claude Code vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Cline vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Crush vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Crush vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Cursor CLI vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Cursor CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Devin vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Devin vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Droid CLI vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Droid CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "Pi vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Pi vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-github-copilot-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-github-copilot-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-goose.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs goose",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-goose"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness2.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Harness²",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness2"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harnessrouter.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs HarnessRouter",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harnessrouter"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-jules.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Jules",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-jules"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-junie.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Junie CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-junie"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Kilo Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kiro-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Kiro CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kiro-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs mini-swe-agent",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Mistral Vibe CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-muse-code.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Muse Code",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-muse-code"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-opencode.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs OpenCode",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-opencode"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openhands.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs OpenHands",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openhands"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-prime-agent.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Prime Agent",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-prime-agent"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qoder-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Qoder CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qoder-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Qwen Code",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-reflection-mirror.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Mirror CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-reflection-mirror"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-warp.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-warp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "GitHub Copilot CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "goose vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Harness² vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "HarnessRouter vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Jules vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Junie CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Kilo Code CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Kiro CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs mini-swe-agent",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Mistral Vibe CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-muse-code.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Muse Code",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-muse-code"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openai-codex.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs OpenAI Codex",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openai-codex"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-opencode.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs OpenCode",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-opencode"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openhands.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs OpenHands",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openhands"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-prime-agent.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Prime Agent",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-prime-agent"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qoder-cli.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Qoder CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qoder-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qwen-code.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Qwen Code",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qwen-code"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-reflection-mirror.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Mirror CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-reflection-mirror"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-warp.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-warp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-gemini-cli.json",
        "title": "CLI Manager vs Gemini CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-gemini-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "CLI Manager vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness-autonomous.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Harness",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness-autonomous"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-paperclip.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Paperclip",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-paperclip"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-parallax-agents.json",
        "title": "Gemini CLI vs Parallax",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-parallax-agents"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
        "title": "Harness vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-kimi-code-cli"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-paperclip.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Paperclip",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-paperclip"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-parallax-agents.json",
        "title": "Kimi Code CLI vs Parallax",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-parallax-agents"
      }
    ],
    "scores": [
      {
        "by": 3,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 71,
        "key": "reliability",
        "kimi-code-cli": 68,
        "name": "Reliability",
        "weight": 16
      },
      {
        "key": "performance",
        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 8,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 93,
        "key": "schema",
        "kimi-code-cli": 85,
        "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation",
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 7,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 78,
        "key": "ergonomics",
        "kimi-code-cli": 71,
        "name": "Agent ergonomics",
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 22,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 67,
        "key": "security",
        "kimi-code-cli": 45,
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "by": 40,
        "edge": "kimi-code-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 20,
        "key": "payments",
        "kimi-code-cli": 60,
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "key": "tasks",
        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 16,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 88,
        "key": "maintenance",
        "kimi-code-cli": 72,
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "weight": 7
      },
      {
        "by": 27,
        "edge": "gemini-cli",
        "gemini-cli": 89,
        "key": "transparency",
        "kimi-code-cli": 62,
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "weight": 7
      }
    ],
    "summary": "Gemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Kimi Code CLI leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do agent harnesses.",
    "tutorials": [],
    "verdicts": {
      "gemini-cli": "Apache-2.0, with 16 stable releases since 3 July and documented headless output. Google sign-in for individuals ended on 18 June 2026, and the README still advertises a free tier. Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network.",
      "kimi-code-cli": "MIT-licensed, with 32 releases in the 90 days to 14 October 2026, `kimi -p` with stream-json output, an ACP server and a local REST API with a live OpenAPI document. Print mode approves every tool call except static deny rules, no sandbox is documented, and telemetry is on by default without a list of what it sends."
    }
  },
  "kind": "anchor.page",
  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md",
    "mcp": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.min.md"
  },
  "markdown": "Gemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Kimi Code CLI leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do agent harnesses.\n\n- Gemini CLI: grade B, 66.7/100, rank #307 of 1146. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gemini-cli.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/gemini-cli.json\n- Kimi Code CLI: grade B, 62.1/100, rank #492 of 1146. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/kimi-code-cli.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kimi-code-cli.json\n- Best agent harnesses and coding agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/agent-harnesses/index.md\n- All 713 harnesses comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-harnesses/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Gemini CLI (B)\n\nGood for: Teams with a paid Gemini API key, Vertex AI credentials or existing Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences that want an open-source harness with documented headless output.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 93 against 85\n- Agent ergonomics, 78 against 71\n- Security \u0026 auth, 67 against 45\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 88 against 72\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 89 against 62\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 3.0 out of 5\n\nWatch for: Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network\n\n### Kimi Code CLI (B)\n\nGood for: Developers on Kimi models who want a terminal agent with ACP and a local REST API, or an open-source harness that also runs Claude, GPT or Gemini models.\n\nAhead on:\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 60 against 20\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Free to start without a card\n\nWatch for: Print mode approves every tool call under Never Ask, where the dangerous-command guard is off\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Gemini CLI | Kimi Code CLI | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 71 | 68 | Gemini CLI +3 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 93 | 85 | Gemini CLI +8 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 78 | 71 | Gemini CLI +7 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 67 | 45 | Gemini CLI +22 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 60 | Kimi Code CLI +40 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 88 | 72 | Gemini CLI +16 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 89 | 62 | Gemini CLI +27 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -5 | -4 | |\n| **Total** | | **66.7 · B** | **62.1 · B** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Gemini CLI | Kimi Code CLI |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | Agent harness | Agent harness |\n| Vendor | Google | Moonshot AI |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports |  |  |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Pay per use | Free |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | MIT |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-10-06 | 2026-10-14 |\n| Terms last updated | couldn't be read |  |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-10-01 |  |\n| Customer content may train models | yes |  |\n| Terms restrict automated access | couldn't be read |  |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | couldn't be read |  |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | couldn't be read |  |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | couldn't be read |  |\n| Popularity | 107k stars | 37k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (2) | 3/5 (4) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Gemini CLI.** Apache-2.0, with 16 stable releases since 3 July and documented headless output. Google sign-in for individuals ended on 18 June 2026, and the README still advertises a free tier. Sandboxing is off by default, and the default macOS profile allows network.\n\n**Kimi Code CLI.** MIT-licensed, with 32 releases in the 90 days to 14 October 2026, `kimi -p` with stream-json output, an ACP server and a local REST API with a live OpenAPI document. Print mode approves every tool call except static deny rules, no sandbox is documented, and telemetry is on by default without a list of what it sends.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Gemini CLI\n\n1. Set `GEMINI_TRUST_WORKSPACE` to true only for trusted inputs in CI. Since 0.39.1 headless mode doesn't trust a folder on its own\n2. Turn on the sandbox with `-s` or `tools.sandbox`, and pick a proxied Seatbelt profile on macOS to cut network\n3. Set `privacy.usageStatisticsEnabled` to false to stop usage statistics\n4. Since 0.63.0, plans run without interactive confirmation in non-interactive mode, so set the approval mode explicitly before a headless run\n5. Authenticate with a paid Gemini API key or Vertex credentials. A Google sign-in works only for Code Assist Standard or Enterprise licences\n\n### Kimi Code CLI\n\n1. `kimi -p` approves every tool call. Add `[[permission.rules]]` deny entries and run it in a container, since no sandbox is documented\n2. Set `KIMI_LOOP_MAX_STEPS_PER_TURN` for unattended runs. Steps per turn are unlimited by default\n3. Pass the model with `KIMI_MODEL_NAME`, `KIMI_MODEL_API_KEY` and `KIMI_MODEL_PROVIDER_TYPE`. `OPENAI_API_KEY` or `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` in the shell is ignored otherwise\n4. Set `KIMI_DISABLE_TELEMETRY=1` and use 0.41.0 or later, since earlier print-mode runs ignored it\n5. Install `@moonshot-ai/kimi-code` or the `kimi-code` formula. The `kimi-cli` and `kimi-code` packages on PyPI are the archived Python CLI\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Gemini CLI or Kimi Code CLI?\n\nGemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) on agent readiness against Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Kimi Code CLI leads on payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Are Gemini CLI and Kimi Code CLI open source?\n\nYes. Gemini CLI is open source (Apache-2.0). Kimi Code CLI is open source (MIT).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"gemini-cli\", \"b\": \"kimi-code-cli\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare gemini-cli kimi-code-cli`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/gemini-cli.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/kimi-code-cli.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Gemini CLI or Kimi Code CLI\n\n- [Agent Zero vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Agent Zero vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-zero-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Aider vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Aider vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aider-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Amp vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Amp vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/amp-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Antigravity CLI vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Antigravity CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/antigravity-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Auggie CLI vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Auggie CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/auggie-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Claude Code vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Claude Code vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/claude-code-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Cline vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cline-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Crush vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Crush vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/crush-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Cursor CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cursor-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [DeepSeek Harness (dsh) vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/deepseek-harness-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Devin vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Devin vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/devin-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Droid CLI vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Droid CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/droid-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Pi vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [Pi vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/earendil-pi-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-github-copilot-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs goose](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-goose.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Harness²](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness2.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs HarnessRouter](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harnessrouter.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Jules](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-jules.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Junie CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-junie.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Kilo Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kilo-code-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kiro-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs mini-swe-agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Mistral Vibe CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Muse Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-muse-code.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-opencode.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-openhands.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-prime-agent.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qoder-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-reflection-mirror.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-warp.md)\n- [GitHub Copilot CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/github-copilot-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [goose vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/goose-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Harness² vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness2-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [HarnessRouter vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harnessrouter-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Jules vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/jules-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Junie CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/junie-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Kilo Code CLI vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kilo-code-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Kiro CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-kiro-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs mini-swe-agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mini-swe-agent.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Mistral Vibe CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-mistral-vibe-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Muse Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-muse-code.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs OpenAI Codex](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openai-codex.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs OpenCode](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-opencode.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs OpenHands](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-openhands.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Prime Agent](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-prime-agent.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Qoder CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qoder-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Qwen Code](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-qwen-code.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Mirror CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-reflection-mirror.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Rovo Dev CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-rovo-dev-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Warp (Warp Agent CLI and the Oz Agent API)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-warp.md)\n- [CLI Manager vs Gemini CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-gemini-cli.md)\n- [CLI Manager vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/cli-manager-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Harness](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-harness-autonomous.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-paperclip.md)\n- [Gemini CLI vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-parallax-agents.md)\n- [Harness vs Kimi Code CLI](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/harness-autonomous-vs-kimi-code-cli.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Paperclip](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-paperclip.md)\n- [Kimi Code CLI vs Parallax](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/kimi-code-cli-vs-parallax-agents.md)\n",
  "meta": {
    "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)",
    "attributionRequired": true,
    "credit": "CC BY 4.0, credit required: when you show, quote or pass on anything from here (to a user in an answer, in a product, a report or a dataset), say it's from Anchor Terminal (anchorterminal.com) and link the page or API address you took it from. Reviews also credit their author.",
    "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/",
    "generatedAt": "2026-10-19",
    "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
    "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/",
    "methodology": "0.4",
    "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json",
    "preview": false,
    "run": "2026-10-01",
    "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
    "terms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data"
  },
  "page": {
    "breadcrumbs": [
      {
        "name": "Home",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/"
      },
      {
        "name": "Compare",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/"
      },
      {
        "name": "Gemini CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
        "url": ""
      }
    ],
    "description": "Gemini CLI scores 66.7 (B) to Kimi Code CLI's 62.1 (B) for agent harnesses. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.",
    "facts": [
      "Gemini CLI B 66.7",
      "Kimi Code CLI B 62.1",
      "scores"
    ],
    "h1": "Gemini CLI vs Kimi Code CLI",
    "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli.png",
    "path": "/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli",
    "published": "2026-10-01",
    "section": "tools",
    "title": "Gemini CLI vs Kimi Code CLI for AI agents in 2026: scores and prices",
    "toc": null,
    "updated": "2026-10-18",
    "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/gemini-cli-vs-kimi-code-cli"
  },
  "tokens": {
    "markdown": 3650,
    "slim": 680
  },
  "version": 1
}
