Comparison

Gemini CLI vs Claude Code vs Nimbalyst

Gemini CLI was Google's open-source terminal coding agent, but Google transitioned consumer users to Antigravity CLI on June 18, 2026. Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise access was not affected. Claude Code remains Anthropic's official coding agent with skills, hooks, subagents, and MCP. Nimbalyst is an open-source visual workspace that runs Claude Code and OpenAI Codex side by side, adding sessions, planning, review, and visual editors around the agents it supports.

Download

Free for individuals. Works with your existing Claude Code or Codex subscription or API key.

Other downloads: Apple Silicon Mac Intel Mac Windows Linux

Overview

3 tools, different approaches

Nimbalyst

Nimbalyst is an open-source visual workspace that runs Claude Code and OpenAI Codex side by side, with pluggable agent harnesses. It adds a session kanban, planning and task tracking, visual editors for markdown, mockups, diagrams, data models, and code, and a native iOS app for mobile review. The desktop and iOS apps are MIT licensed and free for individual use. It does not run Gemini CLI today.

Gemini CLI (legacy)

Gemini CLI was Google's Apache 2.0 terminal coding agent for Gemini models. On June 18, 2026, Google ended consumer Google-account access and directed those users to Antigravity CLI, the current terminal surface built on Google's newer agent harness. Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise access to Gemini CLI was not affected.

Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's official coding agent. It runs in the terminal and a desktop app, switches among Claude models, and integrates skills, hooks, plugins, subagents, MCP, and Remote Control. It is the reference implementation for Claude-first workflows.

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown

Feature

Nimbalyst

Gemini CLI (legacy)

Claude Code

Type

Visual workspace above the agents

Legacy terminal agent; succeeded by Antigravity CLI for consumers

Terminal coding agent

Builder

Nimbalyst, open source

Google

Anthropic

License

MIT for desktop and iOS apps

Apache 2.0, open source

Closed source

Models

Whatever the agent uses: Claude, or GPT through Codex

Google Gemini models

Current Anthropic Claude models

Current access

Free download, bring your own model usage

Consumer access moved to Antigravity CLI; Standard and Enterprise access remains

Claude subscription or API credits

Interface

Desktop workspace plus native iOS app

Terminal

Terminal plus desktop app

Parallel sessions

Session kanban for many agents at once

One session per terminal

One session per terminal, git worktrees for parallel runs

MCP support

Yes, ship custom servers and skills as extensions

Yes

Yes, with first-party MCP, hooks, skills, and subagents

Visual editors

Markdown, mockups, diagrams, data models, spreadsheets

None, terminal only

Mobile review

Native iOS app for transcripts, diffs, and approvals

None

Remote Control plus claude.ai/code follow-up

Runs inside Nimbalyst

Is the workspace

Not today

Yes, as a first-class engine

Nimbalyst Advantages

Where Nimbalyst shines

A workspace around your agent

Each Claude Code or Codex run becomes a tracked session with its own transcript, diff, phase, and optional worktree, so parallel work stays visible instead of scattered across terminal tabs.

Claude Code and Codex together

Run Claude Code and Codex in the same project, with plans, markdown, mockups, diagrams, and data models beside the code for whichever agent picks up the task.

Mobile review

Review a diff, approve a tool call, or read a transcript from a phone when a long run needs a checkpoint away from the desk.

Your coding agents, integrated

Claude Code, Codex, and other supported agents work directly with the files, plans, tasks, and visual artifacts in the workspace.

Every artifact in one workspace

Edit markdown, mockups, diagrams, code, and CSV data together, with the same project context available to people and agents.

Local for individuals, collaborative for teams

Work locally in the MIT-licensed desktop app, or collaborate in real time on shared docs, diagrams, mockups, and trackers.

Recommendation

Who should use which

Choose Nimbalyst if…

Choose Nimbalyst when the decision lands on Claude Code or Codex and the work needs sessions, planning, visual editors, review, and mobile follow-up around the agent.

Choose Gemini CLI (legacy) if…

If you used Gemini CLI with a consumer Google account, migrate to Antigravity CLI. Existing Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise users can continue under Google's supported access path.

Choose Claude Code if…

Choose Claude Code when a team wants the official Claude workflow with first-party skills, hooks, and subagents and Anthropic's docs as the source of truth.

This page keeps the Gemini CLI keyword and historical comparison because developers still search for it. The current Google product to evaluate is Antigravity CLI. Nimbalyst supports Claude Code and Codex today, not Gemini CLI or Antigravity CLI.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Gemini CLI and Claude Code?

Gemini CLI was Google's open-source terminal coding agent for Gemini models. Google moved consumer users to Antigravity CLI on June 18, 2026, while Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise access remained available. Claude Code is Anthropic's current coding agent, built around Claude models with skills, hooks, subagents, and MCP.

Is Gemini CLI or Claude Code better?

For a new consumer setup, compare Antigravity CLI with Claude Code because Google transitioned consumer Gemini CLI users in June 2026. Claude Code fits Claude-first teams that want Anthropic's official skills, hooks, and subagents. Existing Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise users can still evaluate the supported Gemini CLI access available to them.

Is Gemini CLI open source?

Yes. Gemini CLI is open source under Apache 2.0. Claude Code is closed source.

Is Gemini CLI free?

Not through the old consumer Google-account path. Google ended that Gemini CLI access on June 18, 2026 and directed consumer users to Antigravity CLI. Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise subscriptions were not affected.

Which models do they use?

Gemini CLI and its Antigravity successor use Google's Gemini models. Claude Code uses Anthropic's current Claude models. Model names and defaults change frequently, so use each vendor's current documentation for the exact list.

What replaced Gemini CLI?

Google directs consumer Gemini CLI users to Antigravity CLI, the terminal surface in its newer Antigravity agent platform. Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise access to Gemini CLI was not affected by the consumer transition.

Where does Nimbalyst fit?

Nimbalyst is the open-source visual workspace above the agents. For teams that choose Claude Code or Codex, it adds session management, visual diff review, planning, task tracking, visual editors, and mobile review. Nimbalyst does not run Gemini CLI today.

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