last verified: 2026-04-09 | sources: gemini repo, gemini API pricing, google AI subscriptions, anthropic pricing, claude.ai plans
| feature | claude code | gemini |
|---|---|---|
| pricing | free tier / $20 pro / $100 max 5x / $200 max 20x per month | generous free tier (60 req/min, 1000 req/day) / $19.99 AI Pro / $249.99 AI Ultra |
| model | opus 4.6, sonnet 4.6, haiku 4.5 | gemini 2.5 flash, gemini 3.1 pro (1M token context) |
| context | 1M tokens (Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.6), 200K (Haiku 4.5), managed window with compaction | up to 1M tokens |
| interface | terminal CLI, VS Code, JetBrains | terminal CLI |
| extensibility | hooks, plugins, skills, agents, commands, MCP servers | MCP servers, GEMINI.md context files, extensions |
| open source | yes (anthropics/claude-code) | yes, Apache 2.0 (google-gemini/gemini-cli) |
| auth | anthropic API key or claude.ai subscription | google login, API key, or Vertex AI |
| non-interactive mode | --print flag for scripting |
-p flag with JSON output support |
| google integration | none | native Google Cloud, Google Search grounding, GitHub integration |
claude code's hook/plugin/agent/skill/command stack is production-tested across thousands of sessions. you can intercept tool calls, persist data across sessions, run subagent workflows, and build custom slash commands. gemini supports MCP servers and has GEMINI.md for context, but doesn't have equivalent hook or plugin systems.
based on our testing, claude models consistently perform well for code generation tasks, especially complex multi-file edits. third-party benchmarks (SWE-bench, HumanEval) also rank claude models at or near the top. gemini models are strong and improving fast, but based on our testing, claude code's code quality has an edge for multi-file edits. benchmarks aren't everything and this is subjective territory, but it's worth noting.
based on our testing, claude code sessions as JSON transcripts you can parse, search, and mine offer a significant advantage for workflow optimization. the lore plugin builds sqlite databases from session data. gemini has conversation checkpointing but no equivalent export/analysis ecosystem.
claude code has VS Code and JetBrains extensions in addition to the terminal CLI. gemini is terminal-only (though gemini code assist covers the IDE surface separately).
60 requests per minute, 1000 requests per day, no credit card required. that's enough for real daily work, not just a trial. claude code's free tier is more limited. for developers who want to experiment extensively or work on personal projects without a subscription, gemini's free tier is hard to beat.
gemini models support up to 1M tokens of context. opus 4.6 and sonnet 4.6 now also have 1M token context windows, so the gap has closed. haiku 4.5 still has 200K. claude code manages context through compaction and selective file reading, which works well in practice.
if your infrastructure runs on GCP, gemini has native integration -- Vertex AI auth, cloud project context, Google Search grounding for up-to-date information. claude code has no cloud provider integration. for GCP-native teams, this reduces friction.
gemini can ground its responses with live Google Search results, pulling in current documentation, error messages, and API references. claude code has WebSearch and WebFetch tools, but gemini's search grounding is more deeply integrated into the model's reasoning.
gemini uses the permissive Apache 2.0 license, making it easier to fork, modify, and redistribute for commercial use. claude code's license terms are different -- check the repo for current details.
| plan | claude code | gemini |
|---|---|---|
| free | limited usage | 60 req/min, 1000 req/day |
| entry | $20/mo (Pro) | $19.99/mo (Google AI Pro) |
| heavy use | $200/mo (Max 20x) | $249.99/mo (Google AI Ultra) |
the free tier gap is significant. gemini gives you enough free usage for daily development work. claude code's free tier is for evaluation, not sustained use.
at the paid tiers, pricing is comparable. google AI Pro at $19.99/mo includes gemini access plus google workspace AI features and 2TB storage. claude code Pro at $20/mo is focused on claude code + claude.ai usage.
google AI Ultra at $249.99/mo is more expensive than claude code Max 20x at $200/mo, but includes access to google's most powerful models (gemini 3.1 pro, Veo, deep think) across all google products.
| tool | standard context | max context |
|---|---|---|
| claude code | 1M tokens (Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.6), 200K (Haiku 4.5) | 1M (compaction manages longer sessions) |
| gemini | 1M tokens | 1M tokens |
in practice, claude code's compaction system means you can work in sessions longer than 1M tokens -- it summarizes and continues. opus 4.6 and sonnet 4.6 now match gemini's 1M window, though haiku 4.5 is still at 200K.
choose claude code if:
- you want deep extensibility (hooks, plugins, agents, skills)
- code generation quality is your top priority
- you need IDE extensions (VS Code, JetBrains)
- you want session history mining and analysis
- you're building custom developer tooling around your AI assistant
choose gemini if:
- you want a generous free tier for daily use
- your infrastructure is on Google Cloud
- you need massive context windows (1M tokens)
- you want Apache 2.0 licensing flexibility
- google search grounding is valuable for your workflow
use both: gemini's free tier makes it a zero-cost complement to claude code. use claude code as your primary tool for complex work and extensibility, and gemini for quick lookups, research tasks, or when you've hit claude code rate limits.
see also: pricing comparison across all tools