Side-by-Side Comparison · 2026

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) vs Gemini CLI: Full Comparison (2026)

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is ai-first ide, now devin desktop (renamed from windsurf on 2 june 2026). Gemini CLI is google's open-source terminal coding agent, being replaced by antigravity cli. Use the breakdown below to find the right fit for your needs.

Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Windsurf (Cognition AI)

Freemium
vs

Gemini CLI

Google

Freemium
This page presents factual information sourced from publicly available vendor documentation and product pages. AIHub does not endorse either product. The right tool depends on your specific use case, team, and requirements — we recommend evaluating both tools directly before making a decision.

Side-by-Side Overview

Pricing Model
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): FreemiumGemini CLI: Freemium
API Access
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Not availableGemini CLI: Available
Platforms
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): WebGemini CLI: macOS, Linux, Windows, Terminal, VS Code (via Gemini Code Assist)
Integrations
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): —Gemini CLI: 6 integrations
Vendor
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Windsurf (Cognition AI)Gemini CLI: Google
Category
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): Code AssistanceGemini CLI: Code Assistance
Launch
Windsurf (formerly Codeium): —Gemini CLI: Jun 25, 2025

About Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Codeium rebranded to Windsurf in late 2024, launching an AI-first IDE (fork of VS Code) with Cascade - an agentic engine that can autonomously plan and execute multi-step coding tasks. Cognition AI (makers of Devin) acquired Windsurf in July 2025, after OpenAI's reported $3B bid lapsed and Google licensed the technology and hired its leadership; Cognition's terms were not publicly disclosed. On 2 June 2026 Cognition renamed Windsurf to Devin Desktop, keeping pricing and the editor the same.

Designed For

  • Code completion
  • Agentic coding
  • Refactoring
  • Multi-file edits
Full Windsurf (formerly Codeium) details

About Gemini CLI

Gemini CLI is Google's open-source command-line AI agent that brings Gemini models directly into the terminal. It can understand codebases, edit files, run shell commands, generate apps, and automate workflows using a ReAct-style agent loop. It ships with a generous free tier via a personal Google account and integrates with MCP servers and Google Search grounding. Status: Google announced on 19 May 2026 that Gemini CLI is being replaced by Antigravity CLI, and press coverage of the announcement reports that Gemini CLI and the Gemini Code Assist extensions would stop serving Google AI Pro, AI Ultra and free individual-tier users on 18 June 2026. Google said Antigravity CLI does not yet have full feature parity. We have not confirmed the June cutoff took effect, so check Google's announcement and the GitHub repository for current status.

Designed For

  • Codebase-wide edits
  • Terminal task automation
  • App scaffolding
  • Debugging
Full Gemini CLI details

Strengths & Limitations

Windsurf (formerly Codeium)

Strengths

  • Cascade agentic engine
  • Free tier available
  • 70+ languages
  • VS Code compatible

Limitations

  • New product, less mature than Cursor
  • Cognition acquisition uncertainty

Gemini CLI

Strengths

  • Open-source (Apache 2.0)
  • Free tier via Google login (individual access was scheduled to end 18 June 2026)
  • 1M token context
  • Google Search grounding built-in
  • MCP support
  • Non-interactive/scriptable mode

Limitations

  • Being replaced by Antigravity CLI (announced 19 May 2026)
  • Newer than Claude Code/Cursor
  • Gemini-only models
  • Terminal-first UX
  • Occasional agent loop errors

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Windsurf (formerly Codeium) and Gemini CLI?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is ai-first ide, now devin desktop (renamed from windsurf on 2 june 2026), while Gemini CLI is google's open-source terminal coding agent, being replaced by antigravity cli. Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is designed for Code Assistance; Gemini CLI is designed for Developers in Google ecosystem, Cost-conscious devs (free tier). The right fit depends on your specific requirements.

How do the pricing models compare?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is available under a Freemium model. Gemini CLI is available under a Freemium model. Gemini CLI's entry tier starts at $0. Always verify pricing on each vendor's official website as it may change.

What integrations does each tool support?

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) integrates with various tools. Gemini CLI integrates with GitHub, Google Search, MCP servers, Gemini Code Assist. Check each vendor's documentation for the full and current list.

How do I choose between Windsurf (formerly Codeium) and Gemini CLI?

Consider your team's technical requirements, budget, existing tooling, and use case before deciding. We recommend signing up for free trials or demos of both tools where available, and consulting each vendor's documentation. AIHub provides this comparison for informational purposes only.