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Best terminal / CLI coding agent

Agents that run in your shell and edit many files.

Preliminary · based on public info

Short answer: pick Claude Code. Runner-up: OpenAI Codex. On a budget: Gemini CLI.

Our pick

Claude Code

Included in Claude Pro $20/mo ($17/mo annual); Max from $100/mo; Team/Enterprise available.

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Runner-up

OpenAI Codex

Included in ChatGPT plans: Free $0, Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro from $100/mo ($100/$200/$500); Business $20/user/mo annual ($25 monthly, 2+ users).

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Budget pick

Gemini CLI

Open source. Free with Google login: 1,000 requests/user/day; free Gemini API key: 250/day; Google AI Pro 1,500/day, Ultra 2,000/day; pay-as-you-go via API/Vertex.

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Scored ranking

#ToolScore /100StatusPricing
1Claude Code88Preliminary · based on public infoIncluded in Claude Pro $20/mo ($17/mo annual); Max from $100/mo; Team/Enterprise available. Price checked 2026-10-14
2OpenAI Codex84Preliminary · based on public infoIncluded in ChatGPT plans: Free $0, Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro from $100/mo ($100/$200/$500); Business $20/user/mo annual ($25 monthly, 2+ users). Price checked 2026-10-14
3Amp (Sourcegraph)74Preliminary · based on public infoHobby free (BYOK, pay-as-you-go orbs); Individual from $20/mo (higher tiers listed); Teams no extra charge. Price checked 2026-10-14
4Gemini CLI73Preliminary · based on public infoOpen source. Free with Google login: 1,000 requests/user/day; free Gemini API key: 250/day; Google AI Pro 1,500/day, Ultra 2,000/day; pay-as-you-go via API/Vertex. Price checked 2026-10-14
5OpenCode72Preliminary · based on public infoFree and open source, any provider. Optional OpenCode Zen pay-as-you-go balance (starts at $20). Price checked 2026-10-14
6Aider70Partly hands-on tested 2026-10-14Free and open source (Apache 2.0); bring your own model API key or local model. Price checked 2026-10-14

Scores are editorial estimates from vendor documentation and public reporting, applied using our rubric. A "partly hands-on tested" badge means some fixed tasks were run (see the tool's test log), but the score itself has not been re-derived from tests yet.

FAQ

What is the best tool for terminal / cli coding agent?

Our current pick is Claude Code, with OpenAI Codex as runner-up and Gemini CLI as the budget pick. These are preliminary picks from public information applied to our rubric; check the ranking table for scores and evidence status.

How much does Claude Code cost?

Included in Claude Pro $20/mo ($17/mo annual); Max from $100/mo; Team/Enterprise available. (Checked against https://claude.com/pricing on 2026-10-14.)

What is the cheapest good option for terminal / cli coding agent?

Our budget pick is Gemini CLI: Open source. Free with Google login: 1,000 requests/user/day; free Gemini API key: 250/day; Google AI Pro 1,500/day, Ultra 2,000/day; pay-as-you-go via API/Vertex.

Which tools did you compare?

We ranked 6 tools: Claude Code (88), OpenAI Codex (84), Amp (Sourcegraph) (74), Gemini CLI (73), OpenCode (72), Aider (70). Scores are out of 100.

Are these rankings based on hands-on tests?

Mostly not yet. Aider has a partial hands-on run with a public log; every other score is preliminary and based on vendor documentation and public reporting.

Do affiliate commissions affect the ranking?

No. Affiliate status is recorded separately and is never a scoring input. See our disclosure page.

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