Gemini CLI
Gemini CLI is a standalone tool developed by Google, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It supports local inference, allowing users to perform computations without relying on cloud services. The tool is optimized for Google’s own large language models, such as Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 2, offering a substantial context window of 1 million tokens. This makes it particularly powerful for complex tasks requiring extensive context. Users benefit from agentic editing capabilities across multiple files, full terminal access, and predictive edits, enhancing productivity and precision. Privacy is safeguarded under a standard privacy policy, and the tool is SOC2 Type II certified for enterprise-level security. Additionally, Gemini CLI offers a free tier, making it accessible to a wide range of users, from individuals to enterprises.
Pros
- ✓ Supports local inference.
- ✓ Large context window of 1M tokens.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Predictive edits and agentic editing.
- ✓ Free tier available.
Cons
- ✕ Limited to Gemini models.
- ✕ Requires standalone setup.
OpenHands
OpenHands is a cloud-based tool developed by OpenHands, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It is compatible with a variety of large language models, including GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, and Gemini 3.0, providing flexibility for diverse AI applications. The tool offers a context window of 200,000 tokens, which, while smaller than Gemini CLI, is still substantial for many tasks. OpenHands also supports local inference and provides multi-file agentic editing with full terminal access and predictive editing features. Privacy is maintained under the standard privacy policy, and the tool is SOC2 Type II certified. Although there is no free tier, businesses can contact sales for pricing, which may cater to specific enterprise needs.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple LLMs.
- ✓ Full terminal access.
- ✓ Predictive edits and agentic editing.
- ✓ Cloud-based architecture for scalability.
Cons
- ✕ No free tier.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Gemini CLI | OpenHands |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | cloud |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Developer | OpenHands | |
| Supported Llms | Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2 | GPT-5, Claude 4.5, Qwen3-Coder-30B, Gemini 3.0 |
| Context Window | 1M tokens | 200k tokens |
| Agentic Editing | Yes, multi-file | Yes, multi-file |
| Terminal Access | Full | Full |
| Privacy Mode | Standard Privacy Policy | Standard Privacy Policy |
| Certifications | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) | SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) |
| About Price | Free/Pro | Contact Sales |
| Config File | GEMINI.md | .openhandsrc |
| Migration | Seamless | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both Gemini CLI and OpenHands offer robust features for language model utilization, each with unique strengths. Gemini CLI excels in local inference and extensive context capabilities, making it ideal for users needing high context processing. OpenHands’ cloud-based architecture and support for multiple LLMs provide flexibility and scalability, although it lacks a free tier. Users should choose based on their specific needs, whether for local processing power or cloud-based flexibility.