Gemini CLI vs OpenAI Codex CLI — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: Gemini CLI supports 18 of 18 tracked features; OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18. Matrix last updated November 13, 2026.
Gemini CLI (by Google) vs OpenAI Codex CLI (by OpenAI): a side-by-side comparison of tracked features, release cadence, and the latest releases of each tool. Data as of November 14, 2026, refreshed daily.
Verdict: Gemini CLI vs Codex CLI
Gemini CLI is the better overall choice for most developers, thanks to its broader IDE integration and longer track record, though OpenAI Codex CLI is the right pick for teams that prioritize rapid iteration and cutting-edge releases. Gemini CLI covers all 18 tracked features, including JetBrains IDE support, which Codex CLI currently lacks — a meaningful advantage for developers working in IntelliJ, PyCharm, or GoLand rather than purely in the terminal. Codex CLI, however, has shipped 37 releases in the last 90 days compared to Gemini CLI's 14, signaling a significantly faster release cadence and suggesting a team actively pushing new capabilities at an aggressive pace. Gemini CLI's 321 total tracked releases reflect a more mature, battle-tested codebase with a longer history of refinement, which may translate to greater stability for production or enterprise workflows. The feature gap between the two tools is narrow — one missing feature — so neither should be dismissed on capability grounds alone; the decision ultimately hinges on ecosystem fit and tolerance for churn. Developers deeply embedded in the JetBrains ecosystem will find Gemini CLI integrates more naturally into their existing environment, while those who value staying on the bleeding edge and primarily work in terminal-centric workflows may prefer Codex CLI's aggressive release rhythm and near-feature-parity.
Choose Gemini CLI if: Choose Gemini CLI if you work in JetBrains IDEs or want a more mature, stable tool with a comprehensive feature set across all tracked capabilities.
Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if: Choose OpenAI Codex CLI if you prefer a fast-moving, frequently updated tool and primarily operate in terminal or non-JetBrains environments where near-complete feature parity is sufficient.
Key differences
- Gemini CLI supports all 18 tracked features including JetBrains integration; Codex CLI supports 17 and lacks JetBrains IDE support
- Codex CLI has a significantly faster recent release cadence (37 releases in 90 days vs. Gemini CLI's 14), suggesting more aggressive active development
- Gemini CLI has a larger total release history (321 vs. 179), indicating a more established and longer-running project
- Both tools are at comparable version numbers in their respective versioning schemes, reflecting ongoing maturity for each
- Feature parity is nearly identical, making IDE ecosystem and release cadence preference the primary differentiators
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI | v0.68.0 | November 10, 2026 | 323 |
| OpenAI Codex CLI | rust-v0.169.0 | November 13, 2026 | 184 |
Gemini CLI vs Codex CLI: key feature differences
Gemini CLI supports 18 of 18 tracked features; OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18. Both support 17 features.
What Gemini CLI has that Codex CLI doesn't
- JetBrains
What Codex CLI has that Gemini CLI doesn't
None in the tracked matrix.
Release cadence: Gemini CLI vs Codex CLI
Codex CLI ships more often: 40 releases in the last 90 days versus 13 for Gemini CLI. Counts are as of November 14, 2026.
| Metric | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Releases in the last 30 days | 4 | 9 |
| Releases in the last 90 days | 13 | 40 |
| Median gap between recent releases | 7 days | 1.2 days |
| Releases tracked | 323 | 184 |
| First tracked release | June 28, 2025 | June 30, 2025 |
What's new in Gemini CLI and Codex CLI
Latest Gemini CLI releases
- Gemini CLI v0.68.0 (November 10, 2026) — Gemini CLI v0.68.0 is out with a batch of fixes: smoother Windows paths, rate-limit countdowns in the loading indicator, and rootless Podman sandboxing. Curious what else changed?
- Gemini CLI v0.67.0 (November 4, 2026) — Gemini CLI v0.67.0 is here: list models with a new models command, bring your IDE companion into container sandboxes, and enjoy fixes for duplicate agent loading and Thai/Lao character width.…
- Gemini CLI v0.66.0 (October 27, 2026) — Gemini CLI v0.66.0 is here: smoother terminal rendering, scrollback that sticks around, and safer git and shell environments. Plus MCP OAuth can now reach private endpoints. Curious what else changed?
Latest OpenAI Codex CLI releases
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.169.0 (November 13, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.169.0 is here: multiple side-chat tabs, searchable past tasks, collapsible turn details, and in-terminal provider setup. Want to see what else changed?
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.168.0 (November 13, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.168.0 is here: pick a default model provider, split your chat with a side-conversation pane, attach audio recordings, and generate animated GIFs. Plus a batch of fixes. Ready to…
- OpenAI Codex CLI rust-v0.167.2 (November 11, 2026) — Codex CLI rust-v0.167.2 is here: tool updates now stream incrementally by default on Google Cloud Vertex AI. Want the old behavior back? One config flag does it. Curious what else changed under the…
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | ✓ since v0.22.0 | ✓ (Codex CLI is a coding agent that edits files; multi-file editing is a core capability implied by the agent command cente) |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | ✓ since v0.66.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.164.0 |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | ✓ (v0.66.0 mentions 'safer git and shell environments'; v0.60.0 references 'how extensions access your system', indicating ) | ✓ since rust-v0.164.0 |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | ✓ since v0.67.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | ✓ since v0.67.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | ✓ since v0.30.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.136.0 |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | ✓ since v0.41.0 | — |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | ✓ since v0.45.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.166.0 |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | ✓ since v0.60.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | ✓ since v0.63.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | ✓ since v0.62.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | ✓ since v0.68.0 | ✓ since rust-v0.169.0 |
Feature timeline: who shipped first
First release where Gemini CLI and Codex CLI each shipped a notable feature, and which tool led.
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Codex CLI | Who led |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills / Plugins | January 21, 2026 | December 10, 2025 | Codex CLI first, 41d ahead |
| Sandboxing / Permission Modes | — | August 7, 2025 | only Codex CLI |
| Subagents / Parallel Agents | April 1, 2026 | January 25, 2026 | Codex CLI first, 66d ahead |
| Background Tasks | — | September 9, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Extended Thinking | — | July 9, 2025 | only Codex CLI |
| Hooks | January 14, 2026 | May 8, 2026 | Gemini CLI first, 114d ahead |
| Image / Vision Input | — | December 2, 2025 | only Codex CLI |
| MCP Support | January 7, 2026 | July 23, 2025 | Codex CLI first, 168d ahead |
| Voice Input | — | February 25, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Web Search / Fetch | — | June 9, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Headless / Non-interactive Mode | — | July 19, 2025 | only Codex CLI |
| Checkpoints / Rewind | — | December 15, 2025 | only Codex CLI |
| Custom Slash Commands | February 10, 2026 | August 20, 2025 | Codex CLI first, 175d ahead |
| Project Memory Files | — | February 12, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Git / PR Integration | — | May 7, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Planning Mode | — | January 25, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
| Todo / Task List | — | May 21, 2026 | only Codex CLI |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gemini CLI or OpenAI Codex CLI?
Gemini CLI is the better overall choice for most developers, thanks to its broader IDE integration and longer track record, though OpenAI Codex CLI is the right pick for teams that prioritize rapid iteration and cutting-edge releases. Gemini CLI covers all 18 tracked features, including JetBrains IDE support, which Codex CLI currently lacks — a meaningful advantage for developers working in IntelliJ, PyCharm, or GoLand rather than purely in the terminal. Codex CLI, however, has shipped 37 releases in the last 90 days compared to Gemini CLI's 14, signaling a significantly faster release cadence and suggesting a team actively pushing new capabilities at an aggressive pace. Gemini CLI's 321 total tracked releases reflect a more mature, battle-tested codebase with a longer history of refinement, which may translate to greater stability for production or enterprise workflows. The feature gap between the two tools is narrow — one missing feature — so neither should be dismissed on capability grounds alone; the decision ultimately hinges on ecosystem fit and tolerance for churn. Developers deeply embedded in the JetBrains ecosystem will find Gemini CLI integrates more naturally into their existing environment, while those who value staying on the bleeding edge and primarily work in terminal-centric workflows may prefer Codex CLI's aggressive release rhythm and near-feature-parity.
What is the difference between Gemini CLI and Codex CLI?
Gemini CLI supports 18 of 18 tracked features; OpenAI Codex CLI supports 17 of 18. Only Gemini CLI: JetBrains. Both support 17 tracked features.
Which gets updated more often, Gemini CLI or Codex CLI?
OpenAI Codex CLI ships more often. In the 90 days to November 14, 2026, Havoptic tracked 13 Gemini CLI releases and 40 Codex CLI releases (323 and 184 releases tracked in total). Gemini CLI's median gap between its last 21 releases is 7 days. Codex CLI's median gap between its last 21 releases is 1.2 days.
What are the latest versions of Gemini CLI and Codex CLI?
The latest Gemini CLI release is v0.68.0, released November 10, 2026. The latest OpenAI Codex CLI release is rust-v0.169.0, released November 13, 2026.
Do Gemini CLI and Codex CLI support MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
Gemini CLI supports MCP Client, MCP Server, and Custom Tools. OpenAI Codex CLI supports MCP Client, MCP Server, and Custom Tools.
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 323 Gemini CLI releases and 184 Codex CLI releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the Gemini CLI changelog and OpenAI Codex CLI changelog.
Related comparisons
More Gemini CLI comparisons
- Gemini CLI vs Claude Code
- Gemini CLI vs Cursor
- Gemini CLI vs Kiro CLI
- Gemini CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI
- Gemini CLI vs Devin Desktop
- Gemini CLI vs Antigravity CLI
- Gemini CLI vs Grok Build
More OpenAI Codex CLI comparisons
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Claude Code
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Cursor
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Kiro CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Devin Desktop
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Antigravity CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLI vs Grok Build
Data source
Feature data is maintained in feature-matrix.json under a CC-BY-4.0 license. Release data comes from releases.json. Both are updated daily. See the methodology page for details on sourcing and human review.