Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Google provides the industry's largest free allowance for Gemini CLI:

• 60 requests per minute
• 1,000 requests per day
• Completely free - no credit card required

Simply login with your personal Google account to get a free Gemini Code Assist license that provides access to Gemini 2.5 Pro with its massive 1 million token context window.

Gemini CLI offers several unique advantages:

• Google Search Integration: Ground prompts with real-time web content and external context
• Massive Context Window: 1 million token context window with Gemini 2.5 Pro
• Open Source: Apache 2.0 licensed, fully inspectable and community-driven
• MCP Support: Extensible through Model Context Protocol and bundled extensions
• Shared Technology: Same technology as Gemini Code Assist for VS Code
• Generous Free Tier: Industry's largest free usage allowance

Authentication is simple and secure:

1. Run gemini auth login in your terminal
2. This will open your browser and prompt you to sign in with your Google account
3. Once authenticated, you'll receive a free Gemini Code Assist license
4. Verify authentication with gemini auth status

For production environments or heavy usage, you can also use Google AI Studio or Vertex AI keys for usage-based billing.

Absolutely! Gemini CLI is fully open source under the Apache 2.0 license, which means you can use it freely for commercial projects.

For professional developers who need to run multiple agents simultaneously or prefer specific models, you have several options:

• Use Google AI Studio keys for usage-based billing
• Use Vertex AI keys for enterprise features
• Get a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license

Gemini CLI supports a wide range of formats and capabilities:

• Text files: .txt, .md, .json, .csv
• Code files: .js, .py, .java, .go, .rs, .cpp, and more
• Images: For multimodal analysis and processing
• Web content: Real-time fetching via Google Search integration
• Command execution: Dynamic troubleshooting and automation
• File manipulation: Code understanding and modification

Gemini CLI is designed to be highly extensible:

• Model Context Protocol (MCP): Built-in support for MCP extensions
• Custom Prompts: Customize prompts and instructions via GEMINI.md files
• System Prompts: Configure behavior for specific projects or workflows
• Bundled Extensions: Use pre-built extensions for common tasks
• Open Source: Contribute to the project or create your own forks

Visit the official GitHub repository to explore extensions and contribute.

Gemini CLI is designed for seamless integration:

• CI/CD Pipelines: Use non-interactively within scripts and automation
• VS Code Integration: Shares technology with Gemini Code Assist
• Terminal Workflows: Natural language commands in your existing terminal
• Project Configuration: Per-project settings and custom prompts
• Team Collaboration: Shared configurations and best practices

The terminal is a personal space, and Gemini CLI respects that by allowing full customization while maintaining professional-grade capabilities.

Google follows strict security protocols for all API requests. Your data is processed according to Google's privacy policy and security standards.

Key security features:

• Open Source: Full code transparency with Apache 2.0 license
• Secure Authentication: OAuth-based authentication with Google
• Local Storage: Authentication tokens stored securely on your machine
• No Password Storage: Gemini CLI never stores your Google password

For sensitive data or compliance requirements, consider using on-premises solutions or review Google's data handling policies for your specific use case.