Claude Code vs Gemini CLI for MCP servers
Claude Code and Gemini CLI differ in 5 of 10 facts: publisher, kind, runs on, licence, server config.
| Fact | Claude Code | Gemini CLI |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | Anthropic | |
| Kind | Terminal, Editor extension, Desktop app, Web app | Terminal |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows, Linux, Web | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Price | Paid | Paid |
| Licence | Not stated | Apache-2.0 |
| Connects to | Local (stdio), Remote (HTTP), Remote (SSE) | Local (stdio), Remote (HTTP), Remote (SSE) |
| Headers for remote servers | Yes | Yes |
| Server config | Set up in the app | ~/.gemini/settings.json |
| Servers that work in it | 123,036 | 123,036 |
| What we checked | Matches the official docs | Matches the official docs |
| Add a server | In Claude Code | In Gemini CLI |
From each client's own documentation and site, as linked on its page. The server counts are today's install configs that work in each.