This is Part 4 of our series on AI coding assistants for developers. See also: Getting Started with Claude Code, Getting Started with OpenAI Codex CLI, and Getting Started with Google Gemini CLI.
We've covered the three major AI coding assistants for the terminal: Anthropic's Claude Code, OpenAI's Codex CLI, and Google's Gemini CLI. Each brings powerful capabilities to deployment workflows, but they differ in important ways. In this final post, we'll compare them head-to-head to help you choose the right tool for your team.
Quick Comparison Overview
Installation and Setup Comparison
All three tools offer straightforward installation, but there are differences worth noting.
Claude Code
# Native installer (recommended)
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
# Or via npm
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
Authentication: Requires Claude Pro/Max subscription or API key. No free tier available.
Platform Support: macOS, Linux, Windows (via WSL)
OpenAI Codex CLI
# Via npm
npm install -g @openai/codex
# Or Homebrew on macOS
brew install --cask codex
Authentication: ChatGPT Plus/Pro/Business/Enterprise subscription (included) or API key.
Platform Support: macOS, Linux, Windows (experimental, WSL recommended)
Google Gemini CLI
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/gemini-cli
Authentication: Personal Google account (free tier), Google AI Studio API key, or Gemini Code Assist license.
Platform Support: macOS, Linux, Windows, Cloud Shell (pre-installed)
Winner for Getting Started: Gemini CLI, thanks to its generous free tier and Cloud Shell availability. If you're already paying for ChatGPT, Codex CLI is essentially free. Claude Code requires a separate subscription.
Context and Codebase Understanding
How well each tool understands your codebase significantly impacts its usefulness for deployment tasks.
Claude Code
Claude Code uses agentic search to automatically understand your entire codebase without requiring manual context selection. It can navigate large projects effectively, making multi-file edits that work together coherently.
Strengths:
- Excellent at understanding project structure
- Strong at maintaining consistency across changes
- Good memory of conversation context
OpenAI Codex CLI
Codex CLI leverages GPT-5-Codex, which was specifically trained on real-world software engineering tasks. It excels at understanding intent and generating code that follows existing patterns.
Strengths:
- Multimodal input (screenshots, diagrams)
- Strong reasoning capabilities
- Good at following complex instructions
Google Gemini CLI
Gemini CLI's standout feature is its 1M token context window—significantly larger than competitors. This allows it to hold more of your codebase in context simultaneously.
Strengths:
- Massive context window
- Built-in Google Search for current information
- Good at researching while coding
Winner for Large Codebases: Gemini CLI, thanks to its 1M token context window. For typical projects, all three perform comparably well.
Deployment Workflow Capabilities
Let's compare how each tool handles common deployment tasks.
Creating Deployment Configurations
All three tools can generate deployment configs, but their approaches differ:
Claude Code tends to ask clarifying questions and generate comprehensive configurations tailored to your specific setup. It's thorough but may take more back-and-forth.
Codex CLI often generates complete solutions on the first try, leveraging its training on real-world engineering tasks. Good for standard configurations.
Gemini CLI can ground its responses in current best practices via Google Search, making it excellent for generating up-to-date configurations.
CI/CD Integration
Codex CLI has the edge here with its native GitHub Actions integration and ability to run as part of CI/CD pipelines:
jobs:
update_changelog:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- name: Update via Codex
run: codex exec --full-auto "Update CHANGELOG for next release"
Claude Code and Gemini CLI can also be scripted into pipelines but don't have as tight an integration out of the box.
Git Workflow Automation
All three handle Git operations well:
# Claude Code
git log --oneline -n 10 | claude -p "Create release notes"
# Codex CLI
git log --oneline v1.0.0..HEAD | codex -p "Create release notes"
# Gemini CLI
gemini -p "Create release notes from the last 10 commits"
Winner for Deployment Workflows: Codex CLI for CI/CD integration, Gemini CLI for staying current with best practices, Claude Code for comprehensive multi-file changes.
Approval Modes and Safety
When working with deployment configurations, you want control over what changes are made.
Claude Code
- Uses permission prompts for file changes and command execution
- Can be configured with project-specific rules in
CLAUDE.md - Good balance of autonomy and control
OpenAI Codex CLI
Three distinct modes:
- Suggest: All changes require approval
- Auto-Edit: File edits automatic, external commands need approval
- Full Auto: Complete autonomy
The graduated approach makes it easy to match the approval level to the task sensitivity.
Google Gemini CLI
- Configurable trusted folders
- Sandboxing support for safe execution
- "Yolo mode" for trusted workspaces (similar to Codex's Full Auto)
Winner for Safety Controls: OpenAI Codex CLI, with its clear three-tier approval system. All three offer adequate controls.
MCP and Extensibility
All three tools support the Model Context Protocol for extending capabilities.
Common MCP Use Cases
- GitHub Integration: Manage PRs, issues, and repositories
- Database Access: Query production data (read-only, of course)
- Slack/Communication: Post deployment notifications
- Custom Tools: Build project-specific integrations
Claude Code and Codex CLI have similar MCP support. Gemini CLI also supports MCP and includes built-in tools (Google Search, web fetching) that others lack.
Winner for Extensibility: Tie between Codex CLI and Gemini CLI. Gemini's built-in tools give it a slight edge for web-related tasks.
Pricing Comparison
Cost is often a deciding factor for teams.
Claude Code
- Claude Pro: $20/month
- Claude Max: $200/month (higher limits)
- API: Pay-per-use
No free tier. Best value for regular, heavy users on Max subscription.
OpenAI Codex CLI
- ChatGPT Plus: $20/month (Codex included)
- ChatGPT Pro: $200/month (higher limits)
- API: Pay-per-use
Included with existing ChatGPT subscriptions—if you're already paying, it's effectively free.
Google Gemini CLI
- Free Tier: 1,000 requests/day, 60 requests/minute
- Google AI Pro: ~$20/month for higher limits
- Code Assist Standard: $299/year (~$25/month)
- Code Assist Enterprise: $75/developer/month
The generous free tier makes it accessible to everyone. The free limits are sufficient for many individual developers.
Winner for Value: Gemini CLI for its free tier. Codex CLI if you're already on ChatGPT. Claude Code requires dedicated budget.
IDE Integration
All three offer IDE extensions, but the depth of integration varies.
Claude Code
- VS Code extension (also works with Cursor, Windsurf)
- JetBrains plugin
- Shows changes as visual diffs in editor
- Companion to terminal tool, not a replacement
OpenAI Codex CLI
- VS Code extension (Cursor, Windsurf compatible)
- Deep integration with file context and selection
- Can delegate tasks to cloud agent from IDE
- Moving toward unified experience across surfaces
Google Gemini CLI
- Powers Gemini Code Assist Agent Mode in VS Code
- JetBrains support via separate plugin
- Shared quotas between CLI and IDE
- Inline diff support in editor
Winner for IDE Integration: OpenAI Codex CLI for its unified experience across CLI, IDE, and cloud. Gemini CLI's shared quota model is also attractive.
Unique Strengths
Each tool has standout features that may be decisive for your use case.
Claude Code
- Consistency: Excellent at maintaining code style and patterns
- Thoughtfulness: Often asks clarifying questions rather than making assumptions
- Documentation: Good at explaining its reasoning
OpenAI Codex CLI
- Multimodal Input: Screenshot-to-code capabilities unique to Codex
- Cloud Integration: Async task delegation and parallel execution
- CI/CD Native: Designed for automation from the start
Google Gemini CLI
- Google Search Grounding: Real-time access to current information
- Open Source: Full transparency, community contributions
- Free Tier: Accessible without any subscription
- Context Window: 1M tokens handles massive codebases
Recommendations by Use Case
Best for Solo Developers or Small Teams on a Budget
Google Gemini CLI — The free tier is genuinely usable, and the 1,000 daily requests cover most development needs.
Best for Teams Already Using ChatGPT
OpenAI Codex CLI — It's included in your subscription, offers tight CI/CD integration, and the multimodal capabilities are powerful.
Best for Complex, Multi-file Changes
Claude Code — Its understanding of codebase context and ability to make coherent changes across files is strong.
Best for Staying Current with Best Practices
Google Gemini CLI — Google Search grounding means it always has access to current documentation and security advisories.
Best for CI/CD Integration
OpenAI Codex CLI — Native GitHub Actions support and async cloud execution make it ideal for automation.
Best for Enterprises Needing Transparency
Google Gemini CLI — Full open-source (Apache 2.0) allows code audit and customisation.
Making Your Choice
There's no wrong choice among these three tools—they're all capable and actively improving. Here's a decision framework:
- Check your existing subscriptions: If you have ChatGPT, start with Codex. If you have Claude Pro/Max, start with Claude Code.
- Try Gemini CLI free: Its generous free tier lets you evaluate it without commitment.
- Consider your ecosystem: Google Cloud users will benefit from Gemini CLI's integration. GitHub-heavy teams might prefer Codex's tighter integration.
- Test on your actual projects: Each tool has different strengths—try them on your specific deployment scenarios.
- You can use multiple: These tools aren't mutually exclusive. Many developers use different tools for different tasks.
The Future of AI Coding Assistants
All three companies are investing heavily in these tools. We're seeing convergence around certain features (MCP support, terminal-first design, approval modes) while differentiation continues in others (model capabilities, ecosystem integration, pricing models).
For deployment workflows specifically, the trend is toward tighter CI/CD integration, better support for infrastructure-as-code, and improved understanding of deployment contexts and constraints.
Conclusion
Claude Code, OpenAI Codex CLI, and Google Gemini CLI each bring valuable capabilities to deployment workflows:
- Claude Code excels at thoughtful, comprehensive changes
- Codex CLI leads in CI/CD integration and multimodal input
- Gemini CLI offers the best free tier and real-time information access
The best choice depends on your team's existing tools, budget, and specific needs. Start with the tool that fits your current stack, and don't hesitate to experiment with others as your needs evolve.
Whichever AI assistant you choose, DeployHQ is here to handle the deployment part of your workflow. From simple FTP deployments to complex SSH pipelines, we automate getting your code from Git to your servers—leaving you and your AI assistant free to focus on building great software.