gemini-cli vs kong
gemini-cli is the more adopted project, with 107,576 GitHub stars against 44,296 for kong (about 2.4x more). gemini-cli was updated more recently (today, against 5 days ago). gemini-cli is written in TypeScript and kong in Lua.
| gemini-cli | kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | An open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal. | 🦍 The API and AI Gateway |
| Author | google-gemini | Kong |
| Stars | 107576 | 44296 |
| Language | TypeScript | Lua |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Last update | 2026-10-24T01:15:52Z | 2026-10-19T02:45:09Z |
| Source | https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli | https://github.com/Kong/kong |
| Stars this week | +160 | +19 |
Which should you choose?
- gemini-cli describes itself as: "An open-source AI agent that brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal."
- kong describes itself as: "🦍 The API and AI Gateway"
Stars measure adoption, not fit. Read both READMEs for the tools each server exposes, then try them side by side in your client: the install guide shows how to add both.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, gemini-cli or kong?
gemini-cli has more GitHub stars: 107,576 against 44,296. This week gemini-cli gained 160 stars and kong gained 19, which says more about current momentum than the all-time total. Both figures are refreshed daily from GitHub.
Are gemini-cli and kong open source?
gemini-cli: Apache-2.0 (open source). kong: Apache-2.0 (open source). An open-source license lets you run and self-host the server at no cost. If either one wraps a commercial API, that provider's pricing still applies, so read each README for the accounts and keys it needs.
Can I use gemini-cli and kong together?
Yes, if both run as MCP servers. MCP clients such as Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code can connect to several servers at once, and the agent picks tools from each. Give them distinct names in your config, and keep the number of active servers small so tool definitions do not crowd the context window.
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gemini-cli details · kong details · All MCP Clients & Apps MCP servers
Data last updated . Stars and downloads are refreshed every day from GitHub and npm.