Gemini CLI vs Windsurf — Feature Comparison
Quick answer: Gemini CLI supports 18 of 18 tracked features; Windsurf supports 0 of 0. Matrix last updated May 25, 2026.
At a glance
| Tool | Latest version | Release date | Releases tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI | vv0.43.0 | May 22, 2026 | 293 |
| Windsurf | v2.3.9 | May 17, 2026 | 120 |
Core Editing
Multi-file editing, streaming, undo capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-file Editing — Edit multiple files in a single operation | ✓ since v0.22.0 | — |
| Streaming Output — Real-time streaming of AI responses | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| Undo/Redo — Ability to undo and redo changes | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| Diff View — Visual comparison of changes | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
Terminal Integration
Shell and command execution support
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Command Execution — Run shell commands | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| Shell Integration — Integration with user shell environment | ✓ (CLI tool with update channel management and OpenSSL fixes (v0.40.0) indicate deep shell environment integration) | — |
| Background Tasks — Run tasks in background | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
MCP Support
Model Context Protocol server and client capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| MCP Client — Connect to MCP servers | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| MCP Server — Expose as MCP server | ✓ since v0.39.0 | — |
| Custom Tools — Define and use custom tools | ✓ since v0.30.0 | — |
IDE Integrations
VS Code, JetBrains, and other editor support
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| VS Code — Visual Studio Code integration | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| JetBrains — IntelliJ/WebStorm integration | ✓ since v0.41.0 | — |
| Vim/Neovim — Vim or Neovim integration | ✓ since v0.38.0 | — |
| Web UI — Browser-based interface | ✓ since v0.38.0 | — |
Agentic Features
Planning, tool use, and autonomous capabilities
| Feature | Gemini CLI | Windsurf |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Mode — Plan before executing changes | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| Autonomous Mode — Extended autonomous operation | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
| Task Decomposition — Break complex tasks into steps | ✓ since v0.41.0 | — |
| Context Management — Manage context across conversations | ✓ since v0.43.0 | — |
Release velocity
Havoptic tracks 293 Gemini CLI releases and 120 Windsurf releases. See release frequency charts for side-by-side velocity analysis, or browse the Gemini CLI changelog and Windsurf changelog.
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.