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The best free and open source terminal Gemini clients are a mixed group: some are minimal line-mode readers, others are full-screen browsers that also speak Gopher and other older protocols. In this article, “Gemini” means the Gemini internet protocol, a simple network protocol for linked text documents. It has no connection to Google’s Gemini AI models. The clients below are the 16 named in the LinuxLinks roundup of free and open source terminal-based Gemini clients, grouped by implementation language so you can compare them quickly.
The roundup’s April 19, 2026 revision lists 16 entries. A later indexed version of the same topic describes 17 clients, but the seventeenth entry is not identified in the version this article is based on, so the list below covers the 16 that are named.
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What the Gemini protocol is, and why a terminal client suits it
Gemini is a deliberately small protocol built around a collection of linked written documents. Pages are plain text with simple link lines rather than the full HTML and scripting of the modern web. That simplicity is the reason terminal clients work well: a page of Gemini text is readable in a shell window, and a client does not need a graphical toolkit to display it.
The LinuxLinks roundup covers terminal clients only. Graphical clients are covered separately, and the roundup restricts its list to free and open source software. Both points narrow the field before you start comparing.
How to read this list
The roundup gives each client a portal page, a description, a screenshot, and resource links. The entries below are grouped by language, which is a useful first filter: the language affects how the client is installed, which package managers and runtimes you need, and how easy it is to modify. Language does not tell you how a client behaves, so the comparison table in the next section covers the four clients that the community directory describes in more detail.
The 16 clients, grouped by implementation language
Go
- Amfora
- Bombadillo
- astronaut
- Bougie
C
- cgmnlm
- gplaces
- Vgmi
- telescope
Python
- Offpunk
- Astronomo
Rust
- ncgopher
- asuka
Lisp family
- Elpher (Emacs Lisp, per the community directory)
- tinmop (Lisp or Common Lisp, as listed in the roundup)
Nim
- Chawan
Shell
- ereandel
Four clients with documented differences
The community ecosystem directory gives more description for four of these clients. Those descriptions are the only basis for the comparison below. Each one is a claim from the directory rather than a current check against the project’s own repository, so treat the “not stated” cells as gaps in the directory, not as evidence that a feature is missing.
Rank #2
- 【Android 16 Tablet with Gemini AI 3.5】The 11 inch TABWEE T90 brings a cleaner, smarter tablet experience for work, study and home use. Android 16 adds a simpler lock screen, customizable Quick Settings, improved video calls with background blur and portrait light, easier cloud photo selection and enhanced Linux terminal support. With Gemini AI 3.5, you can search, translate, summarize notes, organize ideas and plan tasks more efficiently—ideal for online classes, reading, video calls and light office work
- 【11 Inch FHD IPS Display for Streaming, Reading and Learning】Enjoy a bigger and clearer viewing experience on the 11 inch FHD display with 1920 x 1200 resolution and an 84.9% screen-to-body ratio. The fully laminated TDDI screen delivers more natural colors, smoother touch response, and a more immersive feel when watching movies, reading documents, viewing recipes, or studying online. With Widevine L1 support, dual smart speakers, and 380-nit brightness, this Android tablet is ideal for Netflix-style streaming, YouTube, music, eBooks, online lessons, and comfortable indoor entertainment
- 【24GB RAM + 128GB ROM, More Space for Daily Needs】Android 16 tablet comes with up to 24GB RAM, including 8GB built-in RAM and 16GB virtual memory expansion, helping daily apps run smoothly for browsing, video watching, note-taking, email, and study apps. The 128GB ROM provides plenty of room for photos, documents, music, videos, learning materials, and work files. Need more storage? The TF card slot supports up to 2TB expansion, so you can keep more movies, books, files, and family memories without constantly deleting content. Memory expansion path: Settings > System > Memory Expansion
- 【T615 Octa-Core + 8000mAh Battery for Long Days】Powered by the Unisoc T615 octa-core processor, T90 delivers reliable everyday speed for streaming, video calls, online lessons, reading, emails and document editing. The 8000mAh battery supports up to 11H video playback, 8H daily entertainment or 40H music, while smart power management helps reduce background drain, making it ready for flights, commutes, study sessions and busy workdays
- 【13MP Camera with Google Lens】The 13MP rear camera works with Google Lens to make daily tasks easier. Scan documents, translate text, identify objects, search products, capture handwritten notes, or save useful information in seconds. The 5MP front camera is suitable for video calls and clear face-to-face communication. With dual-band 5G WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou, this Android tablet offers fast downloads, stable wireless connections, easy accessory pairing, and reliable location support for travel, maps, and mobile use
| Client | Language | Protocols named | Offline behavior | Maintenance note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amfora | Go | Not stated in the directory | Not stated in the directory | Described as a “fancy” terminal client in maintenance mode |
| Offpunk | Python | Gemini, Gopher, Spartan, HTTP/HTML | Described as offline-first | Not stated in the directory |
| Telescope | C | Gemini, Gopher, Finger | Not stated in the directory | Not stated in the directory |
| Bombadillo | Go | Not stated in the directory | Not stated in the directory | Not stated in the directory |
Amfora
Amfora is a Gemini-focused terminal client written in Go. The directory calls it a “fancy” client, and it notes that the project is in maintenance mode. For a new install, that status matters: a maintenance-mode project may still work well for reading but is unlikely to add features or fix less urgent issues quickly. Check the project’s recent activity before relying on it.
Offpunk
Offpunk is a Python client that the directory describes as an offline-first browser. It covers Gemini, Gopher, Spartan, and HTTP/HTML. If you want to download pages to read later, or you move between several protocols in one tool, Offpunk is the most directly relevant entry among the four.
Telescope
Telescope is a C client, described as inspired by the w3m text browser. It supports Gemini, Gopher, and Finger. It suits readers who want one terminal tool for several small-web protocols rather than a Gemini-only reader.
Bombadillo
Bombadillo is a Go client listed in the roundup. The directory does not describe its protocol coverage, offline behavior, or maintenance status, so check its repository for those details before choosing it.
Other terminal candidates in the wider ecosystem
The community ecosystem directory lists further terminal candidates beyond the roundup. They are useful for discovery but were not checked for maintenance or suitability. Confirm each project’s interface type, since the directory also catalogs graphical clients and programming libraries that do not belong in a terminal shortlist.
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- masha
- AV-98
- bollux
- diohsc
- gelim
- gem.awk
- gembro
- Gemcurses
- gemini-demo-1, gemini-demo-2, gemini-demo-3
- gemini-fetch
- gmi
- gmi100
- gmni
- Gremlin
- Lagrange
- leo
- min
- Omura
- Romulus
- Scroll-Term
- tgmi
How to choose a client
Start with what you want to do, then narrow the list:
Best Value
- Decide whether you need offline reading. If you want to save pages and read them later, prioritize clients the directory describes as offline-first, such as Offpunk.
- Decide how many protocols you need. A Gemini-only reader is simpler. If you also browse Gopher, Finger, Spartan, or HTTP content, look at multi-protocol clients such as Telescope or Offpunk.
- Check the interaction style. Line-mode clients run one command at a time and suit scripting or quick lookups. Full-screen clients take over the terminal and suit long reading sessions.
- Check the language and your toolchain. A Go, Rust, or Nim client needs its own build toolchain or a prebuilt binary. A Python client needs a suitable Python version. A Shell client depends on the tools it calls.
- Check maintenance before installing. Look at the last release or commit date, open issues, and whether the project says it is in maintenance mode.
Verify before you install
Confirm these points on each project’s own repository or documentation page before installing:
- The license, which determines whether the software qualifies under the roundup’s free and open source requirement.
- Supported operating systems and whether there is a packaged version for your distribution.
- Installation requirements, including compilers, runtimes, or libraries.
- Recent release or commit activity.
- Whether the project is described as active, maintenance-only, or archived.
Project pages change over time, so the details above should be checked at the source on the day you install.
Not the same as Google’s Gemini CLI
Google’s Gemini CLI is an open-source AI agent that lets you use Google’s Gemini models from a terminal. It is unrelated to the Gemini protocol. None of the clients above connect to Google’s AI models, and the Gemini CLI does not read Gemini-protocol pages. Keep the two separate when you search for tools.
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