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There is no single best terminal client for the Gemini protocol. The right choice depends on whether you want a full-screen interface or a simple command-driven one, whether you need Gopher or other protocols alongside Gemini, and whether you want to read pages offline. The LinuxLinks roundup of free and open-source terminal Gemini clients, in the revision reviewed for this article (dated April 19, 2026), lists 16 entries. This guide covers those entries, explains how to compare them, and points to additional candidates from a community directory.
In this article, “Gemini” means the internet protocol: a lightweight system for linked text documents addressed with gemini:// URLs. It has no connection to Google’s Gemini AI models.
What Gemini the protocol is
Gemini is a small internet protocol designed for publishing and reading linked written documents. It deliberately leaves out the scripts, styling and tracking common on the modern web, which is why clients can be small, fast and usable from a terminal. Pages are addressed with gemini:// URLs and returned as plain-text documents with a simple markup. Because it is a separate protocol, a Gemini client cannot open ordinary web pages, and a web browser cannot open Gemini pages without a bridge.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsScope: free, open-source and terminal only
The LinuxLinks roundup restricts its list to free and open-source software and separates terminal clients from graphical ones. Graphical Gemini browsers are outside this article. Every client below runs in a terminal window, though the way it presents content varies widely.
The count: 16 entries, not 17
Some indexed copies of the roundup carry a title promising 17 clients. The revision reviewed here is titled “16 Best Free and Open Source Terminal-Based Gemini Clients” and lists 16 entries, so this article covers those 16. If you are comparing against a different revision, check which names appear in it, since a client may have been added, removed or renamed between versions.
The 16 terminal clients
The table lists each client with its implementation language as given in the LinuxLinks roundup, plus any further description taken from the community directory. Where that directory has no description, the cell says so rather than guessing at features.
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 (LinuxLinks roundup) | Further description from the community directory |
|---|---|---|
| Amfora | Go | Described as a “fancy” terminal client that is in maintenance mode. Check the project repository for current status. |
| Bombadillo | Go | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Elpher | Lisp (the directory specifies Emacs Lisp) | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Chawan | Nim | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| ncgopher | Rust | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| tinmop | Lisp (Common Lisp) | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Offpunk | Python | Offline-first browser for Gemini, Gopher, Spartan and HTTP/HTML |
| asuka | Rust | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| astronaut | Go | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| cgmnlm | C | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| gplaces | C | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| ereandel | Shell | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Vgmi | C | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Telescope | C | w3m-inspired multi-protocol client supporting Gemini, Gopher and Finger |
| Astronomo | Python | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
| Bougie | Go | Not stated in the entries summarized here |
The language column tells you what you will need installed to build the client from source. It does not tell you how the client behaves, so use the criteria below before choosing.
How to compare clients
Interaction style
Some clients are full-screen programs that take over the terminal, with keyboard-driven navigation between links and tabs. Others are command-driven or line-mode tools, where you type a URL or a command and read the output. Full-screen clients suit regular browsing sessions. Line-mode tools suit scripting, quick lookups and use over slow connections.
Protocol breadth
Gemini alone is the narrowest choice. Several clients also handle Gopher, the older menu-based protocol, and some extend to Finger, Spartan, Nex or HTTP. Offpunk, for example, is described in the directory as covering Gemini, Gopher, Spartan and HTTP/HTML, and Telescope as covering Gemini, Gopher and Finger. If you plan to read older Gopher holes alongside Gemini capsules, check this column first.
Offline use
Offline behavior varies. Some clients cache pages so you can revisit them without a connection, and some are built around offline-first browsing. Offpunk is the client the directory describes that way. If you read on trains, in airplanes or on intermittent links, make this a deciding factor and test caching on a page you can later reopen without network access.
Runtime and setup
The implementation language affects what you install. Go, Rust and C clients usually produce a single binary once built. Python and Lisp clients need their interpreter or runtime present. Shell-based tools depend on the utilities they call. Read each project’s own installation instructions, because the roundup records language only and does not describe packaging.
Maintenance, platforms and license
Maintenance status changes faster than list articles. A client listed here may have recent commits, a long gap since its last release, or a notice that development has stopped. Platform support and license also differ between projects. These details belong to the project itself, not to any roundup or directory.
Best Value
Other terminal candidates from the community directory
The community ecosystem directory names further terminal candidates. It is useful for discovery, but it does not confirm that any listed project is actively maintained or suitable for a current recommendation. The directory also catalogs graphical clients and programming libraries, so check each name’s scope before treating it as a terminal client.
- masha
- AV-98
- bollux
- diohsc
- gelim
- gem.awk
- gembro
- Gemcurses
- gemini-demo-1, gemini-demo-2 and gemini-demo-3
- gemini-fetch
- gmi
- gmi100
- gmni
- Gremlin
- Lagrange
- leo
- min
- Omura
- Romulus
- Scroll-Term
- tgmi
Google’s Gemini CLI is a different tool
Google’s Gemini CLI is an open-source AI agent for using Google’s Gemini models from a terminal. It does not browse gemini:// pages, and none of the clients above connect to Google’s AI services. Searches for “Gemini CLI” often return the AI tool, so use the protocol-specific terms “Gemini protocol client” or “gemini:// browser” when looking for the clients in this article.
How to check a client before you install it
- Open the project’s primary repository, not a directory or roundup entry, and find the most recent commit and release date.
- Read the README for installation steps, supported operating systems and any maintenance-mode or deprecation notice.
- Locate the license file and confirm it is a free and open-source license.
- Check the feature list for the protocols you need, and whether it offers caching or offline browsing.
- Install the client in a test environment, open a Gemini capsule you know, and confirm that navigation and back-navigation behave as you expect.
Choosing a client
- For full-screen, keyboard-driven browsing of Gemini only, start with the clients whose entries describe a full-screen interface and check their repositories for current activity.
- For Gemini plus Gopher or Finger, look at Telescope and Offpunk first, then compare the others against the protocol column above.
- For reading without a constant connection, prioritize clients with offline or caching behavior and test them on pages you will need later.
- For scripting or quick command-line lookups, prefer line-mode tools and check how they handle output piping.
Whichever client you pick, confirm its maintenance status yourself before depending on it.
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