Compare
Cursor vs Gemini CLI
Side-by-side comparison of Cursor and Gemini CLI for SKILL.md agent skills — install model, shell access, native support, skill count and best use cases.
Comparison
At a glance
| Dimension | Cursor | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Cursor | |
| Native SKILL.md support | Via compatibility layer | Via compatibility layer |
| Verified skills indexed | 73 | 5 |
| Install model | Local folder | Local folder |
| Shell / Bash access | Yes | Yes |
| Tagline | AI-first IDE. SKILL.md works via the Cursor plugin layer; per-skill compatibility verified here. | Google's coding agent CLI with a SKILL.md compatibility layer. |
Both
5
Skills verified to work on both Cursor and Gemini.
Only Cursor
68
Indexed for Cursor but not yet verified on Gemini CLI.
Only Gemini
0
Indexed for Gemini CLI but not yet verified on Cursor.
Verdict
Which should you pick?
Both support SKILL.md natively, so the choice is about ecosystem fit. Pick Cursor for Cursor integrations and the workflows it makes easiest; pick Gemini CLI for Google integrations and its specific surface.
Many teams use both — Skills with the SKILL.md spec are portable, and 5 of the skills indexed here are verified on both agents. Browse the per-agent rankings to see which Skills lead on each platform: Skills for Cursor · Skills for Gemini CLI.
FAQ
Common questions
Which is better for SKILL.md skills, Cursor or Gemini CLI?
Both support SKILL.md natively. Cursor has 73 verified skills indexed here; Gemini CLI has 5. 5 skills work on both.
Can I use the same Skill on Cursor and Gemini CLI?
5 of the skills indexed here work on both. The SKILL.md spec is shared, so most skills run cleanly on both — the exceptions are skills that depend on agent-specific tools (Bash, Workflows, MCP patterns).
How do I install a Skill on Cursor?
Drop the folder under `.cursor/skills/` for project-scoped, or the global Cursor config dir for user-wide. The marketplace gives one-click install for popular Skills.
How do I install a Skill on Gemini CLI?
Drop the folder under `~/.gemini/skills/` for user-wide or `.gemini/skills/` for project-scoped. The compatibility layer translates SKILL.md frontmatter automatically.
Which agent should I pick for cross-platform skill use?
Both support skills natively. Pick by ecosystem fit: Cursor for Cursor customers, Gemini CLI for Google customers.
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