Claude vs Gemini vs GPT: Which AI for Code Review?

The AI Model Choice Matters

Not all AI models are equal for code review. Each has strengths and weaknesses that affect:

• Review quality — How well it understands code
• Speed — How fast it returns results
• Cost — API pricing per review
• Context — How much code it can analyze at once

Let's compare the three major options: Claude, Gemini, and GPT.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Claude	Gemini	GPT
Code Understanding	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Response Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Context Window	200K tokens	1M tokens	128K tokens
Security Analysis	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Efficiency	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nuanced Feedback	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Claude (Anthropic)

Best for: Deep code understanding and nuanced feedback

Strengths

• Excellent code comprehension — Understands complex logic and patterns
• Nuanced feedback — Provides context-aware suggestions
• Strong security analysis — Catches subtle vulnerabilities
• Consistent quality — Reliable output across reviews

Considerations

• Slightly slower than Gemini
• Higher API cost (~$3-15/million tokens)

When to Choose Claude

Choose Claude if you prioritize review quality over speed. It's ideal for:

• Security-sensitive codebases
• Complex business logic
• Teams that want detailed explanations

Gemini (Google)

Best for: Fast analysis with large context

Strengths

• Very fast — Quickest response times
• Huge context window — 1M tokens (can analyze entire repos)
• Cost-effective — Lower API pricing
• Good for large PRs — Handles big diffs well

Considerations

• Less nuanced than Claude
• May miss subtle issues

When to Choose Gemini

Choose Gemini if you need speed and scale. It's ideal for:

• High-velocity teams
• Large PRs with many files
• Cost-conscious organizations

GPT (OpenAI)

Best for: General-purpose review with broad capabilities

Strengths

• Well-documented behavior — Predictable output
• Consistent quality — Reliable across use cases
• Wide ecosystem — Integrates with many tools
• Good general-purpose — Handles most code well

Considerations

• Can be verbose
• Rate limits on some tiers

When to Choose GPT

Choose GPT if you're already in the OpenAI ecosystem or want:

• Predictable, consistent output
• Integration with other OpenAI tools
• General-purpose code review

Dual-Model Mode

Can't decide? Use both. Git AutoReview supports dual-model mode:

1. Enable two models in settings
2. Both analyze the same PR
3. Compare suggestions side-by-side
4. Approve the best from each

Recommended combinations:

• Claude + Gemini — Quality + Speed
• Claude + GPT — Deep analysis from two perspectives
• Gemini + GPT — Fast comparison

Cost Comparison

Approximate costs per 1,000 code reviews (assuming 20K tokens/review):

Model	Cost/1M Tokens	Cost/1K Reviews
Claude Sonnet	~$3-15	$60-300
Gemini Flash	~$0.50-7	$10-140
OpenAI GPT-4o	~$5-15	$100-300

Note: With BYOK, you pay the provider directly at their current rates.

Our Recommendation

For most teams, we recommend:

1. Start with Claude — Best overall quality
2. Add Gemini for large PRs — When speed matters
3. Use dual-model for critical reviews — Get two perspectives

Conclusion

There's no single "best" AI for code review. The right choice depends on your priorities:

• Quality first → Claude
• Speed first → Gemini
• Ecosystem fit → GPT
• Best of both → Dual-model

Try them all with Git AutoReview's multi-model support and find what works for your team.