Jules is Google's async coding agent: it clones a GitHub repo into a cloud VM, shows a plan, then opens a pull request. The free plan needs no payment method. Since early 2026 it has added CI Fixer, MCP connections and commit authoring. Paid plans need a personal @gmail.com account.
What changed
Jules is Google Labs' asynchronous coding agent, out of beta since August 6, 2025. It clones a GitHub repository into a Google Cloud VM, drafts a plan for approval, runs the tests and opens a pull request for review. Gemini 3 Flash is the base model, with Gemini 3.1 Pro for Pro subscribers.
Maker: Google · Autonomy: semi autonomous · Maturity: GA
Underlying models: Gemini 3.1 Pro, Gemini 3 Flash
About Jules
Jules is an autonomous coding agent built by Google Labs, launched in beta at Google I/O in May 2025 and out of beta since August 6, 2025. Unlike a chat assistant that answers questions inside an editor, Jules takes a whole task, works on it unattended in an isolated cloud environment, and returns a pull request ready for review. It sits in the same async category as Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, but it is bundled into Google's consumer AI subscriptions rather than sold on its own.
Jules clones the target GitHub repository into a dedicated Google Cloud virtual machine, reads the codebase, writes an execution plan and waits for the developer to approve it. Because every action happens inside that VM, Jules can install dependencies, run the existing test suite and rewrite files without touching the developer's machine. Gemini 3 Flash became the base model for all tiers on January 30, 2026, replacing Gemini 2.5 Pro, and Gemini 3.1 Pro became the default for Google AI Pro users on March 9, 2026. Jules' own pricing page still lists Gemini 2.5 Pro for the free plan, so the changelog and the pricing page disagree; the changelog is the newer document.
Since early 2026 the product has grown around that loop. CI Fixer (February 19, 2026) reads a failing GitHub Actions check on a pull request Jules opened and resubmits a fix without a new prompt. MCP support (February 2, 2026) connects Jules to Linear, Stitch, Neon, Tinybird, Context7 and Supabase with API keys, a deliberately short vetted list. Commit authoring lets a developer choose whether commits carry Jules, both names, or only the developer's own. Scheduled Tasks and Suggested Tasks (which now flags performance optimizations as well as #TODO comments) let it start work without being asked, and a Planning Critic reviews auto-approved plans before execution; Google says that cut task failures by 9.5%. A Render integration reads failed deployment logs and pushes fixes to Jules' own pull requests. Access is through the jules.google web app, the Jules Tools command line and an alpha REST API.
Jules suits specific, well-scoped work: a named bug, a dependency bump, missing unit tests. That fits backend engineers clearing a backlog, open-source maintainers triaging issues, and small teams that want routine lint and upgrade fixes done overnight.
Where an alternative wins: if you want to steer an agent live, Claude Code, Gemini CLI or OpenHands give you a running session instead of a finished pull request. GitHub is the only supported host, so GitLab and Bitbucket teams are out, and paid plans are open only to individual @gmail.com accounts, which blocks a company-wide purchase. For a side-by-side of the wider field, see the coding assistants roundup and the Cursor versus Claude Code comparison. Shortlist matching for your own stack is available through Smart Match.
Pricing
Free plan: 15 tasks per rolling 24 hours and 3 concurrent tasks. Jules in Pro (Google AI Pro): 100 tasks a day and 15 concurrent. Jules in Ultra (Google AI Ultra): 300 tasks a day and 60 concurrent. Task and concurrency limits were read on Jules' usage-limits page on 2026-10-25. The subscription prices are set on Google's AI plans page, which served local-currency prices on that date, so the USD figures here are as last checked on 2026-07-27: AI Pro $19.99 a month and AI Ultra $124.99 a month. Only individual @gmail.com accounts can buy a paid plan; Google says it is working on upgrade paths for other account types and points business users to an interest form. Compare other agents on the [coding assistants roundup](/guides/best-ai-coding-assistants-2026).
Key Features
- CI Fixer: Spots a failed GitHub Actions run on one of its own pull requests and pushes a corrected version with no new prompt (added February 19, 2026).
- Scheduled Tasks: Runs recurring jobs on a set cadence, such as a nightly lint pass or a weekly dependency check, without a developer starting each run.
- Suggested Tasks: Scans a connected repository for #TODO comments and, since January 2026, performance optimizations, then drafts a plan for approval.
- Isolated Cloud VM Execution: Clones the full repository into its own Google Cloud virtual machine per task, so it can install dependencies and run tests away from a developer's machine.
- MCP server connections: Connects with API keys to six vetted MCP servers (Linear, Stitch, Neon, Tinybird, Context7, Supabase) so a session can call those tools mid-task.
- Commit authoring modes: Lets each developer pick whether commits are authored by Jules, co-authored with the developer, or credited to the developer alone.
- Jules API and CLI: An alpha REST API plus the Jules Tools command line let teams start and monitor tasks from Slack, Linear or a CI/CD pipeline.
Strengths
- Runs entirely asynchronously, so a developer can hand off a bug fix and keep working instead of babysitting a live session.
- CI Fixer automatically detects a failing GitHub Actions check on its own pull request and resubmits a corrected version without a human re-prompting it.
- Free tier requires no payment method and works out of the box across Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, Go, Rust, and Java repositories.
Weaknesses
- The free plan's daily task cap and three-task concurrency limit are thin for a team clearing a large bug backlog.
- Workspace and enterprise Google accounts cannot buy a paid plan, so a company-wide rollout is blocked.
- MCP connections are limited to six hand-picked servers, and GitHub is the only supported code host.
- Struggles with vaguely worded issues such as 'the login is broken' and can return verbose code that needs manual trimming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jules cost in 2026?
The free plan gives 15 tasks per rolling day with 3 running at once. Jules in Pro comes with Google AI Pro (100 tasks, 15 concurrent), and Jules in Ultra with Google AI Ultra (300 tasks, 60 concurrent). HokAI last confirmed the USD subscription prices on 2026-07-27. A paid plan needs a personal Gmail account.
Does Jules need a person watching it?
No, but a person stays in the loop at the start and the end. Jules shows its plan for approval before editing code, runs unattended in its cloud VM, and stops at a pull request. It cannot merge for you. CI Fixer can resubmit a pull request after a failed GitHub Actions check, and Scheduled Tasks can start jobs without a prompt.
Which Jules alternatives should a developer weigh?
Claude Code and Gemini CLI run live in a terminal, which suits steering step by step. OpenAI Codex is the closest async rival, taking a task and returning a pull request. Cursor and GitHub Copilot work inside the editor. Pick Jules when you want to hand off a backlog item and stay on other work.
How is Jules different from Claude Code?
Jules works in the background inside a Google Cloud VM and reports back with a finished pull request, while Claude Code runs interactively in your terminal. Jules is GitHub-only, with a free plan of 15 tasks a day. Choose Jules for batched bug fixes and Claude Code when you want to direct each step.
How do you start a first task in Jules?
Sign in at jules.google.com with a Google account, connect a GitHub repository, pick a branch and write a specific prompt such as adding a test for one named function. Select 'Give me a plan', approve it, and Jules opens a pull request. You can also add the 'jules' label to a GitHub issue. The free plan needs no payment method.
Top Alternatives
- Claude Code: Pick Jules if you want async background pull requests; pick Claude Code if you want an interactive terminal pair programmer.
HokAI guides covering Jules
- Best AI Agents in 2026: Autonomy Level Matters More Than Benchmarks: Best AI agents in 2026, compared by autonomy level and domain fit instead of benchmark score, with real pricing for Claude Code, Jules, Fugu, and Artisan.
- Netlify Stopped Charging by Seat Because Agents Don't Have One: Netlify made Pro seats unlimited on April 14, 2026 for $20 a month but doubled bandwidth and compute credit rates. See who saves versus Vercel Pro today.