diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2107842..803925f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.2.1 - 2026-01-23
+
+- CLI: accept long flags with `--flag=value` (same behavior as space-separated).
+- Docs: note `--flag=value` support for long flags.
+
 ## 0.2.0 - 2026-01-02
 
 - Autocomplete suggestions for places and queries (client + CLI).
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a2da0a1..c2ebf40 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Modern Go client + CLI for the Google Places API (New). Fast for humans, tidy fo
 
 ## Install / Run
 
+Latest release: v0.2.1 (2026-01-23).
+
 - Homebrew: `brew install steipete/tap/goplaces`
 - Go: `go install github.com/steipete/goplaces/cmd/goplaces@latest`
 - Source: `make goplaces`
@@ -70,6 +72,8 @@ Optional overrides:
 
 ## CLI
 
+Long flags accept `--flag value` or `--flag=value` (examples use space).
+
 ```text
 goplaces [--api-key=KEY] [--base-url=URL] [--routes-base-url=URL] [--timeout=10s] [--json] [--no-color] [--verbose]
          <command>
diff --git a/internal/cli/cli_equals_test.go b/internal/cli/cli_equals_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..deb0c7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/cli/cli_equals_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestRunSearchWithEqualsFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"places": [{"id": "abc"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"search",
+		"coffee",
+		"--api-key=test-key",
+		"--base-url=" + server.URL,
+		"--json",
+		"--min-rating=4.2",
+		"--limit=5",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected exit code 0, got %d (stdout=%s stderr=%s)", exitCode, stdout.String(), stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected stderr: %s", stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(stdout.String()), "[") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected JSON array output, got: %s", stdout.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunNearbyWithEqualsFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if r.URL.Path != "/places:searchNearby" {
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected path: %s", r.URL.Path)
+		}
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"places": [{"id": "abc"}]}`))
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"nearby",
+		"--lat=1",
+		"--lng=2",
+		"--radius-m=3",
+		"--type=cafe",
+		"--exclude-type=bar",
+		"--limit=5",
+		"--api-key=test-key",
+		"--base-url=" + server.URL,
+		"--json",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected exit code 0, got %d (stdout=%s stderr=%s)", exitCode, stdout.String(), stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected stderr: %s", stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(stdout.String()), "[") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected JSON array output, got: %s", stdout.String())
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunRouteWithEqualsFlags(t *testing.T) {
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		switch r.URL.Path {
+		case "/directions/v2:computeRoutes":
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte("{\"routes\":[{\"polyline\":{\"encodedPolyline\":\"_p~iF~ps|U_ulLnnqC_mqNvxq`@\"}}]}"))
+		case placesSearchPath:
+			_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"places":[{"id":"abc","displayName":{"text":"Cafe"}}]}`))
+		default:
+			t.Fatalf("unexpected path: %s", r.URL.Path)
+		}
+	}))
+	defer server.Close()
+
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	var stderr bytes.Buffer
+
+	exitCode := Run([]string{
+		"route",
+		"coffee",
+		"--from=A",
+		"--to=B",
+		"--api-key=test-key",
+		"--base-url=" + server.URL,
+		"--routes-base-url=" + server.URL,
+		"--mode=WALK",
+		"--radius-m=1200",
+		"--max-waypoints=3",
+		"--limit=2",
+		"--json",
+	}, &stdout, &stderr)
+
+	if exitCode != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected exit code 0, got %d (stdout=%s stderr=%s)", exitCode, stdout.String(), stderr.String())
+	}
+	if stderr.Len() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected stderr: %s", stderr.String())
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(stdout.String(), "\"waypoints\"") {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected stdout: %s", stdout.String())
+	}
+}