Free Claude Code Alternatives
Last checked: . Prices and limits change often, so each listing links to the page we checked.
How we pick: free plan or license checked on the vendor's own page. Paid placement can't change the order. How we check
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Free tier | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenCode | Free and open-source terminal agents | No account, free models built in | Terminal, desktop app, IDE extension |
| goose | Free and open-source terminal agents | Desktop app on Mac, Windows and Linux | Desktop app and CLI for macOS, Linux and Windows |
| Aider | Free and open-source terminal agents | Not listed | Terminal |
| Qwen Code | Free and open-source terminal agents | Not listed | Terminal, IDE plugins, desktop app, web UI |
| Cline | In VS Code | Stay in VS Code | VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app |
| OpenAI Codex CLI | Open source, but tied to an account or a local model | Not listed | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows |
| Antigravity CLI | Free hosted plan (not open source) | Not listed | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Short answer
- Best for no account, free models built in OpenCode
- Best for stay in VS Code Cline
- Best for desktop app on Mac, Windows and Linux goose
Claude Code isn't on Claude's Free plan. It comes with the paid Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, or you can pay for API usage through a Claude Console account. If you want a coding agent that reads your repo, edits files and runs commands for $0:
- Open source, free to install: OpenCode, Cline, goose, Aider, Qwen Code and OpenAI's Codex CLI.
- Free models with no account: OpenCode ships a set of free models (free for a limited time, per OpenCode).
- Free hosted plan, not open source: Google's Antigravity CLI, through Antigravity's $0 Individual plan.
The software is free. You either run a local model (for example with Ollama), use a free model or plan, or pay an AI provider for your own API key.
Free swaps for Claude Code
7 options. Every card shows the same facts in the same order; "Not stated" means the vendor's page doesn't say.
OpenCode
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (MIT)
- Runs on
- Terminal, desktop app, IDE extension
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Built-in free models, no account needed (free for a limited time); or local models
- Last release
- v1.19.5 · 2026-10-28 (GitHub)
Skip it if: you need free models you can count on; OpenCode says they're free for a limited time.
Cline
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (Apache-2.0)
- Runs on
- VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Local Ollama or LM Studio; or your own API key
- Last release
- v4.1.26 · 2026-10-26 (GitHub)
Skip it if: you need the JetBrains extension; the pricing page lists it under Enterprise.
goose
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (Apache-2.0)
- Runs on
- Desktop app and CLI for macOS, Linux and Windows
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Ollama (local); or your own API key
- Last release
- v1.56.0 · 2026-10-23 (GitHub)
Skip it if: you want a coding-only tool; goose is a general-purpose agent.
Aider
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (Apache-2.0)
- Runs on
- Terminal
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Local Ollama models; or your own API key
- Last release
- v0.86.0 · 2025-08-09 (GitHub)
Skip it if: you want frequent updates; its last GitHub release was 2025-08-09.
Qwen Code
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (Apache-2.0)
- Runs on
- Terminal, IDE plugins, desktop app, web UI
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Local models (Ollama / vLLM); its free Qwen OAuth tier ended on 2026-04-15
- Last release
- v0.26.2 · 2026-10-27 (GitHub, CLI)
Skip it if: you wanted the free Qwen OAuth tier; it ended on 2026-04-15.
OpenAI Codex CLI
- Cost/license
- Free, open source (Apache-2.0)
- Runs on
- Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Local models with --oss (Ollama or LM Studio)
- Last release
- rust-v0.165.0 · 2026-10-27 (GitHub)
Skip it if: you don't want a ChatGPT account, an API key or a local model; it needs one.
Antigravity CLI
- Cost/license
- $0 Individual plan; license not stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Commercial use
- Not stated
- Free limit
- Free plan with "Basic weekly rate limits"
- Last release
- Not stated
Skip it if: you need open source; Google doesn't state a license for it.
Is Claude Code free?
No. Per the Claude pricing page (checked 2026-10-28), the Free plan ($0) feature table lists "Claude Code: No". Claude Code is included in:
- Pro: $17 a month with the annual discount ($200 billed up front), or $20 billed monthly.
- Max: from $100 a month, with 5x or 20x more usage than Pro.
- Team: standard seats are $20 a seat a month billed annually, or $25 billed monthly. The Team plan lists "Claude Code and Claude Cowork".
- Enterprise: seat price plus usage at API rates.
Claude Code's quickstart says you need "A Claude subscription (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise), Claude Console account, or access through a supported cloud provider." Claude Code runs on macOS, Linux and Windows.
Comparison table
| Tool | Open source? (license) | Cost of the software | Free way to run a model | Where it runs | Source (checked 2026-10-28) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenCode | Yes (MIT) | $0 ("100% free to use") | Built-in free models, no account needed (free for a limited time); or local models | Terminal, desktop app, IDE extension | opencode.ai |
| Cline | Yes (Apache-2.0) | $0 for individual developers | Local Ollama or LM Studio; or your own API key | VS Code extension, CLI, desktop app | Cline pricing |
| goose | Yes (Apache-2.0) | $0 | Ollama (local); or your own API key | Desktop app and CLI for macOS, Linux and Windows | goose-docs.ai |
| Aider | Yes (Apache-2.0) | $0 | Local Ollama models; or your own API key | Terminal | aider.chat |
| Qwen Code | Yes (Apache-2.0) | $0 | Local models (Ollama / vLLM); its free Qwen OAuth tier ended on 2026-04-15 | Terminal, IDE plugins, desktop app, web UI | Qwen Code on GitHub |
| OpenAI Codex CLI | Yes (Apache-2.0) | $0 for the software; sign in with ChatGPT or use an API key | Local models with --oss (Ollama or LM Studio) | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows | Codex on GitHub |
| Antigravity CLI | Not stated | $0 Individual plan | Free plan with "Basic weekly rate limits" | macOS, Windows, Linux | Antigravity pricing |
Free and open-source terminal agents
These run in your terminal, read your project, edit files and run commands. You pick the model.
OpenCode
OpenCode calls itself "The open source AI coding agent." Its FAQ says "OpenCode is 100% free to use. It also comes with a set of free models. There might be additional costs if you connect any other provider."
More details
- License: MIT, per its GitHub repository (now at anomalyco/opencode).
- Free models: the FAQ says you can use them "without creating an account." OpenCode's Zen docs list them (for example GLM-5.3-Flash Free and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Free) and say each is free "for a limited time."
- Privacy on free models: the FAQ says "Your data and information is only stored when you use our free models." Per the Zen docs, some free models' providers use a zero-retention policy, while for others (such as Big Pickle and Flint 40B Free) "collected data may be used to improve the model." Check the list before you send private code.
- Other models: "75+ LLM providers through Models.dev, including local models." You can also log in with a GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT Plus/Pro account.
Source: opencode.ai, OpenCode Zen docs and OpenCode on GitHub (license: MIT per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
goose
goose is "Your native open source AI agent," with a desktop app, CLI and API. Its site says it's "a general-purpose AI agent that runs on your machine. Not just for code."
More details
- Models: "Works with 15+ providers — Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure, Bedrock, and more." It can also use your existing Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscriptions through ACP.
- Platforms: macOS, Linux and Windows.
- Project: part of the Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation. The repository moved to aaif-goose/goose.
Source: goose-docs.ai and goose on GitHub (license: Apache-2.0 per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
Aider
Aider is "AI pair programming in your terminal." Its site says it "can connect to almost any LLM, including local models," and it "automatically commits changes with sensible commit messages."
More details
- Local models: Aider's docs show how to connect it to local Ollama models.
- Updates: its last GitHub release is v0.86.0 from 2025-08-09, and the repository was last updated in May 2026.
Source: aider.chat, Aider Ollama docs and Aider on GitHub (license: Apache-2.0 per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
Qwen Code
Qwen Code is "An open-source AI coding agent that lives in your terminal," with IDE plugins, a desktop app and a web UI too. Its README says it works with "Any third-party provider or local model (Ollama / vLLM)."
More details
- Free tier ended: Qwen Code's docs say "Qwen OAuth is no longer a selectable dialog entry — its free tier was discontinued on 2026-04-15."
- Today: its /auth menu offers QwenCloud or Alibaba ModelStudio keys and plans, third-party providers, or a custom provider such as a local server.
Source: Qwen Code on GitHub and Qwen Code authentication docs (license: Apache-2.0 per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
In VS Code
Cline
Cline is "The open agent," with a VS Code extension, a CLI (installed with npm i -g cline) and a desktop app. Its pricing page says "Cline is free for individual developers. Pay only for AI inference on a usage basis - no subscriptions."
More details
- Models: "Claude, GPT, Gemini, local Ollama / LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Bring your own key or your own weights."
- JetBrains: Cline's homepage links a JetBrains install, but its pricing page lists the JetBrains extension under Enterprise.
Source: cline.bot, Cline pricing and Cline on GitHub (license: Apache-2.0 per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
Open source, but tied to an account or a local model
OpenAI Codex CLI
Codex CLI is "a coding agent from OpenAI that runs locally on your computer." The code is open source (Apache-2.0), but you need a model:
More details
- ChatGPT sign-in: OpenAI's help center says "Codex is included across ChatGPT plans, including Free and Go. Usage limits vary by plan." The Codex pricing page lists Free ($0) with "GPT-6 Luna at Standard speed in the desktop app, subject to rollout," and lists "Codex on the web, in the CLI, in the IDE extension" under Plus ($20 a month). The Codex README names Plus, Pro, Business, Edu and Enterprise.
- API key: works too, billed at API prices.
- Local models: Codex's docs say it "can run against a local 'open source' provider such as Ollama or LM Studio when you pass --oss."
Source: Codex on GitHub, Codex pricing, OpenAI help center and Codex advanced config (license: Apache-2.0 per GitHub) · checked 2026-10-28
Free hosted plan (not open source)
Antigravity CLI
Antigravity CLI is Google's "terminal-first surface to work with Antigravity agents." Google's pricing page lists an Individual plan at $0 a month, "without a subscription plan," with "Access to a variety of agent models" and "Basic weekly rate limits." Antigravity is available on macOS, Windows and Linux. The Google pages we checked don't state a license for it.
More details
Source: Antigravity pricing and antigravity.google · checked 2026-10-28
What changed
- Gemini CLI: its site now says "Unpaid tier and Google One users: Gemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI on June 18th, 2026." Gemini CLI is still open source (Apache-2.0), but it's no longer a free option for unpaid users.
- Qwen Code: the free Qwen OAuth tier ended on 2026-04-15.
- Crush (Charm): its license is the "Functional Source License, Version 1.1, MIT Future License," so it's source-available, not open source.
Run it fully local
To pay nothing for the model, run one on your own computer. Ollama is a common way to do that.
- OpenCode: supports local models through its providers.
- Cline: works with local Ollama or LM Studio.
- goose: lists Ollama as a provider.
- Aider: has an Ollama setup guide. It warns that Ollama's default 2k context window is "very small for working with aider," and sets a larger one for you.
- Qwen Code: works with Ollama or vLLM.
- Codex CLI: run it with --oss and Ollama or LM Studio.
Local models need a capable computer. We don't list hardware needs because most of these tools don't publish them.
FAQs
Is Claude Code free?
No. Claude's pricing page lists "Claude Code: No" for the Free plan. It's included in Pro ($17 a month billed annually, or $20 monthly), Max (from $100 a month), Team and Enterprise. You can also pay for API usage through a Claude Console account (checked 2026-10-28).
Is Claude Code included in Claude Pro?
Yes. Claude's pricing page lists Claude Code in Pro, which costs $17 a month with the annual discount ($200 billed up front) or $20 billed monthly. Max, from $100 a month, gives 5x or 20x more usage than Pro (checked 2026-10-28).
Is there a completely free alternative to Claude Code?
Yes, if you run a local model. OpenCode, Cline, goose, Aider, Qwen Code and Codex CLI are open source, and each can use local models. OpenCode also ships free models you can use without an account, though it says they're free for a limited time.
Is there an open-source alternative to Claude Code?
Yes. OpenCode (MIT), Cline (Apache-2.0), goose (Apache-2.0), Aider (Apache-2.0), Qwen Code (Apache-2.0) and OpenAI Codex CLI (Apache-2.0) are open source, per their GitHub repositories. Crush is source-available under the Functional Source License, not open source.
Can I use Claude Code for free with Ollama?
Ollama's docs show Claude Code connecting to local and cloud models through Ollama's Anthropic-compatible API (the ollama launch claude command). Anthropic's quickstart only lists a Claude subscription, a Console account or a cloud provider. We haven't checked whether this setup needs a Claude account.
Is there a free Claude Code alternative for VS Code?
Cline. It's an open-source (Apache-2.0) VS Code extension, and its pricing page says it's free for individual developers. You pay only for AI inference, or connect local Ollama or LM Studio models. OpenCode and Qwen Code also list IDE extensions.
Is Claude Code free for students?
We didn't find a free student offer for individuals. Claude's pricing page lists an Education plan that universities buy for their students, faculty and staff, at "discounted rates" (checked 2026-10-28).
Is Gemini CLI still free?
Not for unpaid users. Gemini CLI's site says "Unpaid tier and Google One users: Gemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI on June 18th, 2026." Antigravity's pricing page lists a $0 Individual plan with basic weekly rate limits.
How we picked and checked
- How we picked: we started from what people search for alongside "free alternative to Claude Code" (open source, local, Ollama, VS Code, Codex, Gemini) and kept terminal or IDE coding agents whose license or $0 plan we could confirm on the tool's own website, docs or GitHub repository.
- How we checked: we read each website, pricing page, docs page and README on 2026-10-28. Licenses come from GitHub's license data. Every listing links to the page we used.
- One hands-on check: on 2026-10-28 we ran OpenCode 1.19.5 on a Mac with npx, with no account and no API key, using its free GLM-5.3-Flash Free model. It fixed a one-line bug in a test file. We haven't tested the other tools, so we don't rank them by code quality.
- Affiliate links: some links may earn us a commission. The open-source tools don't pay us.
Sources
All checked 2026-10-28.
- Claude pricing: https://
claude.com/ pricing - Claude Code quickstart: https://
code.claude.com/ docs/ en/ quickstart - Claude Code product page (platforms): https://
claude.com/ product/ claude-code - OpenCode: https://
opencode.ai/ , https://opencode.ai/ and https://docs/ zen/ github.com/ anomalyco/ opencode - Cline: https://
cline.bot/ , https://cline.bot/ and https://pricing github.com/ cline/ cline - goose: https://
goose-docs.ai/ and https://github.com/ aaif-goose/ goose - Aider: https://
aider.chat/ , https://aider.chat/ and https://docs/ llms/ ollama.html github.com/ Aider-AI/ aider - Qwen Code: https://
github.com/ and https://QwenLM/ qwen-code qwenlm.github.io/ qwen-code-docs/ en/ users/ configuration/ auth/ - OpenAI Codex CLI: https://
github.com/ , https://openai/ codex developers.openai.com/ , https://codex/ pricing help.openai.com/ and https://en/ articles/ 11369540-codex-in-chatgpt developers.openai.com/ codex/ config-advanced - Antigravity: https://
antigravity.google/ and https://pricing antigravity.google/ - Gemini CLI: https://
geminicli.com/ - Crush license: https://
github.com/ charmbracelet/ crush/ blob/ main/ LICENSE.md - Ollama and Claude Code: https://
docs.ollama.com/ integrations/ claude-code