Is OpenCode really free?

OpenCode the software is free and open-source. You pay nothing to install or run it. Your only costs are the API calls you make to whichever model provider you configure — those are billed directly by the provider at their own rates. If you use GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT via OAuth, those costs roll into your existing subscription.

Can OpenCode use Claude models?

Yes. Anthropic is one of OpenCode's 75+ supported providers. You supply your own Anthropic API key, and OpenCode calls Claude just like any other provider. This means you can get Claude's models inside OpenCode without using Claude Code itself.

Does Claude Code work with non-Claude models?

No. Claude Code is tied exclusively to Anthropic's Claude models (Opus 4.8, Sonnet, Haiku). There is no mechanism to route requests to OpenAI, Google, or other providers.

What happens to Claude Code pricing after 2026-06-22?

According to Anthropic, Claude Code will move from being included in Pro/Max/Team plans to a usage-credit model. The exact credit rates are subject to change — confirm the current pricing on Anthropic's site before making a cost comparison.

Both tools support MCP — are they equivalent?

Both support native MCP, so you can connect servers like GitHub, Slack, or Figma in either tool. Claude Code additionally layers on subagents, agent teams, hooks, skills, and a plugin system on top of MCP. Whether OpenCode has equivalent background-agent or subagent orchestration features is not confirmed in our current facts — check opencode.ai for the latest.

Comparison

OpenCode vs Claude Code

Both OpenCode and Claude Code are terminal-first AI coding agents with native MCP support, but they sit at opposite ends of the control spectrum: OpenCode is free, open-source, and lets you plug in any of 75+ model providers using your own API keys, while Claude Code is Anthropic's proprietary agent locked to Claude models and moving to usage-credit pricing after June 2026.

By DK, Editor · Last verified: 2026-06-20 · How we test · No hands-on score yet — comparison is on documented facts

At a glance

Dimension	OpenCode	Claude Code
Form factor	Terminal TUI (also desktop/IDE), open source	Terminal-native agent (also IDE + desktop app)
Open source	Yes — open source (license: confirm on opencode.ai)	No — proprietary (Anthropic)
Free tier	Free to run; you pay only your own provider API costs (BYO keys stored locally)	Included on Claude Pro/Max/Team until 2026-06-22, then moves to usage credits; API-priced (confirm current)
Models / providers	75+ providers: Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Copilot, ChatGPT OAuth, and more	Anthropic Claude only (Opus 4.8 / Sonnet / Haiku)
MCP support	Native MCP; add GitHub, Slack, Figma, or custom servers	MCP-native via connectors; also subagents, agent teams, hooks, skills, and plugin layers
Background / cloud agents	Not confirmed in available facts — check opencode.ai	Subagents and agent-team orchestration built in
Install	curl installer, npm, or Homebrew (npm package: opencode-ai)	npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code; auth via Claude account or Anthropic API key
Status	Active — 160K+ GitHub stars as of 2026-06	Active — pricing model changing 2026-06-22
Best for	Developers wanting full local control and provider flexibility at no software cost	Developers in the Anthropic ecosystem who want deep subagent orchestration and want a single managed product

Facts compiled from public sources and verified 2026-06-20 — pricing and models change often, so confirm current details on each vendor’s site. No hands-on score is shown; this is a documented-fact comparison.

Verdict

If you want to avoid vendor lock-in and keep costs fully in your own hands, OpenCode is the clearer choice: it is free software, supports 75+ model providers, and stores your API keys locally. Claude Code makes sense if you are already invested in the Anthropic ecosystem and need its deeper subagent orchestration and multi-step task automation — but you will be paying Anthropic directly, and after 2026-06-22 the pricing moves to usage credits rather than being bundled with Pro/Max/Team plans. The decision essentially comes down to one question: do you want to own the tooling layer, or do you want a single managed product from your model provider?

Choose OpenCode if you want a free, open-source terminal agent, need to switch between model providers (e.g., use Gemini for one task and Claude for another), or work on teams with diverse API key arrangements.
Choose Claude Code if you are already on a Claude Pro/Max/Team plan and want its subagent and agent-team capabilities with minimal setup, and you are comfortable with single-vendor model dependency.
Choose OpenCode if cost control is critical: BYO keys means you can shop provider pricing, use free tiers (e.g., Copilot OAuth), or route through an aggregator — you pay no software license.
Choose Claude Code if deep MCP orchestration with skills, hooks, and plugin layers on top of Anthropic's latest models (Opus 4.8) is a priority, and you accept that the pricing model is in flux.

Our AI agents

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FAQ

Is OpenCode really free?: OpenCode the software is free and open-source. You pay nothing to install or run it. Your only costs are the API calls you make to whichever model provider you configure — those are billed directly by the provider at their own rates. If you use GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT via OAuth, those costs roll into your existing subscription.
Can OpenCode use Claude models?: Yes. Anthropic is one of OpenCode's 75+ supported providers. You supply your own Anthropic API key, and OpenCode calls Claude just like any other provider. This means you can get Claude's models inside OpenCode without using Claude Code itself.
Does Claude Code work with non-Claude models?: No. Claude Code is tied exclusively to Anthropic's Claude models (Opus 4.8, Sonnet, Haiku). There is no mechanism to route requests to OpenAI, Google, or other providers.
What happens to Claude Code pricing after 2026-06-22?: According to Anthropic, Claude Code will move from being included in Pro/Max/Team plans to a usage-credit model. The exact credit rates are subject to change — confirm the current pricing on Anthropic's site before making a cost comparison.
Both tools support MCP — are they equivalent?: Both support native MCP, so you can connect servers like GitHub, Slack, or Figma in either tool. Claude Code additionally layers on subagents, agent teams, hooks, skills, and a plugin system on top of MCP. Whether OpenCode has equivalent background-agent or subagent orchestration features is not confirmed in our current facts — check opencode.ai for the latest.