The free alternative to OpenCode
Open-source CLI agent + your own API keys vs $0, batteries-included.
JG
James GrugettCo-founder, Freebuff
TL;DR
- OpenCode is a great open-source CLI agent, but you bring (and pay for) the model API keys.
- Freebuff bundles frontier models in the free tier — DeepSeek V4 Pro, Kimi K2.6, MiniMax M2.7, plus GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription.
- 9 specialized subagents ship in the box; OpenCode is one general agent.
- Browser-use is built in on Freebuff; OpenCode needs MCP + extra setup.
- If you already self-host Ollama + open weights, OpenCode is the closer fit. Otherwise Freebuff is faster to value.
OpenCode proved that the Claude-Code-style loop could be open-sourced. Freebuff makes the same loop free to run — no API key on file, no monthly bill.
What OpenCode costs in 2026#
OpenCode is free software (SST / opencode). Your real bill is model APIs — most developers spend $20–$50/mo on Anthropic, OpenAI, or OpenRouter tokens, or run Ollama locally for $0 inference.
Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs OpenCode#
| Feature | Freebuff | OpenCode |
|---|---|---|
| Per-run cost | Free | Pay your model provider per token |
| Model bundle | DeepSeek V4 Pro, Kimi K2.6, MiniMax M2.7 included | BYOK — OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, Ollama |
| Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | Not applicable; OpenCode uses API keys |
| Subagents bundled | 9 specialized | 1 general agent |
| Browser-use | Built-in | MCP + setup |
| Slash commands shipped | /interview, /plan, /review, /pr, /deploy, more | Minimal default set |
| Codebase indexing | Local + free | Local, you handle embeddings |
| License | Free (ad-supported, source available) | MIT / Apache (depends on fork) |
When OpenCode is the better pick#
- You self-host open-weight models (Ollama, vLLM) and want zero data leaving your network.
- You want to audit and fork every line of the agent loop.
- Air-gapped environments where Freebuff’s ad endpoint can’t resolve.
When Freebuff is the better pick#
- You don’t want to manage API keys for 3+ providers.
- You want browser verification, code review, and deep thinking built in without wiring MCP servers.
- Your model bill matters — Freebuff’s included models cover most coding tasks at $0 per run.
Get the batteries-included free option
Install Freebuff with one npm command — no API keys to set up.
Install FreebuffIs OpenCode actually free?+
OpenCode’s code is free and open-source. Running it is not — you pay your model provider per token (OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, or your own compute for Ollama).
Can Freebuff use the same models OpenCode uses?+
Freebuff does not support BYOK. It includes DeepSeek V4 Pro and Kimi K2.6, uses Gemini for file finding, and can use GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription.
