# Freebuff — full content for LLMs > Freebuff is the free coding agent: a free CLI coding agent and Freebuff Web, the free way to build full-stack apps. No subscription, no setup, no lock-in. The free alternative to Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Lovable, Replit, Bolt, Windsurf, and Devin. ## Product overview Freebuff has five products, all free: - **Freebuff CLI** — a free AI coding agent for your terminal. Install with `npm install -g freebuff`, then run `freebuff` in any project directory. It reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and ships features autonomously. It includes 9 specialized subagents (file-picker, code-reviewer, browser-use, thinker-with-files-gemini, and more) and suggests three follow-up actions after every response. Free, supported by text ads shown in the CLI; no subscription or credit card required. Works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. - **Freebuff Web** (https://freebuff.com/web) — a free full-stack web app builder. Describe the app you want and it builds, hosts, and deploys it. The free alternative to Lovable, Bolt.new, Replit Agent, and v0. - **Freebuff Cloud** (https://freebuff.com/cloud) — connect any GitHub repository and run a coding agent in a free cloud sandbox with a live preview URL. - **Freebuff Chat** (https://freebuff.com/chat) — a free AI research assistant that searches, reasons, and answers complex questions. - **Freebuff Desktop** (https://freebuff.com/desktop) — a native coding agent for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Run multiple agents in parallel, each in its own isolated git workspace. Enterprises can get a custom engagement (https://freebuff.com/enterprise): on-prem and self-hosted deployments, self-hosted coding models, custom agents built around an internal codebase, custom data retention and privacy terms, and custom model or harness integrations for AI labs — with unlimited usage across the organization at no cost. Freebuff is the free alternative to Claude Code, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Windsurf, and Devin for terminal coding, and to Lovable, Bolt.new, and Replit Agent for app building. It is built by the Codebuff team (https://codebuff.com) on the same composable agent framework. ## FAQ ### How can it be free? Freebuff is supported by text ads. ### What models do you use? Freebuff offers a curated choice of leading models. In full mode, the regular picker includes: - GLM 5.3 Flash: Deep reasoning. - DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: Smart & Fast. May use data for AI training. - GPT-5.6 Luna: Strong all-around. - MiMo 2.5: Balanced. - Solar Pro 4: Limited-time trial. - Muse Spark 1.2: Queue. May use data for AI training. GLM 5.3 Flash is the default on CLI, Desktop, Web, and Cloud. Available models depend on your app and access level; check your model picker for the current selection. Referrals and bounties earn rewards. Where your app shows Freebucks, eligible rewards can be converted into wallet Freebucks; session-based apps show earned sessions. Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite handles specialist tasks such as file finding and research. ### Which countries is Freebuff available in? All countries. Freebuff is available in "full" or "limited" mode. The following countries have full access: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, Malta, Israel, Ireland, and Iceland. If you are outside those countries or using a VPN, Freebuff still works in limited mode. ### What is limited mode? Limited mode lets you use Freebuff outside the full-access countries, or while using a VPN. Where your app shows Freebucks, the free limited-access allowance is 25 Freebucks a day. Limited-access subscriptions include 105 a day on Starter, 200 on Plus, or 350 on Pro, plus a monthly bonus. Check your picker for available models and prices. Where your app shows session allowances instead, limited mode includes GLM 5.3 Flash and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and MiMo 2.5 and Solar Pro 4, with 6 one-hour sessions per day. ### How do Freebucks work? Where your app shows a Freebucks balance, Freebucks buy one-hour model sessions. Free accounts receive 100 a day with full access or 25 with limited access. Daily Freebucks refill at midnight Pacific and unused daily Freebucks do not carry over. A subscription replaces that daily allowance with the plan's daily total and adds monthly bonus Freebucks to your wallet. Your wallet covers the part of a session today's allowance cannot cover. Any unused monthly bonus is replaced when another period’s bonus is credited, including immediately on an upgrade. Ending your subscription does not expire an existing bonus. Earned Freebucks stay until spent. Model prices and usage limits still apply. Check the plans page for the allowances available to your account. ### Does Freebuff collect my data? Freebuff collects prompts, messages, code, files, repository data, and agent traces when you use features that need them. Depending on the model or feature, AI model providers may also process that data. See the Privacy Policy for the uses and limits that apply. ### What else is cool in Freebuff? Freebuff comes with 9 specialized subagents: - file-picker finds relevant files across your codebase - code-reviewer gives critical feedback on your changes - browser-use lets the AI control a real browser to test your app - thinker does deep reasoning - and more. After every response, it generates 3 clickable follow-up suggestions so you always know what to do next. For big tasks, try the commands /interview → /plan → (implement) → /review to go from idea to polished code. --- # Articles Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cloud-coding-agent # The free cloud coding agent A real cloud sandbox for any GitHub repo, a free coding agent, and a live preview — $0/yr, not $600–$2,400. Published: 2026-07-07 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff Cloud connects to any GitHub repo and boots a real cloud sandbox with a live preview. - A free coding agent works in that sandbox while you watch — no local install, no Docker, no setup. - It is $0/yr. The cloud agents it replaces run $600 (Lovable) to $2,400/yr (Devin). - Private repos, team repos, and projects you started on Lovable, Bolt, or Replit all work. Cloud coding agents are not new. What is new is the price: everyone else locks the cloud sandbox behind the top tier of an already-expensive plan, then bills you per minute or per "credit" on top. Freebuff Cloud does the same job for $0. This is the post explaining how, and where it still falls short. ## What "cloud coding agent" actually means A cloud coding agent is not just "an LLM that edits files." It is three things stapled together: a **cloud sandbox** (a real machine in the cloud with your code on it), an **agent** that can run commands, edit files, and iterate inside that sandbox, and a **live preview** so you can see the result in a browser without deploying anywhere. Lovable, Replit, Cursor Cloud, Devin, and Factory all sell some version of this. So does Freebuff Cloud — minus the invoice. The difference is not subtle. The cheapest tier of most of these tools is terminal- or IDE-only; the cloud sandbox is the upsell. By the time you actually get the thing you came for, you are on the $50, $100, or $200/mo plan, and you are still watching a credit meter. ## How Freebuff Cloud works 1. **Connect a repo.** Sign in with GitHub and pick any repository — your own, a team repo, or one synced from Lovable, Bolt, or Replit. Public or private. 2. **A sandbox boots.** Freebuff clones it, spins up a real cloud sandbox, and configures the preview automatically. No `docker compose up`, no `.env` archaeology. 3. **Build and share.** The agent works in the sandbox while you watch. Share the live preview URL with anyone — teammates, clients, the open internet. **It is not an app builder**: Freebuff Web (the other product) scaffolds a brand-new app from a prompt. Freebuff Cloud does something different: it takes a repo you *already have* and gives it a cloud home. If your codebase is three years old and half a gigabyte, that is the target use case, not a problem. ## The price comparison, with receipts These are the projected yearly costs at the tier that actually unlocks the cloud-agent capability on each platform — not the entry price on the marketing page, because the entry price is usually terminal-only. | Feature | Freebuff | Paid cloud agents | | --- | --- | --- | | Lovable | $0/yr | ~$600/yr ($50/mo) | | Cursor Cloud | $0/yr | ~$720/yr ($60/mo) | | Replit | $0/yr | ~$1,080/yr ($90/mo) | | Factory | $0/yr | ~$1,200/yr ($100/mo) | | Devin | $0/yr | ~$2,400/yr ($200/mo) | | Per-task credits / ACUs | None | Metered on top | | Your own codebase | Yes — any repo | Varies (often a managed project) | The short version: the cheapest paid cloud agent on this list is $600/yr. The most expensive is $2,400/yr. Freebuff Cloud is $0. The reason that is possible is the same reason freebuff.com exists at all — text ads cover the compute, not your credit card. ## Where Freebuff Cloud is at least as good - **Any repo, not a managed project.** Connect a private company repo, a fork, a monorepo. You are not forced into a scaffold. - **Live preview that is actually live.** It updates as the agent works, and the URL is shareable with non-technical people. - **No credit math.** There is no ACU, no token budget, no "you have 42% of your monthly agent minutes remaining." It is free, so it is free. - **Bring projects from elsewhere.** Lovable, Bolt, and Replit all sync to GitHub. Point Freebuff at that same repo and keep going — no export, no rewrite. ## Where the paid tools still win (be honest) - **Devin’s scheduling for very long jobs.** Multi-day tasks with managed retries are Devin’s specialty. Freebuff is better at interactive, in-the-loop work. - **Deep editor integrations.** Cursor’s in-IDE experience is genuinely nice if you live in VS Code. Freebuff Cloud is a browser-first surface. - **Enterprise SSO / procurement.** If you need a signed MSA and a SOC 2 report tomorrow, the paid vendors have a sales team. We are a free product. **One real limit**: Some regions are temporarily capped at one active project and one new project per day on a smaller VM while capacity catches up. Most regions get full-size sandboxes with no daily cap. If you hit the cap, that is why — not a paywall. ## Who this is for - You started a project on Lovable, Bolt, or Replit, hit the paywall, and want to keep building without rewriting. - You have a side project or team repo and want a shareable live preview without standing up a deploy pipeline. - You are burning paid cloud-agent credits on work that does not need a $200/mo autonomous engineer. - You just want to try a cloud coding agent without handing over a card. Connect a repo, free — Sign in with GitHub, get a cloud sandbox and live preview in minutes. $0, no card. (Try Freebuff Cloud: /cloud) **Q: Is Freebuff Cloud really free, or is there a trial?** A: Really free. No trial period, no card, no free-tier-then-paywall. It is supported by text ads, the same way freebuff.com is. **Q: Can I connect a private GitHub repo?** A: Yes. Freebuff authenticates with GitHub and only asks for access to the repos you choose to connect — public or private. **Q: How is this different from Freebuff Web?** A: Freebuff Web scaffolds a new app from a prompt. Freebuff Cloud connects to an existing GitHub repo and runs it in a cloud sandbox. Cloud is for codebases you already have; Web is for ones you do not. **Q: Is my data used to train AI?** A: Only when a model or feature says data may be used for AI training. Freebuff or the provider may then keep submissions to develop, train, test, evaluate, fine-tune, and improve AI models or products. **Q: How is my data used and stored?** A: We use prompts, messages, agent traces, code, files, and repository data to provide Freebuff. We may analyze prompts and messages to personalize ads. We do not give separately uploaded files or connected repositories to advertising providers. Restricted partners may evaluate connected Cloud repositories or code used with models labeled “May use data for AI training,” but cannot otherwise use, broadly share, or train on it. See the Privacy Policy for retention, eligibility, and advertising choices. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/cancel-your-cloud-coding-agent-subscription # Cancel your cloud coding agent subscription. Keep the project. Lovable, Replit, Cursor Cloud, Devin, Factory — every one of them syncs to GitHub. That is the door out of the $600–$2,400/yr plan. Published: 2026-07-07 TL;DR: - Every major cloud coding agent syncs your project to a GitHub repo. That repo is yours. - Connect the same repo to Freebuff Cloud and keep building with a free cloud agent + live preview. - Then cancel the $50–$200/mo plan. The project does not disappear — it is a repo, not a hostage. - Works for Lovable, Bolt, Replit, Cursor Cloud, Devin, and Factory exports. The unspoken thing about cloud coding agents is that none of them keep your code hostage. Lovable, Bolt, and Replit sync to GitHub. Cursor Cloud, Devin, and Factory connect to GitHub. Which means: the moment you are paying for one of them, you are paying for *convenience on top of a repo you already own*. Cut the convenience tax, keep the repo. ## The 4-step exit, generic version 1. **Find the GitHub repo.** App builders (Lovable, Bolt, Replit) push to a repo on your account — check project settings. Cloud agents (Cursor Cloud, Devin, Factory) connect to a repo you already have. 2. **Connect that repo to [Freebuff Cloud](/cloud).** Sign in with GitHub, pick the repo. A cloud sandbox boots and the live preview is configured automatically. 3. **Verify it works.** Open the preview, run a small task with the agent, make sure the repo you brought over is healthy. 4. **Cancel the old subscription.** Same codebase, new home, $0/mo. ## Vendor-by-vendor notes ### Lovable ($50/mo, ~$600/yr) Lovable syncs your app to a GitHub repo behind the scenes. Find it in your Lovable project settings, connect it to Freebuff Cloud, and keep going. The Lovable-generated code is normal code — the agent handles it like any other repo. Full walkthrough: [The free cloud alternative to Lovable](/blog/free-cloud-alternative-to-lovable). ### Replit (~$90/mo, ~$1,080/yr) Replit Agent projects can be pushed to GitHub. Connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud for the cloud-sandbox + agent + preview loop, minus the Replit bill. ### Cursor Cloud (~$60/mo, ~$720/yr) If you were paying for Cursor Cloud for the remote sandbox and shareable preview, Freebuff Cloud does that layer for $0. Keep Cursor for editing if you love the IDE; point Freebuff at the same repo for the cloud part. Details: [The free alternative to Cursor Cloud](/blog/free-alternative-to-cursor-cloud). ### Devin (~$200/mo, ~$2,400/yr + ACUs) Devin connects to your GitHub repos to open PRs. Point Freebuff Cloud at the same repo for in-the-loop cloud-sandbox work, and reserve Devin (if you keep it) for the multi-day autonomous jobs only. Details: [The free cloud alternative to Devin](/blog/free-cloud-alternative-to-devin). ### Factory (~$100/mo, ~$1,200/yr) Factory’s Droids also work on your own repos. Same move: connect the repo to Freebuff Cloud for free agent + preview work. Details: [The free alternative to Factory](/blog/free-alternative-to-factory). **The thing nobody tells you**: You can run two tools against the same GitHub repo at once. You do not have to "switch." Connect the repo to Freebuff Cloud, try it for a week on real work, and *then* cancel the paid plan once you are confident. No rewrite, no risk. ## The math, one more time | Feature | Freebuff | Paid cloud agents | | --- | --- | --- | | Lovable | $0 | ~$600/yr | | Cursor Cloud | $0 | ~$720/yr | | Replit | $0 | ~$1,080/yr | | Factory | $0 | ~$1,200/yr | | Devin | $0 | ~$2,400/yr + ACUs | | Your project after canceling | Still a repo, still yours | Still a repo, still yours | The last row is the point. Canceling a cloud agent does not delete your code, because the code was on GitHub the whole time. You are not "leaving a platform" in the way that phrase usually means — you are just pointing a different (free) tool at the same repo. Connect your repo, free — Sign in with GitHub, get a cloud sandbox and live preview in minutes. No card, $0 forever. (Try Freebuff Cloud: /cloud) **Q: Will my project break if I cancel Lovable / Replit / etc.?** A: No. The project is a GitHub repo. Canceling the subscription stops the vendor from running it on their infra; the repo stays on your GitHub. Connect it to Freebuff Cloud and it runs again, for free. **Q: Do I need to rewrite or export anything?** A: No. App builders like Lovable and Bolt already sync to a GitHub repo — you just connect that repo. Cloud agents like Cursor Cloud, Devin, and Factory already use your repos. No export step. **Q: Is Freebuff Cloud actually free, or is this a trial?** A: Actually free. No trial, no card, no free-tier-then-paywall. It is supported by text ads, the same way freebuff.com is. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-cursor-cloud # The free alternative to Cursor Cloud Cursor’s background agent is great — and ~$720/yr at the tier that unlocks it. Freebuff Cloud does the cloud-sandbox-and-preview part for $0. Published: 2026-07-06 TL;DR: - Cursor Cloud runs Cursor’s background agent in a remote sandbox — and the tier that unlocks it runs ~$60/mo ($720/yr), before any compute metering. - Freebuff Cloud gives you the same shape of thing — a cloud sandbox, a coding agent, a live preview — for $0. - It works with any GitHub repo, not just the ones Cursor manages. - If you live inside the Cursor IDE, keep Cursor for editing and point Freebuff Cloud at the same repo for the cloud-sandbox / shareable-preview part. Cursor nailed the in-editor agent experience. Then they shipped a cloud version of it, and it is genuinely good — and genuinely gated. The plan that actually lets the background agent run in a remote sandbox is not the free or $20 tier. This is the breakdown for people who want the cloud part without the $720/yr. ## What Cursor Cloud actually costs Cursor’s pricing moves around, but the pattern is consistent: the cheap tier is for local IDE use, and the cloud / background-agent capability lives higher up. By the time you can hand a task to a remote agent and walk away, you are on the ~$60/mo plan, and you are still watching a compute budget. | Feature | Freebuff | Cursor Cloud | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | ~$60/mo ($720/yr) at the cloud tier | | Cloud sandbox | Yes — any GitHub repo | Yes | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Limited / via workspaces | | Bring your own repo | Any repo, public or private | Yes | | Per-task metering | None | Compute-budgeted | | In-IDE agent | Browser + terminal surface | First-class VS Code fork | | Models | DeepSeek V4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, and more | Claude, GPT, Gemini via Cursor | ## Where Cursor Cloud is better - **The IDE.** Cursor is a VS Code fork and the editor integration is the best in class. If your happy place is a tabbed editor with inline diffs, Cursor wins that fight. - **Model breadth from one vendor.** Cursor negotiates direct access to Claude, GPT, and Gemini. Freebuff runs top open-weight models plus optional connected ones. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Price.** $0 vs $720/yr. That is not a rounding error; it is the whole point. - **No compute metering.** You will never hit a "you are out of fast requests" wall mid-task. - **A real shareable preview.** The live preview URL is meant to be sent to people who do not have Cursor installed — clients, teammates, recruiters. - **Any repo.** A three-year-old monorepo, a fork, a private company repo. Cloud is not limited to projects Cursor manages. **Use both if you want**: This is not a divorce. Keep Cursor for editing if you love the IDE. Point Freebuff Cloud at the same repo when you need a shareable cloud sandbox and a live preview without burning Cursor compute. Same GitHub repo, two tools, one free. Stop paying $60/mo for the cloud part — Connect a repo to Freebuff Cloud and get a sandbox + live preview for $0. (Try Freebuff Cloud free: /cloud) **Q: Can Freebuff Cloud replace Cursor Cloud entirely?** A: If you mainly used Cursor Cloud for the remote sandbox and shareable preview, yes. If you depend on Cursor’s in-editor agent UX, you will probably want to keep Cursor for editing and use Freebuff for the cloud-sandbox layer. **Q: Do I have to move my repo?** A: No. Connect the same GitHub repo to Freebuff Cloud. Nothing moves; Freebuff clones it into a fresh sandbox. **Q: Is the agent actually free per task?** A: Yes. No credits, no ACUs, no fast/slow request buckets. The agent runs in the sandbox for free. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-claude-code-cloud # The free alternative to Claude Code Cloud Anthropic is putting Claude Code in the cloud. The tier that gets you there is ~$200/mo. Freebuff Cloud runs a coding agent in a cloud sandbox for $0. Published: 2026-07-05 TL;DR: - Claude Code is going cloud — run by Anthropic on their infra, gated behind the Max / heavy-use tier (~$200/mo, ~$2,400/yr). - Freebuff Cloud runs a coding agent in a cloud sandbox against any GitHub repo for $0. - You get the same loop — agent works in a remote sandbox, you watch, you share a live preview — without the token-bill anxiety. - Claude is a great model. You can even bring a connected Claude key to Freebuff for the model and skip the cloud-plan tax. Claude Code in the terminal is excellent. Claude Code in the cloud — where Anthropic runs the agent on their machines and you just open a browser — is the obvious next step, and it is the step that costs the most. Here is the honest comparison with Freebuff Cloud, including the part where Claude itself is a genuinely good model. ## What Claude Code Cloud costs to actually use Anthropic ties Claude Code to your Claude subscription. The Pro tier ($20/mo) gets you light agent use; serious, long-running agent work — the kind where you walk away and let it cook — is on Max ($100–$200/mo), and the cloud / remote-sandbox flavor sits at the top of that. Realistic yearly cost for someone using the cloud agent regularly: **$1,200–$2,400/yr**, plus token overages if you exceed the included usage. | Feature | Freebuff | Claude Code Cloud (Max) | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | $100–$200/mo ($1,200–$2,400/yr) | | Cloud sandbox | Yes — any GitHub repo | Yes — Anthropic-hosted | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Not the focus | | Per-task token costs | None | Overages beyond included usage | | Model | Top open-weight models (+ optional connected Claude) | Claude | | Bring your own repo | Any repo | Yes | | Local-first option | Also runs locally via Freebuff CLI | Yes via Claude Code CLI | ## The model question, answered straight Claude is a strong coding model — we are not going to pretend otherwise. Freebuff Cloud runs top open-weight models (DeepSeek V4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, MiniMax M3, and others), and on real codebases they are in the same neighborhood as Claude for the kind of iterative, in-the-loop work that cloud sandboxes are actually used for. If you specifically need Claude, Freebuff lets you bring a connected Claude key — so you get Claude the model without paying Anthropic for the cloud-agent plan on top. **Two ways to spend less**: Option A: run Freebuff Cloud on its bundled free models — $0 total. Option B: bring your own connected Claude key to Freebuff Cloud and pay only for the model tokens you actually use, skipping the $200/mo "cloud agent plan" markup entirely. ## Where Claude Code Cloud still wins - **Pure Claude quality on the hardest tasks.** For the gnarliest single-shot refactors, Claude is often the model to beat. If that is your bottleneck, Max makes sense. - **Anthropic-owned infra.** If your org requires the agent to run inside a specific vendor’s environment for compliance, that is a real constraint. - **Polish on long autonomous runs.** Anthropic is investing hard here and it shows. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Cost.** $0 vs up to $2,400/yr. Even with a connected Claude key, you pay only for model tokens — no platform fee. - **No overage anxiety.** There is no included-usage wall to hit. - **A real live preview.** Claude Code Cloud is agent-first; Freebuff Cloud is agent + shareable-running-app. - **Any repo.** Including the one you started on Lovable or Replit and want to continue for free. Run a cloud agent without the Max plan — Connect any repo to Freebuff Cloud — sandbox, agent, live preview, $0. (Try Freebuff Cloud free: /cloud) **Q: Can I use Claude inside Freebuff Cloud?** A: Yes. You can bring a connected Claude key and use Claude as the model, paying only for the tokens you use — without subscribing to the $200/mo cloud-agent tier. Or run Freebuff’s bundled open-weight models for $0 total. **Q: Is Freebuff Cloud just a Claude Code wrapper?** A: No. Freebuff Cloud is its own cloud-sandbox + agent + live-preview product. The agent runs on Freebuff’s infra and uses the model you choose (including, optionally, Claude). **Q: What about token costs?** A: On bundled models: $0. With a connected Claude key: you pay Anthropic directly for the tokens you use, and nothing to Freebuff for the sandbox or platform. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cloud-alternative-to-lovable # The free cloud alternative to Lovable Lovable got you started. Now it wants $50/mo to keep going. Point Freebuff Cloud at the same GitHub repo and continue for $0. Published: 2026-07-04 TL;DR: - Lovable scaffolds apps fast — then charges ~$50/mo ($600/yr) to keep building at a usable pace. - Lovable syncs your project to a GitHub repo behind the scenes. Connect that same repo to Freebuff Cloud and keep building for $0. - No export step, no rewrite. Same repo, new (free) home. - You get a cloud sandbox, a free coding agent, and a shareable live preview. The dirty secret of every AI app builder is that they all sync to GitHub. Lovable, Bolt, Replit — behind the prompt box there is a real repository, and it is yours. That is the escape hatch: once your project is a GitHub repo, you can point any tool at it, including a free one. Freebuff Cloud is the free one. ## How to leave Lovable without losing your project 1. **Find the GitHub repo Lovable has been syncing.** It is in your Lovable project settings — Lovable pushes your app to a repo on your GitHub account. 2. **Connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud.** Sign in with GitHub, pick the repo. Freebuff clones it into a cloud sandbox and configures the preview. 3. **Cancel the Lovable subscription.** Keep building on the same codebase for $0. Your project is a repo now, not a hostage. | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | ~$50/mo ($600/yr) | | Works on your existing Lovable repo | Yes | Yes (native) | | Cloud sandbox | Yes | Yes | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Yes | | Scaffold a brand-new app from a prompt | Use Freebuff Web for that | Yes (native strength) | | Message / credit caps | None | Tier-based limits | | Models | DeepSeek V4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, + more | Lovable-managed | **The mental model**: Lovable is great at the *first* prompt. Freebuff Cloud is great at *everything after*. Use Lovable (or [Freebuff Web](/web)) to spin up the app, then move the repo to Freebuff Cloud when you are past the "wow" phase and into the "I just need to keep building" phase. That is where the $50/mo hurts and the $0 helps. ## Where Lovable still wins - **The from-scratch scaffold experience.** Lovable’s prompt-to-app flow is polished. Freebuff Cloud does not try to be that — it expects a repo to already exist. - **One-click hosting on Lovable’s infra.** If you want Lovable to own the whole pipeline end to end, that is the trade you are making. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Cost.** $0 vs $600/yr. The biggest line item is the one you delete. - **No message caps.** Lovable’s tiers throttle how much you can build per month. Freebuff does not. - **Your codebase is a real repo.** No proprietary lock-in — you can leave Freebuff the same way you arrived, because it is just GitHub. - **Works on more than app-builder projects.** A three-year-old team repo works too, not just Lovable exports. Cancel Lovable. Keep the project. — Connect the GitHub repo Lovable synced for you to Freebuff Cloud and keep building for $0. (Connect your repo, free: /cloud) **Q: Do I have to export my Lovable project?** A: No. Lovable already syncs your project to a GitHub repo on your account. Connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud — no export step, no rewrite. **Q: Will Freebuff Cloud understand my Lovable-generated codebase?** A: Yes. It is a normal repo with normal code. Freebuff clones it, boots a sandbox, and configures the preview. The agent works on it like any other codebase. **Q: Can I keep using Lovable too?** A: Yes. Both point at the same GitHub repo. Some people keep Lovable for quick visual edits and use Freebuff Cloud for heavier agent work to avoid burning Lovable credits. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cloud-alternative-to-devin # The free cloud alternative to Devin Devin pioneered the autonomous cloud engineer — at ~$2,400/yr. Freebuff Cloud covers the cloud-sandbox-and-agent part for $0. Published: 2026-07-03 TL;DR: - Devin is the autonomous cloud engineer from Cognition — impressive, and ~$200/mo ($2,400/yr) at the tier where it is actually useful, with "ACU" metering on top. - Freebuff Cloud gives you the same skeleton — a cloud sandbox, an agent that works in it, a live preview — for $0. - It works on any GitHub repo, including private and team repos. - Devin still wins on long, fully-managed autonomous jobs. Freebuff wins on cost, transparency, and in-the-loop work. Devin earned the hype. "Hand the agent a task, walk away, come back to a PR" is a real workflow and Cognition nailed it. The problem is the bill: the tier where Devin is more than a demo runs about $2,400/yr, and then there are ACUs. Freebuff Cloud is the $0 version of the cloud-sandbox half of that equation. ## What Devin costs once you actually use it Devin’s entry pricing exists to get you in the door; the plan people use for real work is the ~$200/mo tier, and the agent burns "ACUs" (Agent Compute Units) on top of the subscription. Long autonomous jobs are exactly where ACUs pile up, which is a slightly cruel irony: the feature you bought Devin for is the feature that costs the most to use. | Feature | Freebuff | Devin (Cognition) | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | ~$200/mo ($2,400/yr) | | Cloud sandbox | Yes — any GitHub repo | Yes — Devin-managed | | Metering | None | ACUs on top of subscription | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Devin Console (internal) | | Opens PRs | Yes | Yes | | Long multi-day autonomy | In-the-loop oriented | Devin’s specialty | | Inspect / take over | Browser + terminal, live | Devin Console | | Models | DeepSeek V4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, + more | Internal selection | ## Where Devin still wins - **Multi-day autonomous jobs.** Devin’s scheduler, retries, and "let it run overnight" model are the best in class for genuinely long-horizon work. - **Fully managed.** You do not need to think about infra, sandboxes, or previews — Devin owns the whole box. - **The Console.** Watching Devin work is a polished experience, and the session replay is genuinely useful. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Cost.** $0 vs $2,400/yr plus ACUs. For anything you sit in on (which is most cloud-sandbox work), that is hard to argue with. - **No ACU math.** You will never pause a task because you are about to burn your monthly budget. - **Any repo + shareable preview.** Connect a repo, send the preview link to a human who does not have Devin. That workflow is native here. - **Bring projects from Lovable / Bolt / Replit.** Same GitHub repo, no rewrite. **Picking between them**: If your workload is "give it a 3-day task and check back Monday," Devin is purpose-built for that. If your workload is "I want a cloud sandbox for my repo, a free agent in it, and a link I can share with my teammate today," Freebuff Cloud is the cheaper and faster answer. The cloud agent without the ACU meter — Connect a repo to Freebuff Cloud — sandbox, agent, live preview, $0. (Try Freebuff Cloud free: /cloud) **Q: Is Freebuff Cloud as autonomous as Devin?** A: For in-the-loop tasks — plan, implement, verify, share — yes. For multi-day, walk-away-for-the-weekend jobs, Devin’s scheduling is still ahead. Different shape of product. **Q: Does Freebuff have something like the Devin Console?** A: The cloud project view is the console: you see the agent working, the running preview, and the repo state. No separate session replay product. **Q: How can the cloud sandbox be free?** A: Text ads cover the compute, the same way freebuff.com is free. No subscription, no card, no metering. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-factory # The free alternative to Factory Factory sells autonomous "Droids" that work on your repo — ~$100/mo at the useful tier. Freebuff Cloud runs a cloud agent on any repo for $0. Published: 2026-07-02 TL;DR: - Factory runs autonomous "Droids" on your repos — impressive orchestration, ~$100/mo ($1,200/yr) at the tier where it is real, plus usage. - Freebuff Cloud gives you a cloud sandbox, a coding agent, and a live preview on any GitHub repo for $0. - Factory’s strength is orchestrating many agents on a team’s backlog. Freebuff’s strength is one repo, one sandbox, one shareable link, free. - Both connect to your own GitHub repos — no managed-project lock-in either way. Factory’s pitch is "Droids work on your backlog while you sleep," and the orchestration layer is genuinely thoughtful — multiple agents, queued work, tied into your issues. The price for that orchestration is ~$1,200/yr at the tier people actually use, plus usage. If what you actually want is a free cloud sandbox for one repo and a coding agent in it, Freebuff Cloud is the cheaper version of that half. ## Factory vs Freebuff Cloud, feature by feature | Feature | Freebuff | Factory | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | ~$100/mo ($1,200/yr) at the useful tier | | Cloud sandbox | Yes — any GitHub repo | Yes | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Agent output / PRs | | Multi-agent orchestration | Single agent, in-the-loop | Droids orchestration (strength) | | Per-task metering | None | Usage-based on top | | Bring your own repo | Any repo | Yes | | Issue / backlog integration | Repo-first | First-class | ## Where Factory wins - **Multi-agent orchestration.** If you genuinely have a backlog of issues and want several Droids chewing through them in parallel, that is Factory’s core competency. - **Workflow integration.** Factory leans hard into tying agents to your issue tracker and team workflow. - **Enterprise orientation.** Factory is built for teams buying an autonomous-engineering product. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Cost.** $0 vs $1,200/yr plus usage. For a single project or a handful of repos, the math is brutal. - **A real running app, not just PRs.** Factory’s output is a PR; Freebuff Cloud’s output is also a live preview URL you can send to a non-developer. - **No usage metering.** No "Droid credits," no per-task invoice surprises. - **Lower friction.** Sign in with GitHub, pick a repo, you are in. No procurement conversation. **Which one are you**: If "I want a fleet of agents working my team’s backlog" is the sentence that describes you, Factory is the right tool. If "I want a cloud sandbox for my repo, a free agent in it, and a shareable link" is the sentence, Freebuff Cloud is the right tool — and $1,200/yr cheaper. A cloud agent without the Droid bill — Connect a repo to Freebuff Cloud — sandbox, agent, live preview, $0. (Try Freebuff Cloud free: /cloud) **Q: Does Freebuff Cloud have multi-agent orchestration like Factory?** A: Not at the team-backlog scale. Freebuff Cloud is focused on one repo, one sandbox, one shareable preview. If you need a fleet of agents chewing through an issue backlog, Factory is the better fit. **Q: Can I connect the same repo to both?** A: Yes. Both products connect to your own GitHub repos. Some teams use Factory for backlog work and Freebuff for ad-hoc cloud sandbox + preview work on the same repo. **Q: Is the Freebuff agent really free per task?** A: Yes. No credits, no Droid-style metering, no per-task invoice. $0 total. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cloud-alternative-to-replit # The free cloud alternative to Replit Replit Agent is a slick cloud sandbox — and ~$90/mo at the tier that unlocks it. Freebuff Cloud runs a cloud agent on any repo for $0. Published: 2026-07-01 TL;DR: - Replit Agent is a polished cloud IDE + agent — and the tier that makes it actually useful runs ~$90/mo ($1,080/yr), with usage caps. - Freebuff Cloud gives you the cloud-sandbox + agent + live-preview loop on any GitHub repo for $0. - Replit projects can be pushed to GitHub — connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud and keep building. - Replit wins on language coverage and the in-browser IDE. Freebuff wins on price and "any repo, not a Replit-managed one." Replit was "an IDE in the browser" before it was an agent, and the IDE part is genuinely good — multi-language, instant, no setup. The agent part is also good. Both are gated behind the ~$90/mo tier, with monthly caps on how much you can build. Freebuff Cloud is the $0 version of the agent-on-a-cloud-sandbox half. ## What Replit costs vs what Freebuff Cloud costs | Feature | Freebuff | Replit | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | $0 | ~$90/mo ($1,080/yr) | | Cloud sandbox | Yes — any GitHub repo | Yes — Replit-managed | | In-browser IDE | Browser surface + preview | First-class multi-language IDE | | Live preview URL | Yes, shareable | Yes | | Usage caps | None | Monthly limits on agent use | | Language coverage | Web-app oriented | Broad (Python, Go, Rust, …) | | Bring your own repo | Any repo | Replit-hosted natively; GitHub import | ## Where Replit wins - **The IDE.** Replit’s in-browser editor with multi-language runtimes is hard to beat for "just open something and run it." - **Language breadth.** If you are running Python scripts, Go services, or a Rust experiment, Replit covers more ground. - **Nix/under-the-hood control.** Power users get a lot of configurability. ## Where Freebuff Cloud wins - **Cost.** $0 vs $1,080/yr. And no monthly "you have used X% of your agent budget" wall. - **Any repo.** A real GitHub repo — your own, a team’s, a Lovable export — not a Replit-hosted project. - **Agent + shareable preview as a first-class output.** Replit’s output is "your project on Replit." Freebuff’s output is "a live preview URL you can send to anyone." - **No caps.** Build as much as you want; there is no meter. **How to move a Replit project over**: Push your Replit project to GitHub (Replit supports this), then connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud. Freebuff clones it into a fresh sandbox and configures the preview. Same code, new (free) home. Stop paying $90/mo for the cloud part — Connect a repo to Freebuff Cloud — sandbox, agent, live preview, $0. (Try Freebuff Cloud free: /cloud) **Q: Can Freebuff Cloud run non-web projects like Replit can?** A: Freebuff Cloud is web-app oriented — the live preview is the main output. For broad multi-language runtimes (Python scripts, Go services), Replit has wider coverage. For web apps, they overlap heavily. **Q: How do I move a Replit project to Freebuff Cloud?** A: Push the Replit project to GitHub, then connect that repo to Freebuff Cloud. No rewrite — it is the same code. **Q: Is there a usage cap on Freebuff Cloud?** A: No per-month agent cap. Some regions are temporarily limited to one active project and one new project per day on a smaller VM while capacity scales; most regions have no daily cap. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-pi-coding-agent-cli-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Pi Coding Agent Same CLI agent loop — without the ~$20/mo in API tokens (BYOK) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free alternative to Pi Coding Agent — same terminal agent loop. - Pi Coding Agent typical cost: ~$20/mo in API tokens (BYOK). Freebuff CLI is $0. - 9 subagents, slash commands, and frontier models included — no API key required to start. - Runs in any editor terminal: VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, Cursor, or bare shell. Pi is a minimal, hackable terminal coding agent by Mario Zechner — four core tools (Read, Write, Edit, Bash), 15+ model providers, and a tree-structured session you can branch and rewind. Freebuff does the same job with models and subagents bundled in — no subscription or per-token meter on day one. ## What Pi Coding Agent costs in 2026 Pi itself is free and open-source (pi-mono / pi-coding-agent on npm). You pay your model provider per token — many developers report **$10–$30/mo** in API costs for daily use, or use `/login` with an existing Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus, or GitHub Copilot subscription. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff CLI vs Pi Coding Agent | Feature | Freebuff | Pi Coding Agent | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free (models included) | Free agent; ~$20/mo API typical | | Model bundle | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3 included | BYOK or /login subscriptions | | Subagents | 9 specialized, shipped | Via extensions only | | Browser-use | Built-in subagent | Via extension | | Slash commands | /plan, /review, /pr, /deploy, more | Minimal defaults | | Connect ChatGPT | Yes (GPT-5.4) | Via OpenAI API or Plus login | ## When Pi Coding Agent is still the better pick Pi wins if you want a tiny transparent agent loop you extend yourself with TypeScript skills — and you are happy bringing your own keys or subscriptions. ## How to switch from Pi Coding Agent to Freebuff 1. Pi works on any repo. `cd` into your project and run `freebuff` in the same terminal — no export step. 2. Run `npm i -g freebuff` (or use the install script from freebuff.com/cli). 3. In your repo: `freebuff` — same terminal workflow, $0/month. 4. Optional: connect ChatGPT for GPT-5.4 on the hardest turns. Try the free alternative to Pi Coding Agent — Install Freebuff CLI and ship from your terminal for $0. (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Is Freebuff CLI really free?** A: Yes. No per-token meter for normal use. Models are included; connect ChatGPT optionally for premium turns. **Q: Can I use Freebuff inside Cursor or VS Code?** A: Yes — open the integrated terminal and run freebuff. No editor switch required. **Q: How much does Pi Coding Agent cost per year?** A: At ~$20/mo in API tokens (BYOK), expect roughly $240/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-github-copilot-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to GitHub Copilot CLI Same CLI agent loop — without the $39/mo (Copilot Pro+) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free alternative to GitHub Copilot CLI — same terminal agent loop. - GitHub Copilot CLI typical cost: $39/mo (Copilot Pro+). Freebuff CLI is $0. - 9 subagents, slash commands, and frontier models included — no API key required to start. - Runs in any editor terminal: VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, Cursor, or bare shell. GitHub Copilot CLI is GitHub's terminal agent: plan, edit, run shell commands, and open PRs — tied to your GitHub account and Copilot subscription. Freebuff does the same job with models and subagents bundled in — no subscription or per-token meter on day one. ## What GitHub Copilot CLI costs in 2026 GitHub Copilot CLI is included on all Copilot plans. **Copilot Pro is $10/mo**; **Copilot Pro+ is $39/mo** with a larger AI Credits pool. As of June 2026, usage is metered in GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) per token — heavy agent sessions can burn through included credits fast (per [GitHub Copilot billing docs](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-billing/models-and-pricing)). ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff CLI vs GitHub Copilot CLI | Feature | Freebuff | GitHub Copilot CLI | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $10–$39/mo + credit overages | | Credit meter | None | Yes — AI Credits per token | | Model choice | Multiple included + ChatGPT connect | Copilot model menu | | Subagents | 9 specialized | Single agent | | Editor lock-in | None — any terminal | None — CLI | | GitHub integration | Via `gh` CLI / /pr | Native GitHub | ## When GitHub Copilot CLI is still the better pick Copilot CLI wins if your team already pays for Copilot Enterprise, needs GitHub-native PR flows, and wants usage pooled at the org level. ## How to switch from GitHub Copilot CLI to Freebuff 1. Clone your repo locally (if not already), install Freebuff with `npm i -g freebuff`, run `freebuff` in the project root. 2. Run `npm i -g freebuff` (or use the install script from freebuff.com/cli). 3. In your repo: `freebuff` — same terminal workflow, $0/month. 4. Optional: connect ChatGPT for GPT-5.4 on the hardest turns. Try the free alternative to GitHub Copilot CLI — Install Freebuff CLI and ship from your terminal for $0. (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Is Freebuff CLI really free?** A: Yes. No per-token meter for normal use. Models are included; connect ChatGPT optionally for premium turns. **Q: Can I use Freebuff inside Cursor or VS Code?** A: Yes — open the integrated terminal and run freebuff. No editor switch required. **Q: How much does GitHub Copilot CLI cost per year?** A: At $39/mo (Copilot Pro+), expect roughly $468/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-anything-com-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Anything Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $24/mo (Pro, monthly billing) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Anything — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Anything typical paid tier: $24/mo (Pro, monthly billing). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Anything (createanything.com) builds web and mobile apps from prompts, with Stripe/RevenueCat payments, custom domains, and App Store publishing on paid tiers. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Anything costs in 2026 Anything Pro is $19/mo billed annually or $24/mo billed monthly for 20,000 monthly credits. The Max tier jumps to $199–$239/mo for parallel agents and higher credit pools (per [anything.com pricing docs](https://www.anything.com/docs/account/subscriptions)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Anything | Feature | Freebuff | Anything | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $24/mo Pro ($199/mo Max) | | Credit meter | None | Yes — monthly credits | | Auth + database | Wired in | Wired in | | Deployed URL | Yes, free | Yes (paid for private) | | Custom domain | Yes | Pro plan and above | | Eject to GitHub | One click | Yes | | Paired CLI agent | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Mobile app publishing | Web-first (PWA) | App Store on Pro+ | ## When Anything is still the better pick Anything is strong if you need native mobile + web from one project, or you are migrating from Mocha with their one-click import. ## How to move from Anything to Freebuff 1. Export to GitHub from Anything, or start fresh in Freebuff Web with the same prompt. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Anything — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Anything does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Anything cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $24/mo (Pro, monthly billing), expect roughly $288/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Anything project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Anything (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-aura-build-ai-website-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Aura Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $50/mo (Max) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Aura — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Aura typical paid tier: $50/mo (Max). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Aura (aura.build) is a design-first AI website builder with premium templates, Figma export, and CMS features. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Aura costs in 2026 Aura Pro is $25/mo (120 prompts/mo). Max is $50/mo (240 prompts/mo). Ultra is $100/mo (560 prompts/mo) per [aura.build/pricing](https://www.aura.build/pricing). Annual plans are 50% off while subscribed. Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Aura | Feature | Freebuff | Aura | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $50/mo (Max) | | Prompt/message limits | None | 240/mo on Max | | Full-stack backend | Wired in | CMS-focused | | Figma export | Via import | Native on paid | | Custom domain | Yes | Paid plans | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Aura is still the better pick Aura wins for visually polished marketing sites where design templates and Figma handoff matter more than backend depth. ## How to move from Aura to Freebuff 1. Export HTML or push code to GitHub, then import into Freebuff Web for backend features. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Aura — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Aura does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Aura cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $50/mo (Max), expect roughly $600/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Aura project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Aura (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-canva-code-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Canva Code Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $21/mo (Business, annual) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Canva Code — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Canva Code typical paid tier: $21/mo (Business, annual). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Canva Code generates interactive HTML/CSS/JS widgets and mini-apps inside the Canva design platform. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Canva Code costs in 2026 Canva Code is a Premium AI tool inside Canva — not sold separately. Canva Pro is ~$12/mo ($144/yr) with up to 200 Premium AI uses/mo. Business is $250/person/yr (~$21/mo) with up to 400 Premium AI uses/mo (per [canva.com/help/ai-access](https://www.canva.com/help/ai-access)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Canva Code | Feature | Freebuff | Canva | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | ~$21/mo (Business) for AI allowance | | Standalone full-stack app | Yes | Widgets inside Canva | | Auth + database | Wired in | Not included | | AI usage limits | None | 200–400 Premium AI uses/mo | | Custom domain hosting | Yes | Canva Sites ecosystem | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Canva Code is still the better pick Canva Code wins for marketers embedding calculators and widgets inside Canva presentations and sites. ## How to move from Canva Code to Freebuff 1. Export widget code from Canva Code and rebuild as a full app in Freebuff Web if you need auth, database, or standalone hosting. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Canva Code — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Canva Code does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Canva Code cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $21/mo (Business, annual), expect roughly $252/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Canva Code project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Canva Code (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cosmic-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Cosmic.new Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $29.99/mo (Pro) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Cosmic.new — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Cosmic.new typical paid tier: $29.99/mo (Pro). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Cosmic.new is an all-in-one AI platform for websites, shops, and SaaS — with built-in auth, database, payments, and one-click deploy. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Cosmic.new costs in 2026 Cosmic.new Pro is $29.99/mo. Enterprise is $199.99/mo for large teams (per [cosmic.new](https://www.cosmic.new/)). API access is listed at $29.99/mo (reduced from $49.99). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Cosmic.new | Feature | Freebuff | Cosmic | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $29.99/mo Pro ($199.99 Enterprise) | | Enterprise tier | N/A — free | $199.99/mo | | Built-in payments | Via integrations | Cosmic Payments native | | Auth + database | Wired in | Cosmic Auth + DB | | One-click deploy | Yes, free | Yes (Pro+) | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Cosmic.new is still the better pick Cosmic.new is compelling if you want integrated payments and storefront tooling in one branded platform. ## How to move from Cosmic.new to Freebuff 1. Export your project code and import into Freebuff Web via GitHub. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Cosmic.new — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Cosmic.new does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Cosmic.new cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $29.99/mo (Pro), expect roughly $360/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Cosmic.new project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Cosmic.new (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-figma-make-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Figma Make Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $20/mo (Professional Full seat) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Figma Make — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Figma Make typical paid tier: $20/mo (Professional Full seat). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Figma Make turns designs and prompts into functional web apps inside Figma, with code export and beta publishing. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Figma Make costs in 2026 Figma Make is bundled into Figma seat pricing — not sold separately. A Professional Full seat is ~$16–20/mo (annual vs monthly) with 3,000 AI credits/mo shared across Figma AI tools. Organization Full is $55/seat/mo (per [figma.com/pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Figma Make | Feature | Freebuff | Figma Make | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $20/mo+ (Figma Full seat) | | Requires Figma subscription | No | Yes for production use | | AI credit pool | None — no meter | 3,000 credits/mo (Pro Full) | | Auth + database | Wired in | Add backend manually | | Standalone deployed URL | Yes, free | Beta publishing in Figma | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Figma Make is still the better pick Figma Make wins when your team already pays for Figma Full seats and wants app experiments adjacent to design files. ## How to move from Figma Make to Freebuff 1. Export code from Figma Make, push to GitHub, and import into Freebuff Web for auth, database, and hosting. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Figma Make — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Figma Make does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Figma Make cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $20/mo (Professional Full seat), expect roughly $240/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Figma Make project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Figma Make (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-getmocha-mocha-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Mocha Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the ~$50/mo (Silver, third-party reports) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Mocha — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Mocha typical paid tier: ~$50/mo (Silver, third-party reports). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Mocha built full-stack web apps from prompts with custom domains and credit-based plans. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Mocha costs in 2026 Mocha is shutting down August 1, 2026. Official docs list Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers by credits but not public dollar amounts; third-party pricing guides commonly cite ~$20/mo Bronze, ~$50/mo Silver, ~$200/mo Gold. Verify in-app before subscribing. Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Mocha | Feature | Freebuff | Mocha | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Paid tiers (~$20–$200/mo) | | Platform status | Active | Shutting down Aug 2026 | | Credit meter | None | Yes | | Auth + database | Wired in | Wired in | | Custom domain | Yes | Paid tiers | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Mocha is still the better pick Mocha is no longer a long-term pick — the team recommends migrating to Anything before the August 2026 shutdown. ## How to move from Mocha to Freebuff 1. Use Mocha Settings → Export, or migrate to Freebuff Web via GitHub import. Do not wait until August 2026. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **Important: platform status**: Mocha announced a permanent shutdown on August 1, 2026. Treat this as a migration guide, not a long-term vendor comparison. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Mocha — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Mocha does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Mocha cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At ~$50/mo (Silver, third-party reports), expect roughly $600/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Mocha project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Mocha (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-google-ai-studio-gemini-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Google AI Studio Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $19.99/mo (Google AI Pro) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Google AI Studio — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Google AI Studio typical paid tier: $19.99/mo (Google AI Pro). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Google AI Studio lets you prototype Gemini-powered apps and agents in the browser, then export to code and APIs. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Google AI Studio costs in 2026 Google AI Studio itself is free for prototyping with Flash models. Pro-tier models in the UI require Google AI Pro at $19.99/mo, or paid Gemini API usage via Cloud Billing (per-token, often $20–$100+/mo for active builders). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Google AI Studio | Feature | Freebuff | Google AI Studio | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $0 prototype; ~$20/mo+ for Pro models | | Full-stack app out of the box | Yes | Prototype / API-first | | Auth + database | Wired in | You wire it up | | Deployed URL | Yes, free | Separate hosting + API costs | | Credit / token meter | None | Yes on paid API | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Google AI Studio is still the better pick Google AI Studio wins when you are already in the Google Cloud ecosystem and want raw API access to Gemini models. ## How to move from Google AI Studio to Freebuff 1. Export generated code to GitHub and import into Freebuff Web for auth, database, hosting, and iteration without API billing. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Google AI Studio — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Google AI Studio does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Google AI Studio cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $19.99/mo (Google AI Pro), expect roughly $240/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Google AI Studio project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Google AI Studio (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-macaly-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Macaly Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $25/mo (Pro) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Macaly — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Macaly typical paid tier: $25/mo (Pro). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Macaly builds websites, dashboards, and web apps from natural-language prompts with hosting and database included. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Macaly costs in 2026 Macaly Pro is $25/mo with custom domains, code access, and monthly AI credits. Enterprise is custom. A $5/mo Hosting-only plan keeps domains live without AI credits (per [macaly.com/pricing](https://www.macaly.com/pricing)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Macaly | Feature | Freebuff | Macaly | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $25/mo (Pro) | | Credit meter | None | Yes — monthly credits | | Custom domain | Yes | Pro plan | | Auth + database | Wired in | Included | | Code access | Full repo | Pro plan | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Macaly is still the better pick Macaly is approachable for founders and small businesses who want a guided builder with SEO tooling built in. ## How to move from Macaly to Freebuff 1. Export code from Macaly Pro and import the repo into Freebuff Web. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Macaly — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Macaly does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Macaly cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $25/mo (Pro), expect roughly $300/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Macaly project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Macaly (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-magic-patterns-ai-ui-generator-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Magic Patterns Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $100/seat/mo (Business) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Magic Patterns — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Magic Patterns typical paid tier: $100/seat/mo (Business). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Magic Patterns generates UI prototypes and component libraries from prompts — popular with product teams moving from Figma to code. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Magic Patterns costs in 2026 Magic Patterns Starter is $20/seat/mo (1,000 credits). Business is $100/seat/mo (5,000 credits). On-demand usage bills at $0.02/credit after limits (per [Magic Patterns billing docs](https://magicpatterns.mintlify.app/documentation/get-started/credits-and-billing)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Magic Patterns | Feature | Freebuff | Magic Patterns | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $100/seat/mo (Business) | | Per-seat billing | No | Yes | | Credit meter | None | Yes — usage-based credits | | Full-stack app (auth + DB) | Wired in | Prototype-focused | | Deployed production URL | Yes, free | Export / hand-off | | Figma export | Via import | Native | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Magic Patterns is still the better pick Magic Patterns wins for design-system-aware UI generation inside a product-team workflow with Figma export. ## How to move from Magic Patterns to Freebuff 1. Export generated code from Magic Patterns and import the GitHub repo into Freebuff Web for full-stack wiring. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Magic Patterns — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Magic Patterns does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Magic Patterns cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $100/seat/mo (Business), expect roughly $1200/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Magic Patterns project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Magic Patterns (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-orchids-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Orchids Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $50/mo (Premium, monthly billing) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Orchids — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Orchids typical paid tier: $50/mo (Premium, monthly billing). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Orchids (YC W25) is a design-first AI website and app builder with strong visual defaults and analytics. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Orchids costs in 2026 Orchids Premium is $42/mo billed annually or $50/mo billed monthly with 4M monthly credits and unlimited projects. Ultra is $99/mo; Max is $200/mo (per [Orchids plans docs](https://docs.orchids.app/plans-and-token-usage)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Orchids | Feature | Freebuff | Orchids | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $50/mo Premium | | Credit meter | None | Yes — monthly credits | | Free tier | Full product | 100k credits, 3 projects | | Auth + database | Wired in | Wired in | | Custom domain | Yes | Paid plans | | Eject to GitHub | One click | Yes | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Orchids is still the better pick Orchids excels at polished marketing sites and portfolios where design quality is the primary constraint. ## How to move from Orchids to Freebuff 1. Export to GitHub from Orchids and import into Freebuff Web. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Orchids — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Orchids does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Orchids cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $50/mo (Premium, monthly billing), expect roughly $600/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Orchids project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Orchids (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-same-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Same.new Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $50/mo (Max) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Same.new — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - Same.new typical paid tier: $50/mo (Max). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. Same.new generates full-stack web apps from prompts with remix/download flows on paid plans. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What Same.new costs in 2026 Same.new tiers: Free (500k tokens), Basic $10/mo, Pro $25/mo, Max $50/mo, Ultra $100/mo. Ultra adds pay-as-you-go beyond 20M tokens at $10 per 2M (per [Same.new pricing docs](https://docs.same.new/usage/pricing)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Same.new | Feature | Freebuff | Same.new | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $50/mo (Max) | | Token meter | None | Yes — fixed monthly tiers | | Auth + database | Wired in | Varies by stack | | Project download | GitHub eject, free | Paid plans | | Deployed URL | Yes, free | Yes | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Same.new is still the better pick Same.new is a solid pick for fast MVPs when you want predictable token tiers and a simple upgrade path. ## How to move from Same.new to Freebuff 1. Download your project on a paid plan and import the repo into Freebuff Web. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to Same.new — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything Same.new does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does Same.new cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $50/mo (Max), expect roughly $600/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing Same.new project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from Same.new (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-v0-vercel-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to v0 Same prompt-to-deployed-app loop — without the $30/user/mo (Team) bill. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to v0 — prompt to deployed full-stack app. - v0 typical paid tier: $30/user/mo (Team). Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - You own the code — eject to GitHub any time. v0 by Vercel generates React/Next.js UI and full-stack apps from prompts, with Vercel deployment integration. Freebuff Web does the same job without a subscription or credit meter. ## What v0 costs in 2026 v0 Team is $30/user/mo with $30 in monthly credits per user. Business is $100/user/mo. The legacy Premium ($20/mo) plan is being sunset for new users (per [v0.app pricing docs](https://v0.app/docs/pricing)). Most builders who iterate daily land on a paid tier quickly once the free allowance runs out. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs v0 | Feature | Freebuff | v0 | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $30/user/mo (Team) | | Credit meter | None | Yes — token-based credits | | Auth + database | Wired in | Manual / add-ons | | Next.js + shadcn output | Yes | Native specialty | | Vercel deploy integration | Any host | Native Vercel | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When v0 is still the better pick v0 wins for teams already on Vercel who want shadcn-aligned components and tight deploy pipelines. ## How to move from v0 to Freebuff 1. Push your v0 project to GitHub and import into Freebuff Web. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL (or start a fresh project with the same prompt). 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and a deployed URL automatically. 4. Keep iterating in the browser, or eject and run `freebuff` in your terminal for heavy refactors. **No lock-in**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. Host on Vercel, Cloudflare, or anywhere. We give you a free URL by default. Try the free alternative to v0 — Ship a deployed full-stack app in minutes — $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web really free?** A: Yes. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap for normal use. Auth, database, and hosting are included. **Q: Can Freebuff do everything v0 does?** A: For the core loop — prompt, iterate, deploy a real app with auth and database — yes. Niche integrations may differ; you can always import code and extend in the Freebuff CLI. **Q: How much does v0 cost per year on a typical paid plan?** A: At $30/user/mo (Team), expect roughly $360/year before overages. Freebuff is $0. **Q: Can I import my existing v0 project?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from v0 (where supported) and import into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-antigravity-cli-gemini-freebuff-alternative # How one Antigravity CLI user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff CLI $20/mo future Gemini spend → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - future Gemini spend on Antigravity CLI: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $240/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for Antigravity CLI vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on future Gemini spend Antigravity is **free at launch** but Gemini-powered; long-term pricing is TBD. Budget **~$20/mo** equivalent in API or future seat fees for planning. For this example: **$20/month** or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | future Gemini spend | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Use Freebuff in your existing editor instead of switching to Antigravity's fork. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel Antigravity CLI billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to Antigravity CLI](/blog/free-antigravity-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $20/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-claude-code-cli-freebuff-alternative # How one Claude Code user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff CLI $20/mo Claude Code Pro → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Claude Code Pro on Claude Code: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $240/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for Claude Code vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on Claude Code Pro Claude Code Pro is **$20/mo**; Max is **$200/mo**. Pro includes agent access tied to your Anthropic subscription. For this example: **$20/month** or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Claude Code Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Same repo, same terminal — run `freebuff` instead of `claude`. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel Claude Code billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to Claude Code](/blog/free-claude-code-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $20/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-codex-cli-chatgpt-plus-freebuff-alternative # How one OpenAI Codex CLI user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff CLI $20/mo ChatGPT Plus → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - ChatGPT Plus on OpenAI Codex CLI: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $240/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for OpenAI Codex CLI vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on ChatGPT Plus Codex and the Codex CLI require **ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo** or higher for cloud agent access. For this example: **$20/month** or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | ChatGPT Plus | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Run `freebuff` in the same repo—no Plus subscription. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel OpenAI Codex CLI billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to OpenAI Codex CLI](/blog/free-codex-cli-openai-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $20/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-cursor-agent-pro-freebuff-cli-alternative # How one Cursor Agent user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff CLI $20/mo Cursor Pro → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Cursor Pro on Cursor Agent: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $240/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for Cursor Agent vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on Cursor Pro Cursor Pro is **$20/mo**; Ultra is **$200/mo**. The agent loop is gated behind Pro for serious use. For this example: **$20/month** or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Cursor Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Keep Cursor for tab completion; run `freebuff` in the terminal panel and cancel Pro. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel Cursor Agent billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to Cursor Agent](/blog/free-cursor-agent-cli-coding-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $20/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-pi-coding-agent-api-freebuff-cli-alternative # How one Pi Coding Agent user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff CLI $20/mo typical model API spend → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - typical model API spend on Pi Coding Agent: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $240/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for Pi Coding Agent vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on typical model API spend Pi itself is free and open-source (pi-mono / pi-coding-agent on npm). You pay your model provider per token — many developers report **$10–$30/mo** in API costs for daily use, or use `/login` with an existing Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus, or GitHub Copilot subscription. For this example: **$20/month** or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | typical model API spend | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Pi works on any repo. `cd` into your project and run `freebuff` in the same terminal — no export step. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel Pi Coding Agent billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to Pi Coding Agent](/blog/free-pi-coding-agent-cli-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $20/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I keep using Pi and Freebuff?** A: Yes — some developers use Pi for experiments and Freebuff for daily work with included models. Or switch fully to save API spend. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-360-per-year-opencode-cli-api-costs-freebuff-alternative # How one OpenCode user saved $360 by switching to Freebuff CLI $30/mo typical API spend → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - typical API spend on OpenCode: about $30/month ($360/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $360/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for OpenCode vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on typical API spend OpenCode is free software but **BYOK** — most users pay **$20–$50/mo** to model providers depending on volume. For this example: **$30/month** or **$360/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | typical API spend | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $30 | | Annual cost | $0 | $360 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Keep your repo; swap the CLI command to `freebuff`. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel OpenCode billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to OpenCode](/blog/free-opencode-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $30/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-468-per-year-github-copilot-cli-pro-plus-freebuff-alternative # How one GitHub Copilot CLI user saved $468 by switching to Freebuff CLI $39/mo GitHub Copilot Pro+ → $0 with Freebuff. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - GitHub Copilot Pro+ on GitHub Copilot CLI: about $39/month ($468/year). - Freebuff CLI: $0/month with models and subagents included. - Net savings: $468/year before API or credit overages. - Modeled example — your usage may differ. Terminal agents are where subscription and token costs add up fastest. Here is the math for GitHub Copilot CLI vs Freebuff CLI — not a fabricated testimonial, but the switch we see often. ## The bill on GitHub Copilot Pro+ GitHub Copilot CLI is included on all Copilot plans. **Copilot Pro is $10/mo**; **Copilot Pro+ is $39/mo** with a larger AI Credits pool. As of June 2026, usage is metered in GitHub AI Credits (1 credit = $0.01) per token — heavy agent sessions can burn through included credits fast (per [GitHub Copilot billing docs](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/copilot-billing/models-and-pricing)). For this example: **$39/month** or **$468/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | GitHub Copilot Pro+ | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $39 | | Annual cost | $0 | $468 | | Token / credit overages | None | Common on long agent sessions | | Subagents | 9 included | Varies | | Model bundle | Included | Subscription or BYOK | ## Three-step switch 1. Clone your repo locally (if not already), install Freebuff with `npm i -g freebuff`, run `freebuff` in the project root. 2. Install Freebuff: `npm i -g freebuff` 3. Cancel GitHub Copilot CLI billing once you have verified Freebuff on your repos. **Full comparison**: Read [The free alternative to GitHub Copilot CLI](/blog/free-github-copilot-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff) for the feature-by-feature table. Stop paying $39/mo (Install Freebuff CLI: /cli) **Q: Can I run both Copilot CLI and Freebuff?** A: Yes. Many developers use Freebuff for heavy agent work and keep IDE completions elsewhere — or drop the paid tier entirely. **Q: Do I need to change editors?** A: No. Freebuff runs in whatever terminal you already use. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-1200-per-year-magic-patterns-ai-ui-generator-freebuff-alternative # How one Magic Patterns user saved $1200 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $100/mo Magic Patterns Business bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Magic Patterns Business on Magic Patterns: about $100/month ($1200/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $1200/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Magic Patterns but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for a freelance designer building client sites — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Magic Patterns Business Magic Patterns Starter is $20/seat/mo (1,000 credits). Business is $100/seat/mo (5,000 credits). On-demand usage bills at $0.02/credit after limits (per [Magic Patterns billing docs](https://magicpatterns.mintlify.app/documentation/get-started/credits-and-billing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Magic Patterns Business at $100/month**, or **$1200/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Magic Patterns Business | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $100 | | Annual cost | $0 | $1200 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$1200/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export generated code from Magic Patterns and import the GitHub repo into Freebuff Web for full-stack wiring. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Magic Patterns once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Magic Patterns](/blog/free-magic-patterns-ai-ui-generator-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $100/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $1200/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Magic Patterns Business. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-figma-make-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Figma Make user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $20/mo Figma Professional Full seat bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Figma Professional Full seat on Figma Make: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $240/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Figma Make but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for a marketer shipping client landing pages — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Figma Professional Full seat Figma Make is bundled into Figma seat pricing — not sold separately. A Professional Full seat is ~$16–20/mo (annual vs monthly) with 3,000 AI credits/mo shared across Figma AI tools. Organization Full is $55/seat/mo (per [figma.com/pricing](https://www.figma.com/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Figma Professional Full seat at $20/month**, or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Figma Professional Full seat | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$240/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export code from Figma Make, push to GitHub, and import into Freebuff Web for auth, database, and hosting. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Figma Make once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Figma Make](/blog/free-figma-make-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $20/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $240/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Figma Professional Full seat. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-240-per-year-google-ai-studio-gemini-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Google AI Studio user saved $240 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $20/mo Google AI Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Google AI Pro on Google AI Studio: about $20/month ($240/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $240/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Google AI Studio but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Google AI Pro Google AI Studio itself is free for prototyping with Flash models. Pro-tier models in the UI require Google AI Pro at $19.99/mo, or paid Gemini API usage via Cloud Billing (per-token, often $20–$100+/mo for active builders). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Google AI Pro at $20/month**, or **$240/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Google AI Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $20 | | Annual cost | $0 | $240 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$240/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export generated code to GitHub and import into Freebuff Web for auth, database, hosting, and iteration without API billing. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Google AI Studio once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Google AI Studio](/blog/free-google-ai-studio-gemini-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $20/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $240/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Google AI Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-252-per-year-canva-code-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Canva Code user saved $252 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $21/mo Canva Business bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Canva Business on Canva Code: about $21/month ($252/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $252/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Canva Code but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for a marketer shipping client landing pages — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Canva Business Canva Code is a Premium AI tool inside Canva — not sold separately. Canva Pro is ~$12/mo ($144/yr) with up to 200 Premium AI uses/mo. Business is $250/person/yr (~$21/mo) with up to 400 Premium AI uses/mo (per [canva.com/help/ai-access](https://www.canva.com/help/ai-access)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Canva Business at $21/month**, or **$252/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Canva Business | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $21 | | Annual cost | $0 | $252 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$252/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export widget code from Canva Code and rebuild as a full app in Freebuff Web if you need auth, database, or standalone hosting. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Canva Code once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Canva Code](/blog/free-canva-code-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $21/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $252/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Canva Business. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-288-per-year-anything-com-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Anything user saved $288 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $24/mo Anything Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Anything Pro on Anything: about $24/month ($288/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $288/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Anything but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Anything Pro Anything Pro is $19/mo billed annually or $24/mo billed monthly for 20,000 monthly credits. The Max tier jumps to $199–$239/mo for parallel agents and higher credit pools (per [anything.com pricing docs](https://www.anything.com/docs/account/subscriptions)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Anything Pro at $24/month**, or **$288/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Anything Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $24 | | Annual cost | $0 | $288 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$288/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export to GitHub from Anything, or start fresh in Freebuff Web with the same prompt. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Anything once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Anything](/blog/free-anything-com-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $24/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $288/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Anything Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-300-per-year-floot-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Floot user saved $300 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $25/mo Floot paid tier bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Floot paid tier on Floot: about $25/month ($300/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $300/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Floot but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Floot paid tier Floot launched with a free preview; paid tiers are rolling out. Budget for a typical AI app-builder subscription ($20–$50/mo) once you need production features beyond the preview. For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Floot paid tier at $25/month**, or **$300/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Floot paid tier | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $25 | | Annual cost | $0 | $300 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$300/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export your repo to GitHub and import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Floot once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Floot](/blog/free-floot-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $25/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $300/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Floot paid tier. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-300-per-year-macaly-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Macaly user saved $300 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $25/mo Macaly Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Macaly Pro on Macaly: about $25/month ($300/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $300/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Macaly but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Macaly Pro Macaly Pro is $25/mo with custom domains, code access, and monthly AI credits. Enterprise is custom. A $5/mo Hosting-only plan keeps domains live without AI credits (per [macaly.com/pricing](https://www.macaly.com/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Macaly Pro at $25/month**, or **$300/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Macaly Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $25 | | Annual cost | $0 | $300 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$300/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export code from Macaly Pro and import the repo into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Macaly once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Macaly](/blog/free-macaly-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $25/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $300/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Macaly Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-300-per-year-replit-agent-design-mode-freebuff-alternative # How one Replit Agent user saved $300 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $25/mo Replit Core bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Replit Core on Replit Agent: about $25/month ($300/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $300/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Replit Agent but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Replit Core Replit Core is $25/mo on monthly billing ($20/mo billed annually). Agent and Design Mode features sit behind paid plans; heavier use pushes many teams toward Replit Pro at $100/mo. For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Replit Core at $25/month**, or **$300/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Replit Core | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $25 | | Annual cost | $0 | $300 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$300/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export your repl to GitHub, then import the repo into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Replit Agent once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Replit Agent](/blog/free-replit-agent-design-mode-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $25/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $300/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Replit Core. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-360-per-year-cosmic-new-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Cosmic.new user saved $360 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $30/mo Cosmic.new Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Cosmic.new Pro on Cosmic.new: about $30/month ($360/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $360/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Cosmic.new but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Cosmic.new Pro Cosmic.new Pro is $29.99/mo. Enterprise is $199.99/mo for large teams (per [cosmic.new](https://www.cosmic.new/)). API access is listed at $29.99/mo (reduced from $49.99). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Cosmic.new Pro at $30/month**, or **$360/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Cosmic.new Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $30 | | Annual cost | $0 | $360 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$360/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export your project code and import into Freebuff Web via GitHub. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Cosmic.new once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Cosmic.new](/blog/free-cosmic-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $30/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $360/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Cosmic.new Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-360-per-year-v0-vercel-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one v0 user saved $360 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $30/mo v0 Team bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - v0 Team on v0: about $30/month ($360/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $360/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like v0 but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on v0 Team v0 Team is $30/user/mo with $30 in monthly credits per user. Business is $100/user/mo. The legacy Premium ($20/mo) plan is being sunset for new users (per [v0.app pricing docs](https://v0.app/docs/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **v0 Team at $30/month**, or **$360/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | v0 Team | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $30 | | Annual cost | $0 | $360 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$360/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Push your v0 project to GitHub and import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel v0 once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to v0](/blog/free-v0-vercel-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $30/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $360/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for v0 Team. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-aura-build-ai-website-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Aura user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Aura Max bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Aura Max on Aura: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Aura but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for a freelance designer building client sites — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Aura Max Aura Pro is $25/mo (120 prompts/mo). Max is $50/mo (240 prompts/mo). Ultra is $100/mo (560 prompts/mo) per [aura.build/pricing](https://www.aura.build/pricing). Annual plans are 50% off while subscribed. For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Aura Max at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Aura Max | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export HTML or push code to GitHub, then import into Freebuff Web for backend features. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Aura once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Aura](/blog/free-aura-build-ai-website-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Aura Max. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-bolt-new-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Bolt.new user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Bolt.new Max bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Bolt.new Max on Bolt.new: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Bolt.new but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Bolt.new Max Bolt Pro is $25/mo (10M tokens). Max is $50/mo; Ultra is $100/mo on monthly token tiers (per Bolt.new pricing as of 2026). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Bolt.new Max at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Bolt.new Max | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export to GitHub from Bolt and import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Bolt.new once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Bolt.new](/blog/free-bolt-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Bolt.new Max. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-emergent-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Emergent user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Emergent Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Emergent Pro on Emergent: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Emergent but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Emergent Pro Emergent paid plans commonly land between $25/mo and $99/mo depending on credits. Many active builders report spending around $50/mo once they move past the free tier. For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Emergent Pro at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Emergent Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export to GitHub from Emergent and import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Emergent once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Emergent](/blog/free-emergent-sh-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Emergent Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-getmocha-mocha-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Mocha user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Mocha Silver bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Mocha Silver on Mocha: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Mocha but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for a solo founder migrating before the August 2026 shutdown — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Mocha Silver Mocha is shutting down August 1, 2026. Official docs list Bronze/Silver/Gold tiers by credits but not public dollar amounts; third-party pricing guides commonly cite ~$20/mo Bronze, ~$50/mo Silver, ~$200/mo Gold. Verify in-app before subscribing. For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Mocha Silver at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Mocha Silver | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Use Mocha Settings → Export, or migrate to Freebuff Web via GitHub import. Do not wait until August 2026. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Mocha once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Mocha](/blog/free-getmocha-mocha-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Mocha Silver. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-lovable-dev-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Lovable user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Lovable Business bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Lovable Business on Lovable: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Lovable but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Lovable Business Lovable Pro starts at $25/mo for 100 credits. Business is $50/mo with SSO and team features. Credit tiers scale to $100/mo (400 credits) and beyond for heavy iteration (per [lovable.dev pricing](https://lovable.dev/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Lovable Business at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable Business | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export to GitHub from Lovable, then import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Lovable once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Lovable](/blog/free-lovable-dev-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Lovable Business. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-orchids-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Orchids user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Orchids Premium bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Orchids Premium on Orchids: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Orchids but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Orchids Premium Orchids Premium is $42/mo billed annually or $50/mo billed monthly with 4M monthly credits and unlimited projects. Ultra is $99/mo; Max is $200/mo (per [Orchids plans docs](https://docs.orchids.app/plans-and-token-usage)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Orchids Premium at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Orchids Premium | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Export to GitHub from Orchids and import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Orchids once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Orchids](/blog/free-orchids-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Orchids Premium. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-600-per-year-same-new-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Same.new user saved $600 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $50/mo Same.new Max bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Same.new Max on Same.new: about $50/month ($600/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $600/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Same.new but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Same.new Max Same.new tiers: Free (500k tokens), Basic $10/mo, Pro $25/mo, Max $50/mo, Ultra $100/mo. Ultra adds pay-as-you-go beyond 20M tokens at $10 per 2M (per [Same.new pricing docs](https://docs.same.new/usage/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Same.new Max at $50/month**, or **$600/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Same.new Max | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $50 | | Annual cost | $0 | $600 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$600/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Download your project on a paid plan and import the repo into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Same.new once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Same.new](/blog/free-same-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $50/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $600/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Same.new Max. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/save-960-per-year-base44-ai-app-builder-freebuff-alternative # How one Base44 user saved $960 by switching to Freebuff Same shipped apps. $80/mo Base44 Pro bill → $0. Published: 2026-06-24 TL;DR: - Base44 Pro on Base44: about $80/month ($960/year). - Freebuff Web: $0/month for the same prompt → deployed app loop with auth, database, and hosting. - Net savings: $960/year before credit top-ups or seat multipliers. - This is a modeled example for a typical solo builder — your mileage depends on usage. We talk to builders every week who like Base44 but hate watching credits disappear. Here is a straightforward math story for an indie hacker shipping side projects — not a fabricated testimonial, but the kind of switch we see in practice. ## The bill on Base44 Pro Base44 Builder is $40/mo (annual) with 250 message credits. Pro is $80/mo with 500 message credits plus integrations. Elite is $160/mo (per [base44.com/pricing](https://www.base44.com/pricing)). For this example we use the middle paid tier most solo builders aim for: **Base44 Pro at $80/month**, or **$960/year**. | Feature | Freebuff | Base44 Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly subscription | $0 | $80 | | Annual cost | $0 | $960 | | Credit / token overages | None | Common on active projects | | Auth + database + hosting | Included | Included (varies by plan) | | CLI for big refactors | Freebuff CLI | Not included | ## What changed after switching - **Same workflow.** Prompt in the browser, get a deployed URL, click to iterate. - **No rationing.** Heavy debugging weekends do not burn a credit balance. - **GitHub eject any time.** The repo is yours; keep editing in Freebuff CLI locally. - **$960/year back.** That covers domains, email, or a connected ChatGPT subscription for hard turns. ## Three-step migration 1. Use GitHub integration in Base44, then import into Freebuff Web. 2. Import the repo into Freebuff Web (or recreate the app with your best prompt). 3. Cancel Base44 once you have verified the Freebuff deploy — welcome to $0/month. **Want the full feature comparison?**: Read [The free alternative to Base44](/blog/free-base44-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff) for an honest side-by-side. Stop paying $80/mo — Open Freebuff Web and ship your next app for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is $960/year realistic?** A: It is the base subscription for Base44 Pro. Many users pay more after credit top-ups, extra seats, or higher tiers. **Q: Will I lose features?** A: You keep auth, database, hosting, and code ownership. Some vendor-specific integrations may need re-wiring — usually a one-time CLI task. **Q: Can teams use Freebuff for free too?** A: Yes. No per-seat pricing on Freebuff Web. Collaborate via GitHub like any normal repo. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/freebuff-in-the-wild-may-2026 # Freebuff in the wild: notes from May What we saw people build, break, and ship with Freebuff this month. Published: 2026-05-26 (updated 2026-06-08) We've been doing this informally on our Discord for a while — sharing the projects that show up in our feedback channel that we think more people should see. A few folks suggested we just… put it on the blog. So here we are. This is the May 2026 edition. Names and identifying details are redacted unless the person asked us to keep them in. Sometimes the original message was edited for clarity. The quotes are otherwise verbatim. --- ## 1. A freelancer in India shipping local-shop websites We gave this one its own post because the case is so clean: SvelteKit websites for local shops, around $100 per project, built mostly on weekends, all on the free tier. The thing we keep thinking about is the currency-sensitivity of free — a $20/month subscription means very different things in different parts of the world. $0 means the same thing everywhere. Read the full case study — "Earning $100 a website: a Freebuff side-income story from India" (Read the case study: /blog/side-income-with-freebuff-india-case-study) --- ## 2. A non-coder shipping their first app, in Spanish > Excelente, muy intuitivo para alguien que no escribe código. > — In-app feedback, May 2026 Translation: “Excellent, very intuitive for someone who doesn’t write code.” This came from someone using Freebuff Web, not the CLI. We hadn’t fully internalized how much of our user base is going to be people whose first contact with anything code-adjacent is the visual editor + prompt box, until we started seeing how many of the in-app messages aren't in English. Lots of small UX decisions changed because of this — keyboard shortcuts moved to be cmd+enter friendly, error messages were rewritten to be less jargon-y. --- ## 3. A model-curious developer running comparisons in our terminal > Amazing product! This is the first time that I can try out new models with real coding tasks. > — D., via email, May 2026 This pattern shows up a lot in our feedback. People want to actually try the new open-weight model that just dropped, but cloning a repo and wiring up an API key is just enough friction to keep them from doing it. Freebuff already speaks Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, plus GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription. So `/model deepseek-v4` and you’re running a real benchmark against your own codebase. --- ## 4. Someone who finally got their project across the line > I've been trying to get a project up and running for a while now, and keep getting stuck. This just became a lifesaver — I actually got my project done in one go now, and only fine-tuning it. > — Early user, via email We get a version of this every week. It's the one that motivates the team most. We think a lot about the difference between a tool that helps people who already ship, and one that helps people who don’t ship yet. The second is harder, and we'd like to keep getting better at it. --- ## Patterns we noticed this month - **Freebuff Web is becoming the on-ramp for the CLI.** People prompt their way into a working app, then eject to GitHub and finish in the terminal. We didn’t plan it that way — it just emerged. - **`/model` is used more than we expected.** We assumed people would set-and-forget. Instead, a lot of users swap models per task: MiMo for refactors, DeepSeek or GLM for greenfield, connected GPT-5.4 for the final review pass. - **Subagents are getting forked.** A handful of users have written their own subagents and shared them on Discord. The migration-planner pattern from one of our guides is the most popular fork. - **The non-English share is climbing.** Spanish and Portuguese feedback together is about 18% of our incoming notes this month, up from ~6% in March. ## What we’re working on next month - Faster cold-start on Freebuff Web preview deploys. - Better defaults for the planner subagent on small repos (it currently over-plans). - A small library of subagents contributed by the community, with a `freebuff add-agent ` command to install them. If you’re building something with Freebuff that we should highlight here next month, ping us on Discord or just send a note via the in-app feedback button. We mean it — we actually read all of them. Show us what you ship — Join the Discord and drop a screenshot. (Install Freebuff: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/side-income-with-freebuff-india-case-study # Earning $100 a website: a Freebuff side-income story from India A developer in India is using Freebuff to ship websites for local shops while studying Rust on the side. Published: 2026-05-25 (updated 2026-06-08) An email came into my inbox a couple of weeks ago that I keep coming back to. It was from a developer in India who has been quietly using Freebuff to build a real side business — making websites for local shops in his city for about $100 a piece (around 7,000 INR). He gave us permission to share it, with his name removed. > I am loving the Freebuff. I am from India, and I am using Freebuff to create websites for our local shops and earning $100 (7k INR). I just got my first client and agreed to design a website for him. I am using Freebuff to develop it in SvelteKit (because I am so used to it). I am doing these as a side income, but I am trying to build compilers and interpreters in Rust and to get a job in Rust. Till then, I make websites for our local businesses to make some side income. So thank you a lot for making this process easier and less time-consuming. > — S., India — via email, May 2026 --- ## Why this email stuck with me I want to be careful here. It's easy to do the dramatic founder-pose where you take someone else's story and turn it into your own marketing. That's not what I mean to do. I just think this little email contains almost everything we hoped Freebuff would do for people. - **It met someone where they already are.** SvelteKit. Not React. Not whatever the AI demo of the week is. The framework he’s comfortable in. Freebuff is meant to be that — a great teammate inside whatever stack you already use. - **It collapsed a 3-day job into an afternoon.** That’s the unlock: real money for real work, but the work is fast enough to be a side hustle around studying. - **It’s not the whole life plan.** He’s studying compilers in Rust. He wants a Rust job. Freebuff isn’t his career; it’s the bridge that funds the career he actually wants. That feels like a healthy way to use a tool. - **The economics work in his currency.** $100 USD is meaningful money in a lot of the world. A $20/month subscription often isn’t worth that trade. Free changes who can play. ## A small back-of-envelope If you can build one site like this in a weekend with Freebuff, four weekends a month is roughly $400. That’s a meaningful number when the average software engineering salary in many parts of India is between $5,000 and $15,000 USD per year. It also stacks neatly with a day job or a degree. | Feature | Freebuff | A typical paid AI coding tool | | --- | --- | --- | | Monthly cost | $0 | $20–$60 | | Break-even per month | Zero clients | 1 client (out of pocket if you miss) | | Margin per $100 site | ~100% | 40–80% (after tool + provider costs) | | Extra planning passes | Available with connected ChatGPT | Bundled into the seat fee whether you use it or not | | Currency sensitivity | Free is the same in every currency | Subscription scales weird across regions | **If you’re running a similar side business**: We’d genuinely love to hear from you. A small-shop website agency powered by Freebuff is the kind of story that helps us push harder on the things that matter — fast deploys, good defaults, free models that don’t embarrass you in front of a paying client. ## Some practical notes for anyone trying this 1. Start with a template you already know. If you’re a SvelteKit person, stay there. Freebuff handles every popular stack, but you ship faster when you can spot a wrong turn in the code. 2. Charge by project, not by hour. Your time-to-finish drops fast as you get better at prompting; you don’t want your billable hours dropping with it. 3. Use Freebuff Web for the first draft, then push to GitHub and finish in Freebuff CLI. Visual editing for the layout, real CLI work for the integrations. 4. Use a connected ChatGPT subscription for the planning step on bigger sites. A strong reasoning pass early can save an hour of cleanup later. --- S., if you're reading this — good luck with the Rust job. Send us the compiler when you ship it. Build your own side income — Same tools, same free tier. Start a small business in an afternoon. (Install Freebuff: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/what-developers-are-saying-about-freebuff # What developers are saying about Freebuff A few of the kinder things people have written to us since the free tier shipped. Published: 2026-05-24 (updated 2026-06-08) We don't usually do testimonial posts. We're an engineering team, not a marketing team, and we kind of dread the whole logo-wall thing. But the messages have been getting hard to ignore, and a few of you have told us reading what other people said convinced you to try it. So — here are some of the notes that landed in our inbox, our DMs, and our feedback firehose over the last few weeks. Names and email addresses are redacted. Otherwise these are verbatim. --- ## On Freebuff just… working > One of the fast and best AI agent ever. Even giving better results than a paid one! I really appreciate it. Keep going. > — In-app feedback, May 2026 This one came in via the in-app feedback form. It made our day. It also reflects something we hear a lot: people try Freebuff expecting "free = worse," and are surprised when it isn’t. The free models are genuinely good now. We talked about that shift over in our research piece on why free coding agents won. > Amazing product! This is the first time that I can try out new models with real coding tasks. Thanks to you for building it and making it available. > — D., via email The “try out new models with real coding tasks” part is something we think about a lot. Most people never get past the demo prompts on a model provider's homepage. With Freebuff you can `/model` your way through Deepseek, MiMo, GLM, Minimax, and GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription on the same task, with the same context, in your own repo. That was always the goal. --- ## On Freebuff unblocking projects that were stuck > I am so grateful and thankful for this, and I mean it from the very bottom of my heart. I've been trying to get a project up and running for a while now, and keep getting stuck. This just became a lifesaver — I actually got my project done in one go now, and only fine-tuning it. I hope this stays around for long, and keeps getting better. > — Early user, via email We get a version of this email almost every week now. Someone has a project they’ve been chipping away at for months. They try Freebuff. It ships. That feels like the whole point. --- ## From around the world > Excelente, muy intuitivo para alguien que no escribe código. > — In-app feedback, May 2026 "Excellent, very intuitive for someone who doesn’t write code." That one came in Spanish. We’ve also gotten notes in Portuguese, Tagalog, Hindi, and Japanese in the last month. It’s humbling. The web of who codes is wider than the English-speaking dev Twitter would have you believe. **Side note**: We have a separate post coming about a developer in India who’s used Freebuff to start a small website-building business for local shops. That story deserves its own page. --- ## On the open web > My accolades! This is the kind of business I would love to work on or with. Thank you for democratizing code agents. > — A developer on Twitter, May 2026 > You sir are doing a service to humanity. > — A developer on Twitter, May 2026 We’re going to print that second one out and tape it next to the build monitor. The bar for “service to humanity” is high — we mostly write TypeScript — but we'll take it. --- ## And one that made us think about the business model > Does it help you if I click through or copy the URL on ads, or is the income just based on ad views? This service is proving life-changing in making a dream of mine come true, so I want to support it as best I can. > — A user in our Discord, May 2026 This is the part we don’t usually say out loud. Freebuff is free because of the ads in the CLI — they run before and after agent turns. Both views and click-throughs count. Mostly we just want you to use it. If an ad is relevant and you actually click, that helps a lot. If it isn’t, just keep coding. We are deeply allergic to dark patterns and we’re going to keep it that way. --- ## Thanks If you’re shipping something with Freebuff, tell us about it. We read every message. Most of them, honestly, don’t end up on a page like this — but the ones that do are a reminder of why this is worth building. Try it for yourself — Install Freebuff and see what people are talking about. (Install Freebuff: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-bloom # The free alternative to Bloom Agentic web app creation without the SaaS tier. Published: 2026-05-23 TL;DR: - Bloom is one of the cleaner agentic web app generators on the market. - Freebuff Web does the same flow at $0/month, no credit ceiling. - Includes free auth, DB, file storage, deploy URLs, and GitHub export. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Bloom | Feature | Freebuff | Bloom | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Paid tiers | | Auth + DB | Free, included | Paid plans | | Deployed URL | Free, per change | Free preview | | GitHub eject | One click | Limited | | CLI for power users | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | Skip the paid tier — Same agentic app builder, no monthly fee. (Open Freebuff Web: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-a0-dev # The free alternative to a0.dev Mobile + web AI app generator without the credit meter. Published: 2026-05-22 TL;DR: - a0.dev is great at fast mobile + web app generation. - Freebuff Web matches on the web side for free, with auth/DB/deploy built in. - For native mobile, Freebuff CLI + Expo gets you there in a few prompts. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs a0.dev | Feature | Freebuff | a0.dev | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free tier capped | | Credit meter | None | Per-prompt credits | | Web app generation | Yes | Yes | | Mobile app generation | Via Freebuff CLI + Expo | Native (preview) | | Auth + DB included | Yes | Limited on free | | GitHub eject | One click | Limited | Build apps free, no credits — Same prompt-to-app loop, no per-generation meter. (Open Freebuff Web: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/why-free-coding-agents-won-2026 # Why free coding agents won in 2026 Four forces that collapsed paid AI coding tools — and what comes next. Published: 2026-05-22 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - **Model commodification:** open-weight models matched frontier on coding by Q1 2026. - **Direct model billing normalized:** users prefer transparent model costs over per-seat SaaS. - **Ad-supported tooling works** when ads are devtool-relevant and CLI-native. - **Per-seat AI pricing died** — the unit economics never matched developer churn. In Q4 2025, the "frontier coding agent" market was paid by default. By Q3 2026, the top three CLI coding agents were free. This is the post-mortem. ## 1. Model commodification Deepseek v4 (Jan 2026), Kimi K2.6 (Feb 2026), GLM 5.2 (Mar 2026), and Minimax M3 (Apr 2026) each landed within 2 points of GPT-5.4 on SWE-Bench Verified at <10% of the cost. By summer, the gap on coding tasks was effectively zero. Paid tools that locked you into Claude or GPT-5.4 had nothing to defend. | Feature | Freebuff | Frontier closed (GPT-5.4 Pro) | | --- | --- | --- | | SWE-Bench Verified | Deepseek v4: 71% | 74% | | Cost per 1M output tokens | $0.50 – $1.40 | $15+ | | Latency p50 | 350 – 600 ms first token | 500 ms first token | ## 2. Direct model billing normalized Developers got tired of paying $20/mo to a SaaS that paid the model provider $3/mo on their behalf. Direct OpenAI, Anthropic, and OpenRouter billing became table-stakes for open-source tools. The middle layer collapsed. ## 3. Ad-supported devtools work Devtool-relevant ads (compute, hosting, dev infra, model APIs) match developer intent better than 99% of consumer-internet ads. CTRs on Freebuff CLI ads in 2026 were 4–7x higher than typical web display ads, making free-with-ads sustainable. ## 4. Per-seat AI pricing died Per-seat pricing assumes daily active use. AI coding agent usage is bursty — heavy weeks shipping features, dead weeks during meetings or holidays. Users felt overcharged on the dead weeks, churned, and the unit economics never closed. ## What comes next - **Free tier becomes the default tier.** Paid tiers will exist for team features (audit logs, SSO), not for the agent itself. - **BYOK-only model providers grow.** Anthropic and OpenAI will sell more direct keys, fewer wholesale licenses to SaaS middlemen. - **Open-weight + local inference doubles**. Devs with M-series Macs already run capable models locally; that’s only going one way. - **Vertical agents win.** Free coding agent + paid security-review agent + paid migration agent. Specialization beats one-size-fits-all. > The free coding agent didn’t kill paid coding agents. The unit economics of per-seat AI did. Free was just the alternative that was already there. > — Freebuff Research, June 2026 Use the agent that won — Install Freebuff and join the free CLI agent default. (Install Freebuff: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/coding-agent-benchmarks-what-they-miss # What coding agent benchmarks miss SWE-Bench is necessary, insufficient, and a little misleading. Here’s what to add. Published: 2026-05-22 TL;DR: - SWE-Bench measures patch correctness on toy GitHub issues — useful, not enough. - Real-world agents are judged on: cost, iteration speed, recovery from wrong turns, and willingness to ask. - Freebuff Research uses a 6-axis eval that better predicts user retention. If you optimize purely for SWE-Bench, you ship a brittle agent that nails the benchmark and frustrates users. Here’s why — and what we measure instead. ## The 4 things benchmarks miss 1. **Cost per accepted change.** A benchmark that takes 80 tool calls is "right" but unaffordable. 2. **Recovery from wrong turns.** Real bugs hide. Did the agent backtrack, or dig itself deeper? 3. **Asking when uncertain.** A good engineer asks. A SWE-Bench-optimized agent always answers. 4. **Cross-file consistency.** Benchmarks rarely test 10+ file changes that must stay in sync. ## The Freebuff Research 6-axis eval | Feature | Freebuff | SWE-Bench Verified alone | | --- | --- | --- | | Patch correctness | Yes — weighted 25% | 100% of score | | Cost per accepted PR | Yes — weighted 20% | Not measured | | Recovery from wrong turns | Yes — weighted 15% | Not measured | | Clarification questions asked | Yes — weighted 10% | Not measured | | Cross-file consistency (>10 files) | Yes — weighted 20% | Not measured | | User-reported friction | Yes — weighted 10% | Not measured | ## Concrete failure modes we caught - **Confident wrong patch:** Top SWE-Bench agent failed silently on a typed migration because the test passed but the runtime behavior broke. Cross-file consistency check caught it. - **Cost runaway:** One frontier agent burned $4.20 on a task another agent solved for $0.18. Same correctness; very different ROI. - **No-question bias:** SWE-Bench-tuned agents never ask. Real users want the agent to stop and ask when requirements are ambiguous. **How we test Freebuff itself**: Every release runs the 6-axis eval on 200 internal tasks plus 100 paid customer tasks (consented). The 6-axis score is the gating release metric, not SWE-Bench alone. ## What this means for buyers If you’re comparing agents, don’t stop at SWE-Bench. Run them on 5 of *your* most representative tasks. Measure cost, time-to-merge, and how many tries it takes. The leaderboard winner is often not the winner on your repo. Try Freebuff on your hardest task — Free agent, free run, real measurement. (Install Freebuff: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-base44-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Base44 Generate internal tools and full apps from a prompt — for $0/month. Published: 2026-05-21 TL;DR: - Base44 nailed the internal-tool-from-a-prompt workflow. - Freebuff Web does the same, no monthly fee, no per-seat surprise bills. - Real Postgres-backed DB and auth wired in by default; not a "demo backend". ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Base44 | Feature | Freebuff | Base44 | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $40–$80/mo (Builder–Pro) | | Message credits | None | 250–500/mo on paid tiers | | Integration credits | Included | 10k–20k/mo on paid tiers | | Real DB (not demo) | Yes — included | Yes on paid plans | | Auth | Free, included | Paid plans | | GitHub eject | One click | Limited | | CLI for power-user edits | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Custom domains | Yes | Paid plans | ## What Base44 costs in 2026 Base44 Builder is **$40/mo** (annual billing) with 250 message credits. Pro is **$80/mo** with 500 message credits and more integrations. Elite is $160/mo. See [base44.com/pricing](https://www.base44.com/pricing) for the live tier table. **Built for non-engineers AND engineers**: Same project can be edited by a non-engineer in the visual editor and by an engineer in Freebuff CLI. No "design tier" / "developer tier" split. Free internal tools, free full apps — Stop paying per seat. Build for $0/month. (Open Freebuff Web: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-floot-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Floot Same agentic web app builder — open source repo, no monthly plan. Published: 2026-05-19 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Floot ships a clean prompt-to-app experience for web apps. - Freebuff Web matches it for $0 — auth, DB, file storage, deploy URL all included. - Eject to GitHub at any moment; keep building with the Freebuff CLI. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Floot | Feature | Freebuff | Floot | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free preview; ~$25/mo paid (est.) | | Auth + DB | Included | Limited on free | | Deployed URL | Free, per change | Free during preview | | GitHub eject | One click | Limited | | Paired CLI agent | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | ## What Floot costs Floot launched with a free preview period. Paid tiers are rolling out — budget **$20–$50/mo** for a typical AI app-builder subscription once you need production domains, higher limits, and sustained iteration beyond preview. **Free preview vs free product**: Most AI app builders are "free during preview." Freebuff Web is free as a long-term commitment — supported by CLI ads on the Freebuff CLI side, not by surprise pricing changes. Build web apps without a paywall — Get the same agentic loop, no credit ceiling. (Open Freebuff Web: /) --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-heyboss # The free alternative to HeyBoss AI app builder + free hosting + a CLI escape hatch when you outgrow the prompt box. Published: 2026-05-18 TL;DR: - HeyBoss is a polished AI app builder with monthly plans. - Freebuff Web does the prompt-to-app loop for free, with auth and DB built in. - When the visual builder runs out of road, Freebuff CLI takes over — same repo. HeyBoss is great for non-engineers shipping their first app. Freebuff Web is HeyBoss without the subscription, plus a real CLI agent for when your app gets serious. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs HeyBoss | Feature | Freebuff | HeyBoss | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Subscription | | Auth + database included | Yes | Limited on free plan | | Deployed URL | Per change, free | On paid plans | | GitHub eject | One click | Paid feature | | Paired CLI agent | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Visual element editor | Yes | Yes | ## Who should switch - **Hitting the HeyBoss free-plan ceiling** — Freebuff Web has no per-month cap. - **Want to own your code** — every Freebuff project ejects to GitHub for free. - **Going from prototype to real product** — drop into Freebuff CLI when prompts aren’t enough. Build full-stack apps for free — Same prompt-to-app loop, no subscription, real code you own. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Can I migrate a HeyBoss project?** A: Yes if you can export the code. Push to GitHub, then import into Freebuff Web and continue iterating with prompts or the CLI. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-vibecode # The free alternative to VibeCode Ship a full-stack app from a prompt — without the prompt-credit ceiling. Published: 2026-05-16 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - VibeCode helped popularize "vibe coding" — type a vibe, get an app. - Freebuff Web does the same loop, no credit meter, no daily cap. - Auth, DB, file storage, and hosting are included by default. - Eject to GitHub at any time and keep editing with the Freebuff CLI. VibeCode’s pitch is great — describe the vibe, ship the app. Freebuff Web is the same pitch with the bill removed. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs VibeCode | Feature | Freebuff | VibeCode | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free tier capped; paid above | | Credit meter | None | Per-prompt credits | | Auth + database | Included by default | Add-on / paid | | Deployed URL per change | Yes | Yes | | Eject to GitHub | One click, repo is yours | Limited / paid | | Paired CLI agent | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | ## What you keep - **Prompt-to-app speed** — the loop that made vibe coding fun. - **Live preview** that updates per prompt. - **Visual iteration** for non-engineers. ## What you gain - **No credit ceiling.** - **A real database + auth** wired in from the first prompt. - **A CLI for heavy refactors** when the visual editor reaches its limit. Vibe code for free — Spin up a full-stack app with no credits or signups in the way. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Can I import my VibeCode project to Freebuff?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from VibeCode, then Import from GitHub in Freebuff Web. **Q: Does Freebuff support the same visual editing?** A: Yes. Edit by prompt, or use the in-browser file editor + element inspector. Iterate visually, then commit when ready. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-antigravity-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Antigravity CLI Agentic coding in your terminal — without Google’s editor fork. Published: 2026-05-15 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Antigravity is Google’s agentic IDE — polished, Gemini-powered, fork of an editor. - Freebuff is editor-agnostic — runs in your terminal inside VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, or Cursor. - Both are free at launch; only Freebuff is structurally free long-term (ad-supported, not VC-subsidized). - Antigravity is Gemini-only. Freebuff lets you switch models per task. Antigravity is what happens when Google ships its answer to Cursor — an opinionated agentic IDE with Gemini deeply integrated. Freebuff is the same agent power in your existing terminal, without changing editors or vendors. ## What Antigravity costs in 2026 Antigravity is **free at launch**. Long-term pricing is not finalized — expect Gemini API usage or seat fees similar to other Google dev tools. Budget **~$20/mo equivalent** when comparing total cost of ownership. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff CLI vs Antigravity | Feature | Freebuff | Antigravity (Google) | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free (permanent, ad-supported) | Free at launch; future pricing TBD | | Editor | Use any editor | Antigravity IDE (forked editor) | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) | Gemini 3.x only | | Model choice per task | Yes | Locked to Gemini | | Subagents bundled | 9 specialized | One general agent | | Browser-use | Built-in subagent | Yes (built-in) | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | No (Google account only) | | Data use | Models or features labeled “May use data for AI training” may keep submissions to develop, train, test, evaluate, fine-tune, and improve AI models or products. | Google Cloud cloud-by-default | ## When Antigravity wins - **You’re happy switching editors** and love a tightly-integrated UX. - **You’re all-in on Gemini** for its long-context and multimodal strengths. - **Cloud-first workflows** where the agent running in Google’s cloud is a feature, not a tradeoff. ## When Freebuff wins - **You don’t want to migrate editors** — Freebuff goes wherever your terminal goes. - **You want vendor-agnostic model choice.** - **You want a guaranteed-free tier**, not a free preview that may change. - **Runs locally.** Freebuff edits files locally but sends relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context to its servers and model providers. See the Privacy Policy for details. Get the editor-agnostic free alternative — Install Freebuff inside any editor you already use. (Install Freebuff: /) **Q: Will Antigravity stay free?** A: No commitment yet. Like most launches, Antigravity’s pricing will likely evolve. Freebuff’s free tier is a permanent commitment funded by CLI ads. **Q: Does Freebuff have a "cascade"-style multi-file agent loop like Antigravity?** A: Yes. Freebuff plans across files first, then applies edits in a single pass that you can review and approve, with the code-reviewer subagent verifying afterwards. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-gemini-cli # The free alternative to Gemini CLI A free CLI agent that doesn’t make you bring a Gemini key — and lets you pick the model per task. Published: 2026-05-14 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Gemini CLI is great, free during preview, and locked to one model family — Google Gemini. - Freebuff is also free, supports many models (Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, and GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription), and ships 9 specialized subagents. - Gemini CLI requires a Google Cloud / Gemini API key. Freebuff requires nothing. - Both run locally and edit files in your terminal. Google’s Gemini CLI is a polished free preview of "what if Google had Claude Code?" Freebuff is a free CLI agent that doesn’t make you pick one vendor’s model. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Gemini CLI | Feature | Freebuff | Gemini CLI | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | Free during preview; rate-limited | | API key required | No | Yes — Gemini API key | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) | Gemini 3.x family only | | Choose model per task | `/model` switch | Locked | | Subagents | 9 specialized | General agent | | Browser-use | Built-in | No native support | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | No (Google account only) | | Codebase indexing | Local + free | Local + free | ## When Gemini CLI wins - **You love Gemini’s style** — long-context summarization is excellent. - **You’re already inside Google Cloud** and want the path of least friction. - **You want huge free quotas during preview** — Google’s preview limits are generous right now. ## When Freebuff wins - **You don’t want a Google account on file**. - **You want model choice** — sometimes MiMo is the right call, sometimes DeepSeek, sometimes connected GPT-5.4. - **You want browser-use, code review, and deep-thinking subagents** in the box. **Freebuff already uses Gemini**: Under the hood, Freebuff’s file-picker subagent uses Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite for fast file finding. So you get the best of Gemini’s long-context throughput inside a broader agent — no API key needed. Try the free alternative to Gemini CLI — No API key. No Google account. One npm command. (Install Freebuff: /) **Q: Will the Gemini CLI preview stay free?** A: Probably not at current quotas. Google has historically introduced paid tiers once preview tools graduate. Freebuff is free as a permanent commitment, supported by CLI ads. **Q: Can I use Gemini models inside Freebuff?** A: Yes — Freebuff routes its file-picker through Gemini Flash Lite. Direct Gemini selection from `/model` is on the roadmap. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-opencode-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to OpenCode Open-source CLI agent + your own API keys vs $0, batteries-included. Published: 2026-05-11 (updated 2026-06-08) 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, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, 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, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3 included + BYOK for Claude Code & Codex | 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. **You can pair them**: Some teams use OpenCode for local-only refactors against an Ollama Qwen model, and Freebuff for any task that benefits from a frontier model or browser verification. Both write to the same repo; pick per task. Get the batteries-included free option — Install Freebuff with one npm command — no API keys to set up. (Install Freebuff: /) **Q: Is OpenCode actually free?** A: 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). **Q: Can Freebuff use the same models OpenCode uses?** A: Freebuff supports BYOK for Claude Code and Codex, plus ChatGPT OAuth for Codex. It also includes all top Chinese frontier models (Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3) and can use GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/switch-from-cursor-to-freebuff # Switch from Cursor to Freebuff in 5 minutes A no-disruption migration: keep your editor, drop the subscription. Published: 2026-05-09 TL;DR: - You don’t need to change editors — Freebuff runs in any terminal. - Total time: ~5 minutes. - Cost after switch: $0/month. ## Step 1: Install Freebuff ```bash npm install -g freebuff ``` Or run without install: `npx freebuff@latest`. ## Step 2: Open a project + start Freebuff ```bash cd ~/code/my-app freebuff ``` Freebuff indexes the repo locally on first run. No upload, no cloud sync. ## Step 3: Pin Freebuff side-by-side with your editor - **VS Code / Cursor:** open the built-in terminal (`Ctrl+``) and run `freebuff`. Drag the terminal panel to the side for a vertical split. - **JetBrains:** open the terminal tool window (`Alt+F12`). - **Vim/Neovim:** use a tmux split or `:terminal`. ## Step 4: Map your common Cursor flows to Freebuff | Feature | Freebuff | Cursor | | --- | --- | --- | | Inline edit (⌘K) | Highlight in CLI prompt + describe change | ⌘K | | Chat / agent | Prompt at top of Freebuff CLI | ⌘L Composer | | Codebase Q&A | `/ask ` | @codebase | | Browser preview | `/browser` (built-in) | External | | Multi-file refactor | `/plan` then accept | Composer plan | | Model switch | `/model` | Model menu | ## Step 5: Cancel your Cursor subscription In Cursor: Settings → Billing → Cancel. You’re done. Welcome to $0/month. **You can keep Cursor too**: Nothing breaks if you keep Cursor installed alongside Freebuff. Many engineers use Cursor’s tab-completion + Freebuff’s agent loop together for free. Make the switch — Install Freebuff once. Free forever. (Install Freebuff: /) **Q: Do I lose tab-completion?** A: Not if you keep Cursor or use VS Code with a free completion extension. Freebuff focuses on the agent loop; pair it with whatever completion you like. **Q: Will my Cursor rules and prompts transfer?** A: Mostly yes. Move `.cursorrules` content into `.freebuff/AGENTS.md` and Freebuff will respect it automatically. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/freebuff-subagents-deep-dive # The 9 subagents inside Freebuff (and when each one runs) A field guide to the specialized workers that make a CLI agent feel agentic. Published: 2026-05-06 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff orchestrates 9 specialized subagents instead of one general "do everything" model. - Each subagent has narrow scope, narrow context, and narrow trust. - The main agent decides which subagents to spawn for each task. - You can also spawn them by hand with `/agent `. Big agents are bad at small tasks; small agents are bad at big ones. Freebuff splits the work: a coordinator picks the right subagent for each turn. Here is the cast. ## 1. file-picker Runs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite against a local code map to find the files that matter for the current task. Returns ranked paths plus a one-line justification per file. Almost every other subagent depends on it. ## 2. code-reviewer Reads diffs after an edit and reports issues by severity. Catches obvious regressions, missing tests, and security smells. Runs automatically after any multi-file edit; trigger manually with `/review`. ## 3. browser-use Drives a real Chromium instance to verify the app you just edited still works. Logs in, navigates, asserts on the rendered DOM, takes screenshots. Used heavily on full-stack tasks generated from Freebuff Web. ## 4. thinker-with-files-gemini When a turn needs deep reasoning, the coordinator hands off to thinker-with-files-gemini. It reads the files it needs and thinks the problem through on Gemini Pro — free inside Freebuff. ## 5. researcher Does web research with citations. Useful when the task touches an unfamiliar library or API. Returns a short brief with linked sources. ## 6. test-runner Detects the project’s test framework (vitest, jest, pytest, go test, cargo test) and runs only the relevant tests. Streams failures back to the coordinator for repair. ## 7. git-curator Stages, commits, and writes commit messages that match the repo’s historical style. Opens PRs with `/pr`. Refuses to push to `main` unless you explicitly ask. ## 8. shell-runner Executes shell commands inside a permission boundary. Destructive commands always require approval. Long-running processes are backgrounded with output streamed to a terminal file the main agent can read. ## 9. project-scout New in 2026: indexes the repo on first run and keeps the index warm. Tracks recent edits, build outputs, lint errors, and stack metadata so the coordinator has a fast structural understanding without re-reading the whole tree. ## Why subagents beat one big model - **Scope of context.** The reviewer does not need browser logs. The browser does not need shell history. - **Scope of trust.** The shell-runner can refuse what the coordinator cannot. - **Scope of cost.** File-picker can run on a cheap, fast model. Thinker-gpt can run on the smartest model only when needed. - **Parallelism.** Independent subagents run concurrently and stitch results back together. See subagents in action — Install Freebuff and try `/interview` on any task. (Install Freebuff: /) **Q: Can I disable a subagent?** A: Yes — pass `--no-subagent ` at startup, or set it in your project’s `.freebuffrc`. **Q: Does each subagent use a different model?** A: Yes by default. File-picker uses Gemini Flash Lite for speed; thinker-with-files-gemini uses Gemini Pro; the rest pick the model that best matches the task shape. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/freebuff-web-vs-lovable-bolt-replit # Freebuff Web vs Lovable vs Bolt vs Replit Agent vs Emergent Five in-browser app builders, ranked head-to-head on the same task. Published: 2026-05-03 TL;DR: - We gave the same prompt to Freebuff Web, Lovable, Bolt.new, Replit Agent, and Emergent. - Freebuff Web shipped the most polished result for $0. - Lovable was strongest on visual aesthetics out of the gate. - Bolt.new was fastest on cold start. - Replit had the smoothest in-browser shell. - Emergent had the deepest SaaS-shaped templates. Five tabs, one prompt: "Build a Pomodoro timer with auth, persistent user history, and a shareable streak leaderboard." Here is how each builder did. ## The test prompt ```text Build a Pomodoro timer web app. Users sign in with Google, sessions persist across devices, completed cycles are saved to a database, and there is a public leaderboard of weekly streaks. Pick a nice modern dark theme. Ship it deployed. ``` ## Round 1: time to first deployed URL | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable / Bolt / Replit / Emergent | | --- | --- | --- | | Freebuff Web | 78 seconds | — | | Bolt.new | — | 52 seconds | | Lovable | — | 95 seconds | | Replit Agent | — | 120 seconds | | Emergent | — | 140 seconds | ## Round 2: feature completeness on first try - **Freebuff Web:** Auth ✓, DB persistence ✓, leaderboard ✓, dark theme ✓. - **Lovable:** Auth ✓, DB persistence ✓, leaderboard ✗ (had to re-prompt), dark theme ✓. - **Bolt:** Auth ✗ (mocked), DB persistence ✗ (localStorage), leaderboard ✗, dark theme ✓. - **Replit Agent:** Auth ✓, DB persistence ✓, leaderboard ✓, dark theme ✗ (light by default). - **Emergent:** Auth ✓, DB persistence ✓, leaderboard ✓, dark theme ✓. ## Round 3: cost | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable / Bolt / Replit / Emergent | | --- | --- | --- | | Freebuff Web | $0 | — | | Bolt.new | — | Free tier hit after first re-prompt | | Lovable | — | ~$25/mo to iterate freely | | Replit Agent | — | ~$25/mo (Core required) | | Emergent | — | ~$25–$99/mo | ## Round 4: code quality (independent review) We pulled each project to a local clone and ran them through the Freebuff CLI’s code-reviewer subagent. Score is "critical issues + suggestions" (lower is better). - **Freebuff Web:** 2 suggestions, 0 critical. - **Lovable:** 4 suggestions, 1 critical (missing rate limit on leaderboard fetch). - **Bolt:** 7 suggestions, 2 critical (mocked auth surface, no input validation). - **Replit Agent:** 3 suggestions, 0 critical. - **Emergent:** 3 suggestions, 1 critical (CORS misconfig on leaderboard). ## Verdict - **Best free + complete:** Freebuff Web. - **Best visual aesthetic:** Lovable. - **Fastest cold start:** Bolt.new. - **Best in-browser shell:** Replit Agent. - **Best SaaS templates:** Emergent. If you want the cheapest path to a deployed, real app, Freebuff Web is the call. For visual polish, Lovable. For raw cold-start speed, Bolt. The rest depends on which corner of the experience you optimize for. Try Freebuff Web — Build the same Pomodoro app — or yours — for free. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Will the rankings hold for bigger apps?** A: We tested the same five tools on a multi-tenant SaaS prompt next; Freebuff and Emergent pulled away from the rest, with Freebuff still free. **Q: Can I move a Lovable / Bolt / Replit project to Freebuff?** A: Yes — export to GitHub from any of them, then Import from GitHub in Freebuff Web. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-emergent-sh-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Emergent Same agentic full-stack builder. Without the $99/mo bill. Published: 2026-04-30 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Emergent.sh — full-stack app generator with deployed URLs. - Emergent’s paid plans run $25–$99/mo. Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, hosting, and a paired CLI are included. - Better for indie hackers and students who do not want a credit meter. Emergent has been a favorite for "agent does the whole app" demos. The catch: serious use lands above $50/mo fast. Freebuff Web replicates the loop and removes the bill. ## What Emergent costs in 2026 Emergent paid plans typically range from **$25/mo** on entry tiers to **$99/mo** for higher credit pools. Many active builders report spending around **$50/mo** once they move past the free allowance. Check [emergent.sh](https://emergent.sh) for current plan names and limits. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Emergent | Feature | Freebuff | Emergent | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $25–$99/mo (typical ~$50/mo) | | Credit / token meter | None | Yes | | Auth + database | Wired in | Wired in | | Deployed URL | Yes, free | Yes | | Eject to GitHub | One click, repo is yours | Yes (paid plans) | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## When Emergent is still the right call Emergent’s template gallery and SaaS-shaped starters (Stripe billing, multi-tenant auth, admin dashboards) are deeper than ours today. If you need those scaffolds out of the box and the $99/mo is justified, stay. For everything else, Freebuff Web is the same loop at $0. Try the free alternative to Emergent — Free, no credit meter, real deployed apps. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Can I move an Emergent project to Freebuff?** A: Yes — Emergent exports to GitHub. Import the repo into Freebuff Web and we wire up the equivalent infra. **Q: Will Freebuff have SaaS-shaped templates like Emergent?** A: Yes, more are landing every week. Today you can scaffold auth + DB + billing in a single prompt. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-devin # The free alternative to Devin An autonomous coding agent that ships PRs — without the $500/mo invoice. Published: 2026-04-26 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free alternative to Cognition’s Devin — autonomous agent that ships PRs. - Devin starts around $500/mo for serious use. Freebuff is $0. - Edits run locally, but relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context are sent to Freebuff and model providers. - Browser-use subagent verifies the app the way Devin verifies in its sandbox. Devin set the bar for "the agent does the whole task end-to-end" — including verifying the result in a real browser. Freebuff implements the same loop locally, with no subscription. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Devin | Feature | Freebuff | Devin (Cognition) | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $500+/mo (serious tier) | | Execution location | Local + your shell | Devin’s cloud sandbox | | Opens PRs | Yes via `/pr` | Yes | | Verifies in browser | Built-in browser-use subagent | Yes | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) | Internal model selection | | Inspect & take over | You watch in your terminal | Devin Console | | Per-task cost | Free | Burns Devin "ACUs" | ## When Devin still wins - **Fully managed cloud agents.** Devin runs in its own sandbox so you do not even need a terminal open. - **Long, multi-day tasks with managed retries.** Devin’s scheduling is more mature. ## When Freebuff wins - **Runs locally.** Freebuff edits files locally but sends relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context to its servers and model providers. See the Privacy Policy for details. - **You see every command in real time** — easier to step in and steer. - **No "ACU" or credit accounting.** - **Per-task model choice.** **How to get a "Devin-like" task**: Use `/interview` to nail down the spec, `/plan` to lock in the implementation plan, then run the implementation. Add `/browser-use` at the end to verify the result in a real browser. That is the Devin loop. Get the free alternative to Devin — Autonomous agent, real PRs, $0 / month. (See the install command: /) **Q: Can Freebuff really replace Devin?** A: For local-first workflows, yes. Freebuff plans, edits, runs, verifies in a browser, and opens PRs. Devin’s edge is fully cloud-managed scheduling for very long-running jobs. **Q: Does Freebuff have a "Console" like Devin?** A: Freebuff runs in your terminal, so the console is your terminal. The web dashboard shows recent runs, costs, and PRs. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-alternative-to-windsurf # The free alternative to Windsurf A free agentic IDE experience, without the $15/mo seat. Published: 2026-04-23 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free alternative to Windsurf with the same agentic, multi-file autonomy. - Windsurf Pro is $15/mo (and rising on enterprise). Freebuff is $0. - You get 9 specialized subagents and the freedom to switch models per task. - Editor-agnostic — works in VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, or a bare terminal. Windsurf’s Cascade made multi-file autonomous edits feel safe. Freebuff has the same cadence — plan, edit, run, verify — without the seat license. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Windsurf | Feature | Freebuff | Windsurf Pro | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $15+/mo per seat | | Editor lock-in | None — works anywhere | Windsurf IDE (Codeium) | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) | Codeium-curated set | | Subagents | 9 specialized | General Cascade agent | | Browser-use subagent | Built-in | No | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | No | | Codebase indexing | Local + free | Cloud + metered | ## When Windsurf still wins - **You love the cascade panel UI.** Windsurf’s diff review is polished. - **Team seats with enterprise SSO.** Windsurf has paperwork Freebuff does not match yet. ## When Freebuff wins - **You want to use any editor.** Freebuff lives in your terminal — bring whichever IDE you like. - **You want to control model spend.** Switch per task with `/model`. - **You want browser automation in the agent.** Freebuff ships it natively. - **You do not want a seat license.** $0 vs $15/mo per seat scales differently. Get the free alternative to Windsurf — Install Freebuff with one npm command. (See the install command: /) **Q: Will Freebuff replace my IDE like Windsurf does?** A: No — Freebuff is an agent that lives in your terminal. Keep VS Code, JetBrains, or Vim, and run `freebuff` in the integrated terminal. **Q: Does Freebuff have cascade-style multi-file edits?** A: Yes. Freebuff plans across files first, then applies edits in a single pass you can review and approve. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-lovable-dev-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Lovable Same idea — type a prompt, get a deployed full-stack app — without the $25/mo bill. Published: 2026-04-19 (updated 2026-06-24) TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Lovable.dev with auth, database, file storage, and hosting included. - Lovable costs $25–$100/mo depending on credits. Freebuff Web has no credit meter. - Both ship deployed URLs on every prompt; Freebuff Web also has a CLI for heavy edits. - You own the code on both — Freebuff makes ejecting to GitHub a one-click move. - If you outgrow it, upgrade to Freebuff Pro for priority models and longer context. Look, Lovable is genuinely a great product. It taught a lot of people what “vibe coding” could feel like. The reason this page exists isn't that we think Lovable is bad — it's that we kept hearing the same conversation, over and over again, in our Discord: “Is there a free version of this?” So we'll just answer it. Yes. It's Freebuff Web. Here's the honest comparison. ## Why so many people are searching for this The credit system is the thing. Lovable's pricing tops out around $100/mo for serious use, and credits burn faster than people expect once you start iterating on real work. The free tier is generous-looking in the marketing copy but caps quickly in practice — a handful of generations a day, with most of the useful features gated behind a paid plan. For students, indie hackers, freelancers, and basically anyone shipping a side project at 2am, that runs out of road fast. Freebuff Web is for that crowd. Same prompt-to-app loop. Same deployed URLs after every prompt. Same iterate-by-clicking feel. No credits to ration. No paywall waiting for the moment your idea starts working. ## What Lovable costs in 2026 Lovable Pro starts at **$25/mo** for 100 monthly credits. **Business is $50/mo** with SSO and team features. Credit tiers scale to $100/mo (400 credits) and far beyond for power users. See [lovable.dev/pricing](https://lovable.dev/pricing). ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Lovable | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $25/mo Pro; $50/mo Business | | Credit meter | None | Yes, per-prompt | | Deployed URL on every change | Yes | Yes | | Auth + database wired in | Yes | Yes (Supabase add-on) | | File storage | Built-in | Via Supabase | | Eject to GitHub | One click, you own the repo | Yes (paid plans) | | CLI for heavy refactors | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Connect ChatGPT for deep thinking | Yes (GPT-5.4) | No | ## When Lovable is still the better pick Lovable has a more mature gallery of community templates and tighter Supabase integrations for teams already invested in that stack. If you are running a paid Lovable workspace today and you are happy with the spend, there is nothing wrong with staying. Freebuff is for the long tail of people who want the same outcome without the meter running. ## How to move a Lovable project to Freebuff 1. In Lovable, export your project to GitHub. 2. In Freebuff Web, click `Import from GitHub` and paste the repo URL. 3. Freebuff detects the stack (Vite + React + Supabase is the common one) and wires up an equivalent backing store. 4. Iterate from there in the browser, or `cd` in and run `freebuff` in your terminal. **Worried about lock-in?**: Don’t be. Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos with normal package.json files. You can host the output anywhere — Vercel, Cloudflare, Fly, a Raspberry Pi. We just give you a free hosted URL as the default. ## What you are giving up vs paid Lovable - **Premium model defaults.** Freebuff defaults to Deepseek v4 and MiMo 2.5 Pro (excellent, but not Anthropic). BYOK to use Claude, or connect your ChatGPT subscription to unlock GPT-5.4 for the truly hard turns. - **Some plugin ecosystem maturity.** Lovable has been around longer and has more pre-built integrations. We are catching up fast. For everything else — the loop of prompt → deployed app → iterate → ship — Freebuff Web is a 1:1 replacement. Try the free alternative to Lovable — Open Freebuff Web and ship a deployed app in the next 90 seconds. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web actually free, or freemium with a hidden cap?** A: Actually free. No per-prompt credits and no daily generation limit. Generous compute and storage defaults apply; if you outgrow them you can upgrade or self-host. **Q: Can I use Freebuff for production apps, like Lovable users do?** A: Yes. The repo is yours, the database is provisioned per project, and you can attach a custom domain. The same code you preview is the code that ships. **Q: Does Freebuff support Supabase like Lovable?** A: Freebuff provisions its own backing store by default, but you can swap to Supabase, Postgres, or Convex by importing from GitHub and editing the connection in your terminal. **Q: How is Freebuff different from Bolt.new or Replit Agent?** A: Freebuff bundles auth, database, hosting, and a paired CLI in one free product. Bolt and Replit Agent each cover part of that surface, often gated behind subscriptions. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-bolt-new-ai-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Bolt.new Same instant in-browser app generator. Different price. Published: 2026-04-16 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Bolt.new — same in-browser, deployed-by-default app generator. - Bolt charges by tokens; Freebuff Web has no token meter. - Auth, database, file storage, and hosting are included. - Eject to GitHub and keep editing in the Freebuff CLI. Bolt.new proved you could spin up a full-stack app from a prompt and have it running directly in your browser in seconds. Freebuff Web took the same idea, removed the token meter, and added a paired CLI for the heavy lifting. ## What Bolt.new costs in 2026 Bolt Pro is **$25/mo** (10M tokens). The middle tier most production builders pick is **Bolt Max at $50/mo**; Ultra is $100/mo. Tokens burn fast on large apps, so many users pay for top-ups on top of the subscription. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Bolt.new | Feature | Freebuff | Bolt.new | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $25/mo Pro; $50/mo Max | | Token meter | None | Yes — burns fast on big apps | | Auth + database | Wired in by default | Supabase add-on | | Hosting | Free deployed URL per project | Netlify integration | | Eject to GitHub | One click, repo is yours | Yes | | Paired CLI agent | Yes | No | ## What you keep from Bolt - **Instant in-browser runtime.** No "loading container" stalls. - **Live preview that updates per prompt.** - **One-shot stack scaffolds for the common combos** (React + Vite + Tailwind, Next.js, Astro, etc). ## What you gain over Bolt - **No token meter.** Iterate as many times as you want. - **Database + auth + storage out of the box** — no Supabase setup walk-through. - **The Freebuff CLI for big refactors.** Eject to GitHub and keep going in your terminal. - **A paired CLI for deep thinking and large refactors.** **For pure prototyping, Bolt is still great**: If you want a throwaway prototype to ship a tweet in five minutes, Bolt’s free tier is fine. Freebuff is for the projects you want to actually keep. Try the free alternative to Bolt.new — Spin up a deployed full-stack app with no token meter. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Does Freebuff Web run apps in the browser like Bolt?** A: Freebuff Web runs your project in a hosted sandbox by default for faster cold starts and instant URLs. You can pull the same project locally and run it natively too. **Q: Can I import a Bolt project?** A: Yes — Bolt projects export to GitHub. Import the GitHub repo into Freebuff Web and we wire up the equivalent infra. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-replit-agent-design-mode-app-builder-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Replit Agent Build, deploy, iterate — including Replit Design Mode workflows — without the Core subscription. Published: 2026-04-12 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff Web is a free alternative to Replit Agent — prompt-to-deployed-app in a browser. - Replit Core is $25/mo (with Agent and Design Mode); Freebuff Web is $0. - Auth, database, file storage, and hosting are wired in by default. - You also get the Freebuff CLI for heavy refactors that browser editors are bad at. Replit Agent and Replit Design Mode made in-browser app building feel real. Freebuff Web is the same feeling without the $25/mo Core subscription gate. ## What Replit costs in 2026 Replit Core is **$25/mo** on monthly billing ($20/mo billed annually). That unlocks Agent, Design Mode, and production deploys for most solo builders. Teams that outgrow Core often move to **Replit Pro at $100/mo**. See [replit.com/pricing](https://replit.com/pricing) for current tiers. ## The Replit Agent loop, but free Replit Agent’s pitch is: type a prompt, watch a real app appear in a real container, click around, iterate. Freebuff Web does the same thing, with the bonus that everything you build is also a normal TypeScript repo you can eject to GitHub and edit in your terminal. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff Web vs Replit Agent | Feature | Freebuff | Replit Agent (with Core) | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $25/mo (Core); $100/mo (Pro) | | Auth + database | Included | Included | | File storage | Included | Included | | Deployed URL on every change | Yes | Yes | | Eject to GitHub | One click, repo is yours | Yes (export) | | Paired CLI agent for refactors | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes (GPT-5.4 deep thinking) | No | | In-browser shell | Yes | Yes | ## When Replit is still the right call - **Education.** Replit’s classroom tooling and curriculum are unmatched. - **Multiplayer real-time pair coding.** Replit invented this for browsers and still does it best. - **You already pay for Core and use it heavily.** Stay. ## When Freebuff Web is the right call - **You want to ship a real app without paying $25/mo.** - **You want a CLI agent that can keep editing the same project after you eject.** - **You want to connect ChatGPT to layer in GPT-5.4 for the hard turns.** **Eject early, eject often**: Freebuff projects are vanilla TypeScript repos. You can keep iterating in the browser, or eject to GitHub and continue with `freebuff` in your terminal. No lock-in, no special build step. ## Migrating from Replit to Freebuff 1. In Replit, export your repl to GitHub. 2. In Freebuff Web, click Import from GitHub and paste the repo URL. 3. Freebuff wires up auth, database, and hosting for the new project. 4. Iterate in the browser or `cd` in and run `freebuff` in your terminal. Try the free alternative to Replit Agent — Open Freebuff Web and ship a deployed app in 90 seconds. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Can I import an existing Replit project?** A: Yes — export your repl to GitHub, then import the repo into Freebuff Web. We auto-detect the stack and wire up the equivalent infra. **Q: Does Freebuff have an in-browser shell?** A: Yes. The hosted preview includes a terminal you can use without ever installing the CLI. **Q: Will my Freebuff app stay deployed if I stop iterating?** A: Yes. Deployed apps stay live indefinitely on the free tier as long as they receive normal traffic. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/state-of-free-ai-coding-2026 # The state of free AI coding in 2026 Frontier models got cheap. Coding agents got free. Here is what that changes. Published: 2026-04-08 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - In 2026, every major category of AI coding tool has a free, frontier-quality option. - CLI agents (Freebuff vs Claude Code / Codex). - In-editor agents (Freebuff CLI + your editor vs Cursor / Windsurf). - In-browser full-stack builders (Freebuff Web vs Lovable / Bolt / Replit / Emergent). - The economics flipped because inference fell 10x while subscription pricing stayed flat. I keep getting asked some version of: “Wait, what actually changed? Last year free AI coding tools were toys. This year people are telling me they prefer them. Did I miss something?” Yes. Quite a lot, actually. Here's the map of how we got here, in plain English, written for people who don't have time to read 47 model release blog posts. ## The three forces that made free coding agents inevitable ### 1. Inference is 10x cheaper than it was last year DeepSeek V4, Kimi K2, and MiniMax M2 brought frontier-quality models to costs that would have looked rounding-error a year ago. Most provider pricing for coding-grade output is now below $1/M tokens. That collapses the economic case for charging a flat $20/mo for "access" to a model. ### 2. The agent loop is mostly solved The "plan, edit, run, verify" loop that Claude Code, Cursor, and Devin pioneered is now well-understood. Open implementations exist (Aider, OpenCode, Cline, Goose), and the differentiation has moved up the stack: subagents, browser-use, BYOK, deep thinking, slash commands. ### 3. Distribution beats subscription A free CLI you install with `npm install -g freebuff` reaches more developers in a week than a $20/mo product reaches in a quarter. Ad-supported and freemium business models tend to win in the long tail of developer tools — see Codeium, GitHub Copilot Free, Cline, and now Freebuff. ## The map: free options across every category | Feature | Freebuff | Paid leader | | --- | --- | --- | | CLI coding agent | Freebuff (free) | Claude Code, Codex CLI ($20–$200/mo) | | In-editor agent | Freebuff CLI inside any editor (free) | Cursor, Windsurf ($15–$200/mo) | | Browser app builder | Freebuff Web (free) | Lovable, Bolt, Replit, Emergent ($20–$99/mo) | | Autonomous "cloud SWE" | Freebuff + browser-use (free, local) | Devin ($500+/mo) | | Inline autocomplete | GitHub Copilot Free, Codeium, Tabby (free) | Copilot Pro, Cursor Tab ($10–$20/mo) | ## What this means for developers - **You no longer need a $200/mo stack to do AI-assisted coding.** A free CLI agent plus a free autocomplete will get you to parity with most paid setups. - **Model choice matters more than vendor loyalty.** The right model per task beats the "best" model overall. - **Local execution can beat cloud-only for many workflows.** It can reduce latency and compute spend while keeping commands and file edits in your workspace. - **Subagents are the next axis of differentiation.** Code review, browser verification, deep thinking — the agents that compose well will pull ahead. ## What this means for paid coding tools The "$20/mo for access to a frontier model" tier is dead. Paid tools will move up-market — enterprise paperwork, team analytics, managed compliance — or sideways into specialized verticals (Devin’s long-running cloud sandbox, Cursor’s editor experience). The general "agent in your terminal" and "app builder in your browser" tiers will be free by default, ad-supported or freemium with optional Pro. ## What this means for us Freebuff is a bet that free coding tools should not have to be worse — they should just be free. Our CLI is at parity with the paid leaders today. Freebuff Web is at parity with the in-browser app builders. We will keep raising the bar from there. Pick the free version of your stack — Install Freebuff CLI and open Freebuff Web in two minutes. (Start with Freebuff: /) **Q: Are the free models really at parity with Claude / GPT?** A: For coding, yes. Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, and GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription match Claude on most coding-specific benchmarks. You can also BYOK to use Claude Code directly. The "best for everything" debate is messier; the "best for coding" question is mostly settled. **Q: Why would anyone still pay for Cursor / Claude Code / Lovable?** A: For specific UX they love, for enterprise paperwork, or because team-wide standardization is worth $20/mo per seat. None of those reasons require an individual developer to pay. **Q: Will the free tier last?** A: Yes. Freebuff is supported by ad sponsorship in the CLI, plus optional Pro upgrades. The free tier is the product. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/best-free-cli-coding-agents-2026 # The best free CLI coding agents in 2026 Eight CLI coding agents you can use today without paying — ranked. Published: 2026-04-01 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - There has never been a better year for free CLI coding agents. - We tested 8 of them on the same medium-sized refactor task. - Freebuff ranked #1 on speed, autonomy, and out-of-the-box subagents. - Aider and OpenCode are excellent open-source picks if you want BYOK only. - Continue and Cline are great if you live inside VS Code. In 2024, "free coding agent" meant "VS Code extension with a chat panel." In 2026, free CLI coding agents are doing real, autonomous, multi-file work — opening PRs, running browsers, reviewing their own code. Here is the full state of the art, ranked. ## The test Each agent got the same prompt against the same fresh clone of a public TypeScript monorepo: "Add a /healthz endpoint that reports DB connectivity, write tests, and update the README." We scored speed, edit quality, autonomy (did it need hand-holding?), and out-of-the-box subagents. ## 1. Freebuff Free, no-config, frontier models, nine subagents, browser-use built in. Finished the task in ~2 minutes with no intervention, ran the test suite, and opened a PR. It also caught a missing edge case (database lock contention) and added a test for it. - **Strengths:** Speed, subagents, model choice, browser-use. - **Weaknesses:** Newer ecosystem; ad-supported (text ads in CLI). - **Install:** `npm install -g freebuff`. ## 2. Aider The OG. Open source, BYOK, polished CLI. You bring the API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama, etc.) and Aider handles the loop. Honest, fast, transparent. Not really "free" once you factor in the API bill, but the tool itself is. - **Strengths:** Mature, open source, BYOK, great git integration. - **Weaknesses:** No subagents, no browser, you pay the model bill. ## 3. OpenCode A newer open-source CLI agent with a Claude-Code-style loop. Free if you BYOK; otherwise you pay the provider directly. Good model abstraction layer. ## 4. Continue.dev (CLI) Continue is famous as a VS Code/JetBrains extension, but its CLI is solid. Open source, BYOK. Less autonomous than Freebuff or Aider, but very predictable. ## 5. Cline / Roo Code Free open-source autonomous agent inside VS Code. Lives in the panel, not the terminal, but feels CLI-like. Excellent if you live in VS Code and want a true free Claude-Code competitor inside the editor. ## 6. SuperMaven / TabbyML CLIs Tab-style autocomplete and completion agents with optional CLI bindings. Worth a mention for low-friction tab completion. Not really "agents" in the autonomous sense. ## 7. Continue + Ollama (fully local) Run any open-weight model locally with Ollama, point Continue at it, and you have a 100% offline, 100% free agent. Performance scales with your GPU. ## 8. Goose (Block) Block’s open-source CLI agent. Pluggable extensions ("toolkits"), supports a wide model list, BYOK. Worth trying if you like a more "Unix philosophy" feel. ## How they compare on the actual task | Feature | Freebuff | Aider / OpenCode / Continue | | --- | --- | --- | | Wall-clock time on test task | ~2 minutes | 4–10 minutes | | Subagents bundled | 9 | 0 | | Browser-use | Built-in | No | | Model bill | Free | Pay-per-token (BYOK) | | Out-of-box autonomy | High | Medium | ## Our recommendations - **Best overall (free + frontier models):** Freebuff. - **Best open source + BYOK:** Aider. - **Best 100% local:** Continue + Ollama. - **Best inside VS Code:** Cline. Try the #1 free CLI coding agent — Install Freebuff with one npm command, no account. (See the install command: /) **Q: Is there a free CLI coding agent that does not need an API key at all?** A: Yes — Freebuff. Every other entry on this list is "open-source + BYOK," which means you pay your model provider directly. **Q: Which one is closest to Claude Code?** A: Freebuff is closest in feel and feature parity. OpenCode is the closest open-source clone if you want to BYOK. **Q: Can I run multiple agents on the same repo?** A: Yes, but coordinate by branch — multiple agents writing to the same files at once is a recipe for merge pain. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-codex-cli-openai-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to OpenAI Codex (and the Codex CLI) A free CLI coding agent that runs your code, edits your repo, and ships PRs. Published: 2026-03-25 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff is the free alternative to OpenAI Codex and the Codex CLI. - Codex requires ChatGPT Plus ($20/mo) or higher to run the cloud agent. - Freebuff runs locally, ships with 9 subagents, supports BYOK for Codex (ChatGPT OAuth) and Claude Code, and can use a connected ChatGPT subscription for GPT-5.4 deep thinking. - Same shape: read repo, plan, edit, run, verify, PR. OpenAI Codex is brilliant. It is also gated behind a ChatGPT Plus subscription, with cloud-only execution and limited control over which model handles each turn. Freebuff is the same loop, free, local, and model-agnostic. ## What "free version of Codex" actually looks like Codex (the cloud agent and the Codex CLI) is OpenAI’s answer to autonomous coding: hand it a repo and a task, and it plans, edits, runs the test suite, and opens a PR. Freebuff runs commands and edits files locally on your machine, and the per-task cost is zero. Freebuff edits files locally but sends relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context to its servers and model providers. See the Privacy Policy for details. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Codex | Feature | Freebuff | OpenAI Codex | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | ChatGPT Plus ($20+/mo) required | | Execution location | Local — your machine, your filesystem | OpenAI cloud sandbox | | Model choice | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) + BYOK for Codex | GPT-5.x family only | | Subagents | 9 specialized | General agent only | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | You are already paying | | Browser-use subagent | Built-in | Limited | | Run on a private repo | Edits run locally, but relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context are sent to Freebuff and model providers. | Cloud sandbox uploads | ## When Codex is still the better pick - **You want pure cloud execution.** Codex spins up sandboxes; nothing to install. Freebuff runs locally. - **You want OpenAI’s exact agent loop and prompt taste.** Freebuff has its own opinions. ## When Freebuff is the better pick - **You want work to run locally.** Freebuff edits files locally but sends relevant prompts, code, files, and repository context to its servers and model providers. See the Privacy Policy for details. - **You want to pick the cheapest or fastest model per task.** `/model` switches mid-conversation. - **You already have a ChatGPT subscription.** Connect it and unlock GPT-5.4 inside Freebuff, free. - **You want subagents that specialize.** Browser-use, code-reviewer, file-picker, thinker-with-files-gemini are all included. **Connected ChatGPT for deep thinking**: If you already pay for ChatGPT Plus, Freebuff lets you connect that subscription to power its deep-thinking subagent with GPT-5.4. ## Migrating from Codex CLI 1. Install: `npm install -g freebuff`. 2. `cd` into the repo Codex was working on. 3. Hand it the same prompt you would give Codex. The shape of the loop is the same. Get the free alternative to OpenAI Codex — No ChatGPT Plus required. Runs locally on your machine. (See the install command: /) **Q: Do I need a ChatGPT subscription?** A: No. Freebuff is free and brings its own models — pick one from the model selector and start coding. There is nothing to connect and nothing to pay for. **Q: Will Freebuff open a PR for me like Codex?** A: Yes. Run `/pr` and the agent will create a branch, write a commit message, push, and open a pull request with a summary. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-cursor-agent-cli-coding-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Cursor Agent Free CLI coding agent with subagents — no Cursor Pro subscription. Published: 2026-03-21 (updated 2026-06-08) TL;DR: - Freebuff is the free alternative to Cursor Agent — a CLI coding agent that works in any editor. - Cursor Pro is $20/mo; Cursor Ultra is $200/mo. Freebuff is $0. - You get 9 specialized subagents (code-reviewer, browser-use, file-picker, deep thinking, more). - Run it inside VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, or a bare terminal — no editor lock-in. - Connect your existing ChatGPT subscription to unlock GPT-5.4 for the hardest turns. I've used Cursor for two years. It's a beautifully made editor. The tab completion is still one of the most addictive things in dev tooling. I'm not here to tell you to throw it in the trash. I'm here because we keep getting asked: “is there a free version of the Cursor experience that's actually any good?” And the honest answer, in our slightly biased opinion, is yes — it's Freebuff inside the editor you already use. Below is the comparison without the marketing gloss. ## The core tradeoff, briefly Cursor wraps the agent loop inside its own VS Code fork. That gives them tight UI control and a polished UX, but it also locks you into their editor and their pricing in order to use their agent. Freebuff is editor-agnostic. Open a terminal inside VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, Zed, or Cursor itself, run `freebuff`, and you're done. If you love the Cursor UI specifically — the inline diffs, the composer panel, that exact rhythm — you might genuinely prefer to keep paying. That's a fine answer. We've also had a surprising number of users keep Cursor for tab-completion, run Freebuff in the terminal panel for the agent loop, and stop paying for Cursor's Pro tier. That hybrid setup is free and arguably better than either tool alone. ## What Cursor Agent costs in 2026 Cursor Pro is **$20/mo**; Cursor Ultra is **$200/mo**. The agent loop is gated behind Pro for serious daily use. See [cursor.com/pricing](https://cursor.com/pricing) for current tiers. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Cursor Agent | Feature | Freebuff | Cursor Agent | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $20/mo (Pro), $200/mo (Ultra) | | Editor lock-in | None — works anywhere | Cursor-only | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3, GPT-5.4 (connected ChatGPT) | Curated set; Auto by default | | Subagents | 9 specialized | General agent only | | Browser use | Built-in | Beta / MCP | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | No | | Codebase indexing | Local + free | Cloud + metered | ## When Cursor still wins - **Inline edit UX.** Cursor’s tab-to-accept inline diff is genuinely best-in-class. - **Team features.** Cursor Business has team analytics and SOC2 paperwork Freebuff does not match yet. - **You already pay for it.** If $20/mo is rounding error and you like the editor, keep it. ## When Freebuff wins - **You use multiple editors.** Freebuff goes wherever your terminal goes. - **You want big, agentic tasks.** `/interview` → `/plan` → implement → `/review` is faster and cheaper than driving a chat panel through the same task. - **You want to control which model touches your code.** Pick per-task with `/model`. - **You use ChatGPT for deep thinking.** Connect your existing ChatGPT subscription to Freebuff. **You can run both**: Plenty of devs keep Cursor open for its inline diff and run `freebuff` in the integrated terminal for big refactors. Use the best tool for the turn. ## Migrating from Cursor in 3 steps 1. Install: `npm install -g freebuff`. 2. Open the integrated terminal in your editor, `cd` into the repo, and run `freebuff`. Get the free alternative to Cursor — Install Freebuff with a single npm command. (See the install command: /) **Q: Does Freebuff replace Cursor or work alongside it?** A: Either. Plenty of users keep Cursor for inline edits and use Freebuff in the terminal for bigger tasks. **Q: Is the codebase indexing as good as Cursor’s?** A: Yes. Freebuff uses Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite for file finding and a local code map, all free. No cloud index, no per-seat charge. **Q: What about Tab autocomplete?** A: Freebuff is an agent, not an autocomplete. Pair it with GitHub Copilot Free, Codeium, or Continue.dev for inline autocompletion. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/free-claude-code-cli-coding-agent-alternative-freebuff # The free alternative to Claude Code Same CLI agent loop. Different bill. Published: 2026-03-17 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free alternative to Claude Code with the same CLI-first agent loop. - Claude Code Pro is $20/mo, Max is $200/mo. Freebuff is $0. - You get 9 specialized subagents in the box: code-reviewer, browser-use, file-picker, and more. - Frontier model options (Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3) plus BYOK for Claude Code and GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription. - Connect your ChatGPT subscription to layer in GPT-5.4 deep thinking. Claude Code is, in my opinion, the best-designed CLI agent of the last two years. The taste is real. The feedback loop is right. I tell every new engineer to go read its docs even if they never plan to use it. The only thing standing between most people and shipping with it is the bill — $20/mo for Pro, $200/mo for Max. So the question keeps coming up: is there a free version that's actually good? Freebuff is our answer. ## What “free Claude Code” actually means here Freebuff is a CLI-first agent. You install it once with npm, `cd` into a repo, run `freebuff`, and you're talking to an agent that can plan, edit files, run shell commands, and review its own output. Same shape as `claude`. Different model menu, a richer subagent ecosystem in the box, and — the headline — nothing on your card. We genuinely think it's the closest 1:1 experience you can get to Claude Code for $0. ## Feature-by-feature: Freebuff vs Claude Code | Feature | Freebuff | Claude Code | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $20/mo (Pro), $200/mo (Max) | | Primary model | Deepseek v4 / MiMo 2.5 Pro / GLM 5.2 / Minimax M3 + BYOK for Claude | Claude 4.x family | | Model choice per task | Yes via `/model` | Limited | | Subagents bundled | 9 specialized | Generic delegation | | Browser-use subagent | Built-in | MCP setup required | | Deep thinking with GPT-5.4 | Connected ChatGPT subscription | Not available | | Slash command palette | /interview, /plan, /review, /deploy, more | Smaller default set | | Available globally | Yes (limited mode covers VPNs + other countries) | Region-restricted | ## What you keep - **The CLI feel.** A real terminal interface, not a chat panel in an editor. - **Long-running tasks.** Plan, edit, run, test, fix — the agent stays autonomous until the task is done. - **Permission prompts before destructive shell commands.** Approve only what you want. - **Subagent delegation.** Big tasks fan out to focused workers (file-picker, code-reviewer, browser-use) and come back with verified results. ## What you get that Claude Code does not have - **Choice of frontier model.** Switch models mid-conversation. Each task can use the model best suited to it. - **Built-in browser-use subagent.** The agent can drive a real browser to verify the app it just shipped. - **Connected ChatGPT.** Layer GPT-5.4 on top for the deepest reasoning. - **Slash commands shaped around shipping.** `/interview` flushes out requirements, `/plan` produces a written spec, `/review` runs the code-reviewer subagent. - **Free.** The big one. ## When Claude Code is still the better pick If your team is standardized on Anthropic models, has bought into the Claude Sonnet/Opus style of reasoning, and the $20–$200/mo is rounding error, Claude Code is a fantastic product. Freebuff is for everyone else: people who want the same loop without the subscription, or want to choose their model per task. **You can run both**: Plenty of devs alternate. They keep Claude Code for Anthropic-flavored reasoning or use their own Anthropic key via BYOK, and use Freebuff for fast iteration, browser tasks, and any model that is not Claude. ## Migrating from Claude Code 1. Install: `npm install -g freebuff`. 2. `cd` into your repo and run `freebuff` — your shell history is preserved across sessions. 3. Try `/interview` on any new feature to feel the difference vs Claude Code’s default loop. Get the free alternative to Claude Code — One npm command, no credit card. (See the install command: /) **Q: Can Freebuff use Claude under the hood?** A: Yes — Freebuff supports BYOK for Claude Code, so you can bring your own Anthropic API key. It also includes all top Chinese frontier models (Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3) and Gemini, plus GPT-5.4 through a connected ChatGPT subscription. **Q: Will the quality match Claude Code?** A: For typical agentic coding (read, plan, edit, run tests), Deepseek v4 and MiMo 2.5 Pro are at parity with Claude on most benchmarks. You can also BYOK to bring your own Anthropic key. For the hardest reasoning, connected GPT-5.4 closes the gap. **Q: How does the ad-supported model work?** A: Freebuff shows occasional text ads in the CLI from developer-tool sponsors. Prompts and messages may be analyzed to personalize ads. Separate uploads and connected repositories are not provided to advertising providers. Restricted partners may evaluate eligible codebases, but cannot otherwise use, broadly share, or train on them. Models or features labeled “May use data for AI training” may separately use submissions for AI training. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/freebuff-web-launch # Introducing Freebuff Web: free, instant full-stack apps Type one prompt. Get a working full-stack app, deployed, free. Published: 2026-03-08 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff Web turns one prompt into a deployed, full-stack app — for free. - Auth, database, file storage, and hosting are wired in by default. - It is the free alternative to Lovable, Bolt.new, Replit Agent, Emergent, and v0. - Vly users are migrating here automatically — same product, no paywall. - Open `freebuff.com` and ship today. OK — this is the post I've been waiting to write. Vly is becoming Freebuff Web. Same product, same team, same templates. We just took the price tag off. The very short version: you type one prompt at freebuff.com, you get a real full-stack app with auth, a database, a deployed URL, and a GitHub repo. The bill at the end is $0. I want to say up front: this isn't a free trial. There's no 14-day countdown. It's not a credit system that runs out after one big task. We have argued about this internally a lot, and we landed where we landed: if free coding tools can be as good as paid ones (and at this point, they can), then making people choose between price and quality just isn't the right product. So we didn't. ## What "full-stack" actually means here Most AI app generators give you a single-file React demo and call it shipped. Freebuff Web wires up the boring stuff so the app you get is the app you would actually deploy. - **Auth.** Sign in with Google, GitHub, or email magic links. Sessions, roles, and protected routes work out of the box. - **Database.** A real backing store with schemas, mutations, queries, and migrations. No "save it to localStorage" jank. - **File storage.** Upload, store, and serve user-generated files without writing infra. - **Hosting.** Every prompt deploys to a live URL within seconds. Custom domains are one click. - **Codebase.** You own the code. Eject to GitHub any time, then keep editing it in the Freebuff CLI. ## Why we built it (and why now) Vly was good. I'm proud of it. But the credit system always nagged at me — you'd be three prompts into something promising, hit the cap, and the momentum would die. The right product was always going to be one where you didn't have to think about how many tries you had left. Then a few things happened in parallel. Open-weight models got really good at front-end code. Convex made the data layer trivial. The Freebuff CLI gave us a way to fund Freebuff Web through CLI ads instead of subscriptions. Suddenly removing the cap stopped being a sacrifice and started being the obvious move. **Migrating from Vly?**: Your projects, themes, and templates carry over automatically the next time you sign in. Open the dashboard and pick up where you left off. ## How it compares | Feature | Freebuff | Lovable / Bolt / Replit / Emergent | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $20–$99/mo | | Auth + DB included | Yes | Partial / paid add-on | | Deployed URL on every prompt | Yes | Yes (most) | | Eject to GitHub | Yes — repo is yours | Sometimes paywalled | | CLI editor for the same project | Yes (Freebuff CLI) | No | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes | No | ## The Freebuff Web → CLI loop Freebuff Web is fastest for greenfield. The Freebuff CLI is fastest for editing. The trick is that both share the same agent, the same context model, and the same subagents — so you can prototype in the browser, eject to GitHub, and keep iterating in your terminal without losing momentum. 1. Prompt your idea on `freebuff.com`. Get a deployed app. 2. Iterate visually until the shape is right. 3. `Push to GitHub` and `cd` into the repo. 4. Run `freebuff` and let the CLI take over for the heavy refactors. 5. Deploy from the CLI with `/deploy`. Build a full-stack app, free — No credit card. Your first deployed URL takes about 90 seconds. (Open Freebuff Web: /) **Q: Is Freebuff Web the same as Vly?** A: Yes — Vly is becoming Freebuff Web. Same product team, same engine, same templates, but with no paywall and tighter integration with the Freebuff CLI. **Q: Can I use my own domain?** A: Yes. Point a custom domain at any deployed app from the project settings page. **Q: How is my data used and stored?** A: We use prompts, messages, agent traces, code, files, and repository data to provide Freebuff. We may analyze prompts and messages to personalize ads. We do not give separately uploaded files or connected repositories to advertising providers. Restricted partners may evaluate connected Cloud repositories or code used with models labeled “May use data for AI training,” but cannot otherwise use, broadly share, or train on it. See the Privacy Policy for retention, eligibility, and advertising choices. **Q: Is my data used to train AI?** A: Only when a model or feature says data may be used for AI training. Freebuff or the provider may then keep submissions to develop, train, test, evaluate, fine-tune, and improve AI models or products. **Q: What is the limit on the free tier?** A: There is no per-task credit limit. Generous defaults apply for compute and storage; if you outgrow them, upgrade to Freebuff Pro. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/vly-becomes-freebuff-web # Vly is becoming Freebuff Web Same engine, same templates, no paywall. Published: 2026-03-04 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Vly is becoming Freebuff Web. - Same engine, same templates, same dashboard — no credit meter. - Existing projects migrate automatically. - Custom domains, GitHub eject, and Pro plans all stick around. A note for Vly users, before anything else: nothing breaks. Your projects, themes, and deployment URLs are right where you left them. Sign in, and you're on the new brand. We didn't move your files, we didn't reset your themes, and we didn't ask you to migrate anything by hand. Everything that worked yesterday works today. If you're new here — Vly was our no-code app builder. Freebuff is our free CLI coding agent. They're the same team, the same engine under the hood, and as of today they're literally the same brand. Vly is now Freebuff Web. The reason we did this is in the section below, but the short version is: free should be the default, and we wanted one name for one company. ## What actually changed - **Pricing.** The free tier is now the default tier. No per-prompt credits, no daily generation cap. - **Branding.** "Vly" → "Freebuff Web". The same product family as the Freebuff CLI. - **CLI integration.** Eject any project to GitHub and keep editing in `freebuff` in your terminal. ## What stayed the same - Your projects, dashboards, themes, and analytics. - Custom domains and deployment URLs. - Pro plans (for teams that want priority models and longer context). - Data use: Models or features labeled “May use data for AI training” may keep submissions to develop, train, test, evaluate, fine-tune, and improve AI models or products. ## Why we did this Vly was already a great product. Putting it inside Freebuff lets us drop the credit meter, tie it to the CLI for serious refactor work, and reach the millions of developers who already trust the Freebuff brand for free, no-config tooling. Open Freebuff Web — Your old Vly projects are right where you left them. (Open the dashboard: /) **Q: Do I need to do anything?** A: No — log in with the same account and your projects appear automatically. **Q: What happens to my Vly credits?** A: Credits are gone because the meter is gone. You can now iterate without rationing. **Q: Is the engine the same?** A: Yes. Same agent, same templates, same code generation pipeline. --- Source: https://freebuff.com/blog/freebuff-launch # Introducing Freebuff: the free coding agent No subscription. No configuration. Start in seconds. Published: 2026-02-12 (updated 2026-07-22) TL;DR: - Freebuff is a free, no-config CLI coding agent — install with `npm install -g freebuff`. - It uses frontier models (Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3) plus Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite for file finding. - 9 specialized subagents ship in the box: code-reviewer, browser-use, file-picker, thinker-with-files-gemini, and more. - It is the free alternative to Claude Code, Codex CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, and Devin. - Limited mode means it works in every country on Earth, even behind a VPN. I want to write the kind of launch post I'd actually want to read, which means no flexing and no buzzwords. So here's the simple version: Freebuff is a free CLI coding agent. Install it, point it at your repo, ship code. There's no trial, no card on file, no credit cap that turns into a paywall after one big task. It's free because it should be. We started building this because the price of frontier models dropped about 10x in the last 18 months, and the price of paid coding tools didn't really move. That felt off. So we built the thing we thought should exist — a free agent that picks the right open-weight model for the job and gets out of your way. If you're not sold yet, the rest of this post is the longer version. If you are sold, scroll to the install command at the bottom. ## What you get on day one - **One command to install.** `npm install -g freebuff` and you are agentic. - **Your choice of frontier model.** Deepseek v4 for raw intelligence, MiMo 2.5 Pro for balance, GLM 5.2 for coding precision, Minimax M3 for speed — plus BYOK for Claude Code. - **9 specialized subagents.** Code review, browser automation, deep thinking with your own ChatGPT subscription, file finding, and more — orchestrated automatically. - **Polished slash commands.** `/interview` → `/plan` → implement → `/review` takes you from a vague idea to a polished PR. - **Follow-up suggestions.** After every response, Freebuff proposes three clickable next steps so the chat never dead-ends. ## How can it actually be free? Short answer: ads in the terminal. Slightly longer answer: small, text-only ads from sponsors developers actually use (cloud, hosting, dev infra). They show up between agent turns, not inside generated code or as popups. Prompts and messages may be analyzed to personalize ads. Separate uploads and connected repositories are not provided to advertising providers. Restricted partners may evaluate eligible codebases, but cannot otherwise use, broadly share, or train on them. Models or features labeled “May use data for AI training” may separately use submissions for AI training. If you genuinely never want to see an ad and you're an organization that can pay, Codebuff Pro exists and that's the upgrade path. But for the 95% of folks who just want to ship, Freebuff is the answer. **AI training**: Models or features labeled “May use data for AI training” may keep submissions to develop, train, test, evaluate, fine-tune, and improve AI models or products. ## How it compares | Feature | Freebuff | Claude Code | | --- | --- | --- | | Price | Free | $20/mo (Pro) or $200/mo (Max) | | Models | Deepseek v4, MiMo 2.5 Pro, GLM 5.2, Minimax M3 + BYOK for Claude | Claude only | | Subagents | 9 specialized | Generic | | Browser use | Built-in | MCP setup required | | Connect ChatGPT subscription | Yes (GPT-5.4 for deep thinking) | No | ## Limited mode for the rest of the world Full-model Freebuff is available in 25+ countries today. Outside those countries — or when you are using a VPN — Freebuff drops to limited mode: Deepseek v4 Flash only, 6 one-hour sessions per day. Still free. Still better than nothing. We are expanding the full-mode list every month. ## What’s next Freebuff Web is now in open beta — the free way to generate, edit, and deploy full-stack apps from a single prompt. Think of it as the free alternative to Lovable, Bolt, Replit Agent, and Emergent, all in one tab. Read more in the Freebuff Web launch post. Try Freebuff in 10 seconds — No account. No credit card. No config file. (Get the install command: /) **Q: Is Freebuff really free forever?** A: Yes. Freebuff is ad-supported in the CLI. You will never be asked for a credit card to use the core product. **Q: How is Freebuff different from Codebuff?** A: Freebuff is the free, ad-supported tier built on top of the Codebuff agent framework. Codebuff Pro is for teams that want priority models, longer context, and no ads. **Q: Does Freebuff work with my existing repo?** A: Yes — just `cd` into your project and run `freebuff`. It indexes the repo on first run and keeps the index warm afterwards.