The Problem
Most AI coding assistants cost $20/month or more. I wanted something free and open source.
The Solution
After researching dozens of tools, I found these amazing open source alternatives:
1. MonkeyCode (3,700+ stars)
- Free tier with generous limits
- Supports multiple AI models
- Self-hosted option available
- Website | GitHub
2. Continue (34,000+ stars)
- VS Code and JetBrains integration
- Bring your own API key
- GitHub
3. Tabby (33,000+ stars)
- Self-hosted AI coding assistant
- No cloud dependency
- GitHub
My Setup
I use MonkeyCode as my primary tool because:
- Free tier — No credit card required
- Multiple models — Switch between AI providers
- Privacy — Code stays local
- Speed — Fast completions
Comparison
| Tool | Free Tier | Self-Hosted | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| MonkeyCode | ✅ Generous | ✅ | Multiple |
| Continue | ✅ BYOK | ✅ | Multiple |
| Tabby | ✅ | ✅ | Single |
Try It Yourself
- Visit monkeycode-ai.net
- Sign up (free, no credit card)
- Install the extension
- Start coding!
What's Your Experience?
Have you tried any of these tools? What's your favorite open source AI coding assistant?
Let me know in the comments! 👇
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