AI coding assistants have become essential in modern development workflows. But with the big players pivoting to paid models, finding a free or affordable option is getting harder. Here's what actually works and how to set it up in minutes.
The Problem with Major AI Coding Tools
Claude Code remains the gold standard for CLI-based AI coding. It's powerful, well-integrated, and handles complex codebases beautifully. But the pay-as-you-go pricing adds up fast. If you're using it heavily throughout the day, the costs can surprise you.
Google Gemini initially offered a generous free tier with their top models (Gemini 2.5 and 2.5 Pro). But recent quota changes have made free access significantly more restrictive. The writing is on the wall free tiers rarely survive.
Qwen (Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 Coder) offered a compelling free alternative through their CLI, but they ended their free tier just last week. If you were counting on it, too bad.
OpenAI's Codex is currently free but as the saying goes, "free until it isn't." The tier exists, but how long it lasts is anyone's guess.
Free and Open Source Alternatives That Actually Work
Opencode CLI
My personal favorite. Opencode offers free models through Opencode Zen with surprisingly generous limits. The tool itself is open-source and you can use it for free, or upgrade to paid plans ($5-20/month) for higher limits and more models.
What sets Opencode apart:
- Built-in skills system for specialized tasks
- Active plugin ecosystem
- Great documentation
- Runs locally with your choice of models
Kilo CLI
Another solid open-source option. Kilo routes through their gateway and includes built-in agents: Plan, Build, Debug, and Orchestrator. They offer decent free models without requiring a paid subscription.
Supercharge Opencode with Plugins
One of Opencode's strengths is its plugin ecosystem. Here are three plugins worth adding:
oh-my-openagent (52.5k ⭐)
Previously called "oh-my-opencode", this is a beast. It gives you a full AI dev team:
- Sisyphus - Main orchestrator that plans, delegates to specialists, and drives tasks to completion
- Hephaestus - Autonomous deep worker for end-to-end execution
- Prometheus - Strategic planner that interviews you before touching code
Features include:
-
ultraworkcommand - one word, all agents activate and don't stop until done - Hash-anchored edits - prevents stale-line errors
- Built-in MCPs (web search, official docs, GitHub search)
- Ralph Loop - self-referential loop that keeps working until 100% done
Superpowers (159k ⭐)
A complete software development methodology. The workflow:
- brainstorming - Refines your idea before writing code
- using-git-worktrees - Creates isolated workspace on new branch
- writing-plans - Breaks work into 2-5 minute tasks
- subagent-driven-development - Dispatches agents per task with two-stage review
- test-driven-development - Enforces RED-GREEN-REFACTOR
- requesting-code-review - Reviews before continuing
- finishing-a-development-branch - Verifies tests, presents merge options
Skills include systematic-debugging, verification-before-completion, and writing-skills.
Agency (82k ⭐)
50+ specialized agents across different divisions:
Engineering: Frontend Developer, Backend Architect, AI Engineer, DevOps, Security Engineer, SRE, Database Optimizer, Technical Writer
Design: UI Designer, UX Researcher, Brand Guardian, Whimsy Injector, Visual Storyteller
Marketing: Growth Hacker, Content Creator, SEO Specialist, Twitter Engager, TikTok Strategist
Sales: Outbound Strategist, Deal Strategist, Sales Engineer, Pipeline Analyst
Each agent has personality, processes, and measurable deliverables.
My Solution: One-Command Setup
I got tired of manually configuring Opencode with the plugins and free models I wanted. So I built my-opencode-config a tool that sets up everything in one command:
- Installs Opencode with OhMyOpenagent
- Pre-configures Superpowers and Agency agents
- Sets up Gemini free models via OAuth
- Configures Opencode Zen free models
Installation
npx my-opencode-config
Or check out the GitHub repo for more options.
That's it. One command and you have a fully configured AI coding CLI with free models and premium plugins.
What I Use Daily
For my daily coding:
- Opencode as my primary CLI (configured via my-opencode-config)
- Kilo as backup when I need different model quirks
- Claude Code for specific tasks where it shines
The Takeaway
The landscape shifts fast. Free tiers come and go. But the tools above work today and my setup script gives you a running start without the configuration headaches.
What are you using for AI-assisted coding? Drop your favorites in the comments.
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