What is OpenCode?
OpenCode is an AI coding agent that runs locally and connects to various AI providers. It reads your codebase to understand context and generate relevant suggestions. The project is open source and has over 180K stars on GitHub.
Unlike Cursor or Copilot, OpenCode doesn’t lock you into one provider. You can use free models, paid models, or bring your own API keys from OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and dozens of others.
How OpenCode Works
OpenCode runs as a CLI tool, desktop app, or IDE extension. You point it at your project, and it indexes the codebase. From there, you can ask it to generate code, explain functions, refactor, debug, or write tests.
The key difference from other tools: OpenCode is local. Your code doesn’t get uploaded to some cloud service unless you explicitly choose a cloud provider. Privacy is built in.
The three tiers
OpenCode has three ways to use it:
Zen (free)
Sign up for a Zen account, grab an API key, and you get access to four free models:
- MiMo V2.5
- Nemotron 3 Ultra
- North Mini Code
- DeepSeek V4 Flash
No credit card required. Good for trying out AI coding without spending anything.
Go ($10/month)
The paid tier gives you access to 13 premium models, including:
- DeepSeek V4 Pro and Flash
- GLM 5.2
- Kimi K2.7 Code
- Qwen3.7 Max
- MiMo V2.5 Pro
- MiniMax M3
First month is $5, then $10/month after that. The limits are generous: DeepSeek V4 Flash alone gives you over 31,000 requests per 5 hours.
BYOK (bring your own key)
If you already have API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or other providers, you can plug them directly into OpenCode. Over 50 providers are supported. You can also run models locally through Ollama or LM Studio.
How it compares
Here’s how OpenCode compares to the competition:
| Tool | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| OpenCode (self-host) | Free |
| OpenCode Go | $10 |
| GitHub Copilot | $10 |
| Cursor Pro | $20 |
| Claude Pro | $20 |
OpenCode Go includes 13 models for $10. Copilot gives you one model for the same price. If you’re cost-conscious, the math works out.
Local model support
For developers who want full control, OpenCode supports local models through Ollama and LM Studio. Run DeepSeek, Llama, Mistral, or any compatible model on your own hardware. No API keys, no monthly fees, no data leaving your machine.
This is particularly useful for sensitive codebases or environments where internet access is restricted.
Getting started
- Install OpenCode from opencode.ai
- Sign up for a Zen account (free) or use your own API key
- Point it at your project directory
- Start coding
The whole setup takes about five minutes.
This post is part of the @aicoding_id series on AI coding tools. Follow us on TikTok for more reviews and tutorials.