Head to head · Editorial, not sponsored
OpenCode vs Claude Code (2026): Which should you pick?
Short answer
Pick OpenCode if you want a free, MIT-licensed agent that works with 75+ model providers, including local models.
Pick Claude Code if you want one Claude subscription that includes the agent, from $17/mo billed annually.
Based only on the facts below: Pricing from opencode.ai, checked 2026-11-03. Pricing from claude.com, checked 2026-11-03. No scores and no hands-on testing (methodology).
Pricing at a glance
Open sourceOpenCode
Free and open source, with free models included; you pay any model provider you connect. Optional OpenCode Go model subscription: Go $10/mo, Go Plus $40/mo, Go Teams $20/member/mo. OpenCode Models are pay-as-you-go from a $20 balance.
Official pricing page · checked 2026-11-03
PaidClaude Code
Included with Claude Pro ($17/mo annual, $20 monthly), Max ($100/mo, 5x Pro usage) and Ultra ($200/mo, 10x Pro weekly usage, no 5-hour limit for verified accounts); API usage billed separately.
Official pricing page · checked 2026-11-03
Feature checklist
From each tool's pricing page and listed use cases. "Not listed" means it is not among the use cases we list for that tool, not that it cannot do it.
| Feature | OpenCode | Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free tier or open-source option | Yes | Not listed |
| Open source | Yes | Not listed |
| Free trial mentioned | Not listed | Not listed |
| Listed under | ||
| Coding | Yes | Yes |
| Agents | Yes | Yes |
| Listed use cases | ||
| open-source coding agent in the terminal, desktop or IDE | Yes | Not listed |
| use any model provider, including local models | Yes | Not listed |
| run several agent sessions in parallel on one project | Yes | Not listed |
| agentic coding in the terminal | Not listed | Yes |
| edit files and run commands | Not listed | Yes |
| understand a large codebase | Not listed | Yes |
Best for and skip if
OpenCode
Best for
- open-source coding agent in the terminal, desktop or IDE
- use any model provider, including local models
- run several agent sessions in parallel on one project
Skip if this matters to you
- Paid model providers you connect bill separately
- On Windows, OpenCode recommends running it under WSL
- OpenCode 1 and OpenCode 2 share the opencode command and can't be installed side by side by default
- OpenCode says your data is stored when you use its free models
From official docs and the pricing page, checked 2026-11-03.
Claude Code
Best for
- agentic coding in the terminal
- edit files and run commands
- understand a large codebase
Skip if this matters to you
- Usage limits depend on plan
- Terminal workflow has a learning curve for non-developers
From official docs and the pricing page, checked 2026-11-03.
OpenCode vs Claude Code: FAQ
Should I use OpenCode or Claude Code?
Pick OpenCode if you want a free, MIT-licensed agent that works with 75+ model providers, including local models. Pick Claude Code if you want one Claude subscription that includes the agent, from $17/mo billed annually. Based on the official pricing pages and docs listed on this page, checked 2026-11-03.
Is OpenCode free?
It has an open-source option. Free and open source, with free models included; you pay any model provider you connect. Optional OpenCode Go model subscription: Go $10/mo, Go Plus $40/mo, Go Teams $20/member/mo. OpenCode Models are pay-as-you-go from a $20 balance. (official pricing page, checked 2026-11-03)
Is Claude Code free?
Not on a general free plan, per its pricing page. Included with Claude Pro ($17/mo annual, $20 monthly), Max ($100/mo, 5x Pro usage) and Ultra ($200/mo, 10x Pro weekly usage, no 5-hour limit for verified accounts); API usage billed separately. (official pricing page, checked 2026-11-03)
How much do OpenCode and Claude Code cost?
OpenCode: Free and open source, with free models included; you pay any model provider you connect. Optional OpenCode Go model subscription: Go $10/mo, Go Plus $40/mo, Go Teams $20/member/mo. OpenCode Models are pay-as-you-go from a $20 balance. Claude Code: Included with Claude Pro ($17/mo annual, $20 monthly), Max ($100/mo, 5x Pro usage) and Ultra ($200/mo, 10x Pro weekly usage, no 5-hour limit for verified accounts); API usage billed separately. (official pricing pages, checked 2026-11-03).
What is the difference between OpenCode and Claude Code?
OpenCode is listed for: open-source coding agent in the terminal, desktop or IDE; use any model provider, including local models; run several agent sessions in parallel on one project. Claude Code is listed for: agentic coding in the terminal; edit files and run commands; understand a large codebase.
Is Claude Code included with Claude Pro?
Yes. Claude Code is included in all paid Claude plans and shares the same usage limits as your chats. You can access it with Pro, Max, Ultra, Team or Enterprise, or with a Claude Console account billed at standard API pricing.
Source: Anthropic: Claude pricing and FAQ (checked 2026-10-29)
What are Claude Code's usage limits on Pro, Max and Ultra?
Pro and Max have a five-hour session limit and a weekly limit; Ultra has a weekly limit and no five-hour limit for verified accounts. Limits are shared across Claude and Claude Code. Max gives 5x Pro usage and Ultra 10x Pro weekly usage. When you hit a limit you can wait for the reset, turn on usage credits, upgrade, or switch to a Console account with API credits. If an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is set, Claude Code uses that key and bills API usage instead of your plan.
Source: Claude help center: Use Claude Code with your Pro, Max, or Ultra plan; Anthropic: Claude pricing and FAQ (checked 2026-10-29)
Did you test OpenCode and Claude Code?
No. Verdicts are based on each vendor's public docs and pricing pages, not hands-on testing, unless a page says otherwise.