OpenCode vs Claude Code: Features, Pricing and Which to Use

OpenCode and Claude Code look almost the same at first: both are AI coding agents that live in your terminal, read your repo and edit files. The real difference is who picks the model and who you pay.

Claude Code is Anthropic’s own agent and only runs Claude models. OpenCode is open source, free, and works with 75+ providers, including local models in Ollama. This guide compares price, features, setup and real-world fit so you can pick one (or use both).

Quick Comparison Table

Star counts are from a 3 November 2026 tech-insider.org snapshot and change daily. On npm downloads, Claude Code was still about 4-5x ahead.

What OpenCode Is

OpenCode is an open source AI coding agent that first launched in June 2025. It runs as a terminal UI, a desktop app or an IDE extension, and it does not care which model you use.

• Two agents: Plan (read-only, suggests how to implement) and Build (makes changes). Press Tab to switch.
• Provider freedom: connect Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek, OpenRouter, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT Plus/Pro logins or local servers.
• OpenCode 2: the current major version (v2.2.x at the end of October 2026). OpenCode 1 still exists on some package managers, and both use the same opencode command.

Note: OpenCode 1 and 2 cannot be installed side by side under the default command. Check which one your package manager gives you (see the install section).

What Claude Code Is

Claude Code is Anthropic’s agentic coding tool. It runs in your terminal, IDE, the Claude desktop app, a browser (claude.ai/code) and the Claude phone app.

Because Anthropic builds both the model and the harness, features land together: plan mode, auto mode, subagents, hooks, skills, a custom status line and Remote Control. My Claude Code cheat sheet lists every command.

Pricing: What Each Really Costs

Claude Code (November 2026)

Full details, including typical daily API spend, are in my Claude Code pricing guide.

OpenCode (November 2026)

Go includes models such as GLM-5.3-Flash, Kimi K2.7 Code, MiMo-V2.6-Flash, Qwen3.7 Plus, DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, MiniMax M3.1 Flash, Kimi K3.1 Pro, GPT 6 Luna and Claude Haiku 5.5. Each model has its own monthly dollar cap, with a 5-hour cap of 20% and a weekly cap of 50% of that.

Feature by Feature

Model choice

This is OpenCode’s biggest win. You can plan with a strong model and build with a cheap one, or switch to a local model when you are offline. Claude Code can only switch between Claude models (or use a router, see below).

Agent quality and workflow

Claude Code has the deeper toolset: subagents that run in parallel, hooks that run your scripts on events, skills, auto mode with a safety classifier and checkpoints. OpenCode covers the basics well (plan/build, custom agents, MCP, multiple sessions) with fewer extras.

Code intelligence

OpenCode auto-starts language servers and feeds diagnostics (type errors, lint errors) back to the model. That helps weaker models catch their own mistakes.

Working away from your desk

Claude Code can run tasks in the cloud and be steered from your phone with Remote Control. OpenCode has no first-party equivalent.

Privacy and lock-in

OpenCode is MIT code you can audit and self-host, and with a local model nothing leaves your PC. Claude Code always talks to Anthropic’s API.

Can You Use Claude Inside OpenCode?

Yes, with an Anthropic API key. You pay per token at API rates, not your Claude subscription.

Warning: Anthropic restricted third-party tools from using claude.ai subscription logins (OAuth tokens) during 2026. There are reports of OpenCode 2.2.3 restoring subscription access through the Claude Agent SDK, but this is not officially confirmed. Treat an API key as the supported route, and check Anthropic’s terms before using a Pro or Max login in any third-party tool.

Want the reverse, other models inside Claude Code? The open source Claude Code Router sends Claude Code’s requests to DeepSeek, Gemini, OpenRouter or Ollama.

Install and First Run (Both Tools)

Install OpenCode

1. Open your project in a terminal and run opencode.
2. Connect a provider: type /connect, pick a provider (or OpenCode, then get a key at opencode.ai/auth) and paste your API key.
3. Create project context: run /init to generate AGENTS.md.
4. Plan first: press Tab to the Plan agent, describe the task, then Tab to Build when you like the plan.

Install Claude Code

# macOS / Linux / WSL
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Then run claude in your project, sign in with your Claude account and run /init. My install guide covers every method and error.

Local Models: OpenCode With Ollama

OpenCode can point at any OpenAI-compatible server, so a local model in Ollama or LM Studio works with zero API cost.

1. Install Ollama and pull a coding model that fits your VRAM (see my best Ollama models list).
2. Raise the context window. Agents need a long context; set OLLAMA_CONTEXT_LENGTH=32768 or higher before starting Ollama.
3. Add Ollama as a provider in OpenCode with /connect or in its config, using the base URL http://localhost:11434/v1.
4. Pick the model with /models and test on a small task first.

Tip: small local models (under ~14B) often struggle with tool calls in agent loops. A 27B-30B class model or a MoE model with RAM offload is a more realistic floor for agent work.

Speed and Code Quality

There is no single benchmark score for OpenCode because quality depends on the model you plug in. What we do know:

• Harness matters a little: the same Claude model has scored a few points higher on SWE-bench Verified inside Claude Code than in other agent frameworks, according to public leaderboard aggregations.
• Speed: one August 2026 test by agensi.io found OpenCode about 78% slower on identical tasks, though with more thorough output. Treat single tests with care.
• Cost per task: OpenCode with a budget model (DeepSeek V4.1 Flash, GLM, Kimi) can cost a fraction of Opus for routine edits.

Which One Should You Use?

• You already pay for Claude Pro or Max: use Claude Code. Your subscription covers it and the tooling is the most complete.
• You want the cheapest decent agent: OpenCode with Go ($10) or DeepSeek/GLM API keys.
• You have a strong GPU: OpenCode with a local model for private work, Claude Code for hard tasks.
• Your team mixes providers: OpenCode, so everyone uses the same agent whatever model they have.
• You want both: many developers run Claude Code for big features and OpenCode for cheap batch work. They do not conflict.

Comparing more agents? See Cursor vs Windsurf vs Claude Code vs Cline.

Troubleshooting

OpenCode installed the wrong major version

Homebrew’s anomalyco/tap/opencode and the AUR opencode-bin give V1, while brew install opencode and pacman -S opencode give V2. Uninstall one before installing the other, since both claim the opencode command.

OpenCode misbehaves on native Windows

The docs recommend WSL on Windows. Install it with wsl --install, then use the Linux install script inside WSL.

Claude login fails inside OpenCode

Use an Anthropic API key from console.anthropic.com instead of a claude.ai subscription login, which Anthropic restricts for third-party tools.

Local model ignores tools or loops

Raise the context length, use a model with good tool-calling support, and keep tasks small. Some models need their recommended chat template to call tools reliably.

Claude Code hits usage limits too fast

Switch to Sonnet for routine work, use opusplan, run /compact earlier, and watch the 5-hour figure with a custom status line.

My Take

If I could only keep one, I would keep Claude Code for serious projects, because Opus inside Anthropic’s own harness is still the most reliable combination I have used.

But OpenCode is no longer a toy. With a cheap Chinese model or a local model on a 16 GB GPU, it handles routine edits at a fraction of the cost, and the MIT licence means it cannot be taken away. Install both; they take five minutes each.

FAQ

Is OpenCode free?

Yes. The agent is free and MIT-licensed. You only pay for the model, unless you run a local one.

Is OpenCode better than Claude Code?

Not overall. Claude Code has the stronger default model and more features; OpenCode wins on price, model choice and openness.

Can I use my Claude Pro subscription in OpenCode?

The supported way is an Anthropic API key, billed per token. Anthropic restricts subscription logins in third-party tools, so check its current terms first.

Does OpenCode work with Ollama?

Yes. Add Ollama as an OpenAI-compatible provider at http://localhost:11434/v1 and raise the context length.

Does OpenCode have a plan mode?

Yes. The Plan agent suggests changes without editing; press Tab to switch to the Build agent.

What is OpenCode Go?

OpenCode’s own model subscription: $10/month for Go, $40 for Go Plus, or $20 per member for teams, with monthly allowances on open and budget models.

Can I use other models in Claude Code?

Not officially, but Claude Code Router lets you send Claude Code’s requests to DeepSeek, Gemini, OpenRouter or Ollama.

Sources

• OpenCode docs: Intro and install
• OpenCode docs: Go plans and limits
• Tech Insider: OpenCode vs Claude Code 2026 (stars, downloads, versions)
• Claude Code docs
• Anthropic: Claude pricing