Trae
ByteDance's AI IDE, a VS Code-style editor with the SOLO agent and cloud tasks, priced from a free plan to $100 a month.
- Free plan
- Free trial
- Agentic tool
- Mixed sources
- Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
- 6 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- Vendor and third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
- Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
What is Trae?
Trae is an AI-native IDE from ByteDance, built on a VS Code base, that combines code completion and chat with SOLO, an agent mode for larger autonomous tasks on desktop and web. Since February 2026 it uses token-based plans from Free and Lite at $3 to Ultra at $100 a month.
- Best forBudget-conscious individual developers
- PricingFree plan; Lite $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 per month. Free plan available.
- Main limitationToken-based billing since February 2026 makes heavy agent sessions use allowances quickly.
- AlternativesCursor · Windsurf · Qoder · compare all
Trae overview: who it is for and what it does.
Trae is a desktop IDE from ByteDance built on a VS Code base, so extensions and settings carry over. It adds autocomplete, chat and agent modes, including SOLO, which can take on larger autonomous tasks and run cloud tasks in parallel.
On 24 February 2026 Trae moved from request-based to token-based billing and introduced five plans. Free includes 5,000 autocompletions a month and limited SOLO use; Lite costs $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 a month, each with a dollar-denominated usage allowance.
Reviewers note two caveats: heavier agent use burns through token allowances faster than the old request model, and some organisations have data-handling questions about a ByteDance product, so policy review is advisable before using it on sensitive code.
Main problem it solves
Offers a low-cost AI IDE with an autonomous agent mode for developers who want frontier models without a $20 a month subscription.
Typical customer segment
Individual developers and students first; enterprise pricing is not public.
Target users
- Cost-conscious individual developers
- Students and hobbyists trying agentic coding
- Developers who want a VS Code-style IDE with an agent
Primary use cases
- Autonomous feature building with SOLO
- Autocomplete and chat in a VS Code-style IDE
- Running parallel cloud tasks
- Connecting tools through MCP
What makes it distinct
- Very low entry price, with a $3 Lite plan and $10 Pro.
- SOLO mode on desktop and web with concurrent cloud tasks.
- VS Code base for an easy move from VS Code.
Trae features explained.
Agent modes
- SOLO
- An agent mode for larger autonomous tasks; limited on Free and included on Pro and above.
- Cloud tasks
- Concurrent cloud tasks: 2 on Free, up to 10 on Pro, 15 on Pro+ and 20 on Ultra, per trackers.
Coding assistance
- Autocomplete
- 5,000 autocompletions a month on Free; unlimited on Pro.
- Chat and Builder
- Chat and builder workflows inside the IDE.
Extensibility
- MCP
- Model Context Protocol support for external tools.
- VS Code compatibility
- Built on a VS Code base, so many extensions and settings carry over.
Trae pricing and plans.
Figures reported consistently by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 13 Nov 2026 against AI Agent Index · AI IDE List · AI Picks.
Pricing model
Monthly subscriptions with a dollar-denominated basic and bonus usage allowance, billed by tokens since February 2026.
Free plan
Yes. Free includes 5,000 autocompletions a month, limited SOLO use and two concurrent cloud tasks.
Free trial
Yes. Trackers report a 7-day free trial on Pro.
Trae plans and prices (USD)
-
Free
Free
n/a
5,000 autocompletions a month, limited SOLO, 2 concurrent cloud tasks, standard queue.
-
Lite
$3 per month
Monthly
More usage for casual developers.
-
Pro
$10 per month
Monthly
$20 of basic plus bonus usage, unlimited autocomplete, SOLO included, up to 10 cloud tasks, fast queue.
-
Pro+
$30 per month
Monthly
About 3.5 times Pro usage and up to 15 cloud tasks.
-
Ultra
$100 per month
Monthly
$400 of basic plus bonus usage and up to 20 cloud tasks.
Figures from 2026 pricing trackers citing trae.ai/pricing. Guides that mention 600 fast requests a month describe the pre-February 2026 plan and are out of date.
Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.
Visit official website (external) ↗See alternativesTrae integrations, API and platforms.
Important integrations
- MCP servers
- VS Code extensions
- Git repositories
- Web search
- Claude, GPT and Gemini models (reported)
Supported platforms
- Desktop IDE (macOS, Windows)
- Web (SOLO)
API
Not reviewed for this profile.
Data import and export
Not reviewed for this profile.
Integration availability can depend on plan. Confirm with the vendor before you rely on a specific connector.
How Trae works as an AI product.
Attributes are listed only where documented. We do not infer autonomy levels, certifications or model capabilities.
Classification: Agentic tool. A human-directed tool that can plan, edit and run actions, with the user reviewing or approving changes. Developer: ByteDance.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported models | Premium models including Claude and GPT families are reported on Free and paid plans. [3] [4] |
| Tools and integrations | SOLO agent, cloud tasks, MCP and web search. [5] [2] |
| Ability to execute actions | SOLO handles larger autonomous tasks; cloud tasks run concurrently. [1] |
| Execution environment | Local desktop IDE plus cloud tasks and a web version of SOLO. [1] |
| Human-in-the-loop controls | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Permissions and access | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Memory and context | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Deployment options | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Data handling and privacy | Reviewers flag data-handling questions because Trae is a ByteDance product; check policies before using it on sensitive code. [3] |
| Security and compliance | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Pricing and usage limits | Token-based allowances since 24 February 2026; heavy sessions consume allowance faster. [2] [3] |
| Languages and platforms | Not documented in the sources reviewed. |
| Limitations and known constraints | Limited SOLO on Free; enterprise pricing is not public. [2] [6] |
Primary tasks
- Autonomous builds with SOLO
- Completion and chat
- Parallel cloud tasks
Best-fit workflows
- Solo developers on a budget
- Prototyping and personal projects
- Developers moving from VS Code
Trae pros and cons.
Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.
Strengths
Limitations
Best for
- Budget-conscious individual developers
- Students and hobby projects
- Developers who want a VS Code-style IDE with an agent mode
May be less suited to
- Organisations with strict data-residency or vendor policies
- Teams that need published enterprise terms
Top Trae alternatives and competitors.
Trae alternatives
Developers look for Trae alternatives when they need clearer enterprise and data-handling terms, more…
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Explore →Related productQoder
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Explore →Trae compared with similar AI coding agents.
Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.
| Product | Interface | Model choice | Free tier | Pricing model | Human oversight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trae | AI IDE (VS Code base) with SOLO on desktop and web | Claude, GPT and other premium models (reported) | Yes (5,000 completions a month) | Token-based subscriptions from $3 | Not documented in sources reviewed |
| Cursor Compare | AI code editor (desktop) with cloud agents | OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Cursor models | Yes (Hobby) | Monthly tiers; usage at model API rates | Not documented in sources reviewed |
| Google Antigravity | Desktop app, CLI and SDK (agent-first IDE) | Gemini models plus Claude and gpt-oss | Yes (weekly quota) | Bundled with Google AI plans; credit overages | Artifacts for reviewing agent work |
| Kiro | Agentic IDE, CLI and web agent | Open-weight and Claude models (per third parties) | Yes (50 credits) | Monthly tiers with credits | Specs reviewed before code (third-party) |
| Qoder Compare | IDE, JetBrains plugin, CLI and mobile app | Qwen, Claude and GPT (reported) | Yes (basic models) | Credit-based subscriptions | Checkpoints and mobile approvals |
| Warp | Desktop terminal client with agents | Several providers; BYOK on eligible plans | Yes (Free plan) | Tiers with agent usage allowance | Not documented in sources reviewed |
Trae vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.
Trae discussions and buying questions.
Trae questions and answers
What is Trae used for?
Trae is used as a low-cost AI IDE for writing code with autocomplete, chat and the SOLO agent mode for larger autonomous tasks.
Is Trae free?
Yes. Free includes 5,000 autocompletions a month, limited SOLO use and two concurrent cloud tasks.
How much does Trae cost?
Free plan; Lite $3, Pro $10, Pro+ $30 and Ultra $100 per month. Usage is metered by tokens, so heavy agent sessions use allowances faster.
Which models does Trae support?
Premium models including Claude and GPT families are reported on Free and paid plans.
Is Trae free?
Yes, Trae has a Free plan with 5,000 autocompletions a month and limited SOLO use. Paid plans start at $3 a month.
Who makes Trae?
Trae is developed by ByteDance.
What are the limitations of Trae?
Token-based billing since February 2026 makes heavy agent sessions use allowances quickly. Data-handling questions about a ByteDance product may block use on sensitive code. Enterprise pricing is not public.
Which platforms does Trae run on?
Trae is documented as available on: Desktop IDE (macOS, Windows), Web (SOLO).
Is Trae an AI agent or an AI assistant?
We classify Trae as: Agentic tool. A human-directed tool that can plan, edit and run actions, with the user reviewing or approving changes. The classification is based on vendor documentation and is not an endorsement.
What are the main alternatives to Trae?
The main alternatives to Trae covered on Stack18 are Cursor, Windsurf, Qoder and Google Antigravity. See the Trae alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.
When was the Trae profile last verified?
Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 13 Nov 2026. 6 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.
Where this information comes from.
- Trae AI Agent Index Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026 Used for plan figures and concurrency.
- Trae AI IDE Pricing 2026 AI IDE List Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Trae AI guide 2026 AI Picks Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026 Used for models, billing change and privacy notes.
- Trae vs Cursor in 2026 Morph Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Trae Vibe Coding Hub Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Trae Toolworthy Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
Further official pages: Trae pricing (external)
Plans, features and status were checked against Trae's published pages and the third-party sources listed. Agent behaviour was not tested, and security certifications were not independently verified.
Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.
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