Claude Code vs OpenCode: AI Coding Tool Comparison
Claude Code and OpenCode are terminal-first coding agents.
- Verified 4 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 4 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Claude Code vs OpenCode: the short answer
Claude Code and OpenCode are terminal-first coding agents. Claude Code is Anthropic's product using Claude models; OpenCode is open source, MIT licensed per a catalogue, and works with 75+ providers.
OpenCode adds optional hosted plans (Go and Zen), while Claude Code is included in paid Claude plans or billed per token. We compare what documentation supports and mark everything else Unknown. We declare no overall winner, because the better choice depends on workflow, model preferences, oversight needs and budget.
Choose Claude Code if you- Terminal-first developers
- Teams that want documented permission and sandbox controls
- Workflows that use subagents, MCP integrations or CI automation
Choose OpenCode if you- Terminal-native developers
- Model-flexible teams
- Open-source-minded users
Claude Code and OpenCode at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Claude Code
Anthropic · AI Coding Agents
Claude Code is Anthropic's agentic coding tool. It runs in a terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains extensions, in a desktop app and on the web, and uses Claude models with tools, permissions and subagents.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- Included with paid Claude plans, or usage-based via API billing.
- Best for
- Terminal-first developers
OpenCode
Anomaly (formerly SST) · AI Coding Agents
OpenCode is an open-source AI coding agent built for the terminal, with a TUI, a VS Code integration, a desktop app in beta and a web or server mode. It works with 75+ model providers through your own keys, with optional hosted plans.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- Free open source; optional Go at about $10 per month and pay-as-you-go Zen.
- Best for
- Terminal-native developers
Claude Code vs OpenCode: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Claude Code |  OpenCode |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Primary interface | YesTerminal CLI first, plus VS Code and JetBrains extensions, a desktop app and the web. | YesTerminal, VS Code, desktop app (beta) and web or server mode. |
| Model choiceDiffers | PartialClaude models from Anthropic. | Yes75+ providers and local models. |
| Open-source statusDiffers | UnknownLicence not reviewed for this profile. | YesOpen source (MIT, per a catalogue). |
| Pricing | ||
| Free tierDiffers | UnknownNo free tier identified in the sources reviewed. | YesFree software; pay model usage. |
| Pricing model | YesIncluded in paid Claude plans, or usage-based API billing. | YesFree software with optional Go and Zen plans. |
| Published plan prices reviewedDiffers | UnknownPlan prices were not reviewed for this profile. | PartialGo about $10 per month; Zen pay as you go, per reviews. |
| Agents | ||
| Cloud or remote agentsDiffers | YesClaude Code on the web. | NoRuns locally; web or server mode is listed. |
| Extensibility | ||
| MCP, skills and hooks | YesMCP, hooks, skills, plugins and subagents. | YesMCP tools. |
| Control | ||
| Documented approval and oversight controlsDiffers | YesPermissions, sandboxing and checkpoints documented. | PartialA fine-grained permission system, per a catalogue. |
| Administration | ||
| Organisation and admin controls | PartialManaged settings via MDM and SSO under Claude for Enterprise, per a third-party summary. | PartialOrganisations can restrict providers, per the docs as summarised. |
Claude Code vs OpenCode pricing.
Claude Code pricing
Included in paid Claude plans (Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise), or usage-based through an API key or a chosen cloud provider.
- Claude ProNot recorded
- Claude MaxNot recorded
- Team and EnterpriseNot recorded
- API or cloud provider billingUsage-based
Structure only; figures not recorded. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
All Claude Code plans and sources
OpenCode pricing
Free open-source software with bring-your-own-key; optional hosted plans Go (subscription) and Zen (pay as you go).
- Open sourceFree
- Go$10 per month ($5 first month, reported)
- ZenPay as you go
Structure only; figures not recorded. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
All OpenCode plans and sourcesClaude Code: Included with paid Claude plans, or usage-based via API billing.
OpenCode: Free open source; optional Go at about $10 per month and pay-as-you-go Zen. Prices and allowances change often, so confirm on each vendor's live page.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Claude Code vs OpenCode: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or onboarding effort. Evaluate both tools on a real branch of your own repository, with your own tests and conventions.
Integrations and ecosystem
Claude Code: MCP servers, VS Code and JetBrains, GitHub Actions, Git worktrees. OpenCode: 75+ model providers, MCP tools, LSP servers, AGENTS.md.
AI capabilities
Model choice: Claude Code - Claude models from Anthropic. OpenCode - 75+ providers and local models.
Security, deployment and administration
Approval and admin controls: Claude Code - Permissions, sandboxing and checkpoints documented. OpenCode - A fine-grained permission system, per a catalogue. Certifications and data-retention terms were not reviewed for either product; check each vendor's security documentation.
Claude Code and OpenCode: each option, in balance.
Claude Code
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Runs in the terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, a desktop app and the web, so one tool can follow a developer across environments.
- Anthropic documents a permission system used with sandboxing, plus checkpoints, which gives teams concrete oversight controls to evaluate.
- Extensible through MCP servers, hooks, skills, plugins and subagents with their own context windows.
- A CLAUDE.md file lets teams give the tool persistent project instructions that load every session.
- The documentation reviewed describes Claude models only, so teams wanting a choice of model vendors may prefer a multi-vendor product.
- Subscription usage is limited and measured in rolling five-hour and weekly windows, which heavy users should plan for.
- No free tier was identified in the sources reviewed, so evaluation requires a paid plan or API usage.
- Pricing was not reviewed on Anthropic's own pricing pages for this profile, so cost comparisons need a check of the live page.
OpenCode
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Free, open source and MIT licensed, per a catalogue.
- Works with 75+ providers and local models.
- LSP integration gives real diagnostics.
- Low-cost optional hosted plans.
- Terminal-first, with the desktop app still in beta.
- Plan names, prices and model lists change quickly.
- Go models can only be used inside OpenCode, per a review.
- This profile relies on third-party sources because OpenCode's pages were not read.
Claude Code or OpenCode: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Claude Code if you…
- Terminal-first developers
- Teams that want documented permission and sandbox controls
- Workflows that use subagents, MCP integrations or CI automation
Choose OpenCode if you…
- Terminal-native developers
- Model-flexible teams
- Open-source-minded users
Switching between Claude Code and OpenCode.
Moving between Claude Code and OpenCode means re-creating project instructions and rules, re-adding MCP servers or other tool connections, and adjusting how your team reviews agent output. Trying each on a separate branch before committing is a low-risk way to compare them.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Claude Code vs OpenCode: questions and answers
Is Claude Code or OpenCode better?
The sources reviewed do not support a single ranking. The better choice depends on interface preference, model needs, oversight requirements and budget, so test both on your own repository.
Does Claude Code have a free plan?
No free tier identified in the sources reviewed.
Does OpenCode have a free plan?
Free software; pay model usage.
Which supports more models, Claude Code or OpenCode?
Claude Code: Claude models from Anthropic. OpenCode: 75+ providers and local models.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Claude Code documentation map Anthropic (code.claude.com) Official docs Accessed 15 Oct 2026
- Claude Code: AI harness overview innFactory AI Third-party Accessed 15 Oct 2026 Third-party summary of Anthropic's documentation, used for access and data-handling details.
- OpenCode innFactory AI Third-party Accessed 4 Nov 2026 Used for licence, interfaces and providers.
- OpenCode Pricing 2026: Plans, Costs & Free Tier VibeCodeHQ Third-party Accessed 4 Nov 2026 Used for Go, Zen and Black plan details.
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product. One or both profiles are secondary-source profiles: vendor pages were not reviewed directly, so verify figures with the vendors.
Ready to test Claude Code and OpenCode?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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