OpenCode is the pick for open source, local models and low cost, and it sends far fewer tokens per task. Claude Code is better for hard work on Claude plans, has more polish and a cleaner security record in 2026, and is the only way to use a Pro or Max subscription.
Pick Claude Code if
- You want Opus 5.5 under a flat Pro or Max plan
- You want hosted cloud sessions and a mobile app
- You want checkpoints that work without Git
- OpenCode's 2026 security incidents worry you
Pick OpenCode if
- You want open source (MIT) and full control
- You run local models or cheap open models
- Token efficiency matters (about 7K vs 33K tokens of overhead in one test)
- You want a free tool, or a $10 Go plan
At a glance
Claude Code
Anthropic- What it is
- Agentic coding tool that reads your repo, edits files and runs commands
- Where it runs
- Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop app, web (cloud sessions), iOS and Android
- Models
- Claude: Opus 5.5 (default on paid plans), Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, Fable 5.1
- Starts at
- Pro $20/mo ($17/mo billed yearly). The Free plan does not include Claude Code
- Best for
- Hard multi-file work, long autonomous runs, heavy customization with hooks, skills and subagents
OpenCode
Anomaly (ex-SST team)- What it is
- Open-source coding agent: terminal UI, desktop app, web UI, IDE extension
- Where it runs
- Terminal, desktop (beta), web UI/PWA, VS Code-family editors, Zed/JetBrains/Neovim via ACP
- Models
- Any: 75+ providers, local models (Ollama, LM Studio), free models
- Starts at
- Free tool; Go $10/mo; Zen pay as you go
- Best for
- Open source fans, local or cheap models, avoiding vendor lock-in
Feature by feature
Basics
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Terminal agent, plus VS Code, JetBrains, desktop, web and mobile | Open-source agent: terminal UI, desktop app, web UI, IDE extension, ACP |
| Owner | Anthropic | Anomaly (came out of the SST team) |
| Open source | No. The GitHub repo holds docs and plugins; the code is all rights reserved | Yes, MIT. 219K GitHub stars (Claude Code repo: 153K) |
| npm installs, last month | 49.1M | 11.6M (v1) + 0.9M (v2) |
Models & context
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Models | Claude: Opus 5.5 default, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, Fable 5.1 | 75+ providers via Models.dev, local models, free models with no account |
| Claude subscription | Pro and Max plans included | No Pro/Max login (removed in v1.3.0 after Anthropic's legal request). API key works |
| Other subscriptions | Anthropic plans only | Log in with GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT Plus/Pro |
| Context window | 1M tokens by default on current models, 200K opt-out | Depends on the model. Compaction agent and /compact |
| Token overhead (Systima test, Jul 2026) | About 32.8K tokens before your prompt, about 268K input tokens per passed task | About 6.9K and about 72K. Both passed 5 of 5; small sample, one machine |
Agent features
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Agents and subagents | Custom subagents, worktree isolation, /batch, dynamic workflows (GA) | Build and Plan agents, General/Explore/Scout subagents, background subagents (2.0) |
| Hooks, skills, plugins, MCP | Hooks, skills, plugins with marketplaces, MCP with tool search | JS/TS plugins with hook events, skills (reads .claude/skills), MCP via Code Mode |
| Rules file | CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md (since Sept 2026), auto memory | AGENTS.md, falls back to CLAUDE.md |
| Undo | /rewind checkpoints track every file edit | /undo and /redo through Git (project must be a repo) |
| Cloud agents | Cloud sessions on Anthropic VMs keep running after you disconnect (Pro and up) | No hosted cloud agent. Runs in GitHub Actions; remote device pairing |
Workflow & integrations
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| IDE | VS Code extension (also installs in Cursor), JetBrains plugin | VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VSCodium. Zed, JetBrains, Neovim via ACP |
| CI, server and SDK | -p headless mode, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Agent SDK (Python, TS) | opencode serve HTTP API, SDK, /opencode in GitHub comments, GitLab |
| Mobile | iOS and Android app: start cloud sessions, Remote Control local ones | No native app yet. Web UI as PWA, pair devices by QR code |
Pricing & limits
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Tool price | Needs Pro $20/mo or API credit | Free. Bring your own key or use free models |
| Subscription | Pro $20 to Max 20x $200 | Go $10 or Go Plus $40, dollar caps per model |
| Pay per token | Anthropic API list price | Zen at "zero markups" (Opus 5.5 $4/$20 per 1M) plus a card fee |
Privacy & licensing
| Claude Code | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Data handling | Consumer plans: you choose. 5-year retention if training is on, 30 days if off. Team/API: no training by default | Says it stores no code; its FAQ says data is stored with free models. Some free models may train |
| Security in 2026 | Sandboxed Bash, ZDR for qualified Enterprise | Jan: remote code execution bug. Oct 17: Console breach exposed stored API keys for 1.4% of users |
Pricing
Claude Code
OpenCode
OpenCode is free, so your cost is the model. Claude through OpenCode means API prices, since Anthropic bars Pro/Max logins in other tools. On open models like GLM-5.3, daily work can cost far less.
Building with Claude? Get paid for it.
Forward Deployed Engineers ship AI agents inside real customer systems. Open roles at Anthropic, OpenAI, Cognizant and more.
The same job in both
How a typical task plays out in each tool. This is where the difference in approach shows.
Built for Claude via Anthropic, Bedrock, Google Cloud or Foundry. Not designed around local models.
Point it at Ollama, LM Studio or llama.cpp, or pick a free model with no account at all.
Plan mode, then /batch worktree subagents on Opus 5.5 inside your plan, with /rewind for bad steps.
Plan agent first, then Build. General subagents work in parallel with worktree tools. Claude bills per token through an API key.
@claude through the GitHub Action, or claude -p in the pipeline.
/opencode or /oc in an issue or PR comment runs it in GitHub Actions; scheduled runs work too.
Native iOS and Android app for cloud sessions and Remote Control.
Open the web UI as a PWA, or pair a device by QR code. Native apps are still in development.
What developers say
Claude Code
- Preferred for hard or large refactors (blogs)
- Strong multi-agent orchestration (HN)
- Holds the top two Terminal-Bench 4.0 spots
- "Sends 33k tokens before reading the prompt" (HN, 706 pts)
- Subagents burn through budget (HN)
- Subscriptions locked to Anthropic's own tools
OpenCode
- A daily workhorse (HN, 1,274-point thread)
- "Good enough for daily use" on cheaper models (blog)
- The web UI and desktop app stand out (HN)
- Security: Jan RCE bug, Oct 17 key-leak breach
- Telemetry and default free-model title summaries (HN)
- Prompt-cache misses and an always-on daemon in 2.0 (HN)
Switching, or using both
Moving from OpenCode to Claude Code
- 1.Install: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash, then log in with Pro or Max or an Anthropic API key.
- 2.Keep AGENTS.md: Claude Code reads it directly (since v2.1.277).
- 3.Skills in .claude/skills work in both tools; move any from .opencode/skills.
- 4.Port JS plugin hooks to Claude Code hooks, which are shell commands at events like PreToolUse.
- 5.Re-add your MCP servers in Claude Code's MCP config.
Running both side by side
A common split: Claude Code for hard or large refactors, OpenCode for cheap daily work or local models. OpenCode reads .claude/skills and falls back to CLAUDE.md, so your setup carries over. Don't use your Claude Pro/Max login in OpenCode: Anthropic's terms forbid it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Claude Code better than OpenCode?
On Claude models with a Pro or Max plan, Claude Code is the more complete tool: cloud sessions, mobile, checkpoints. OpenCode is open source, runs any model and used about a quarter of the input tokens in Systima's July 2026 test, where both passed all 5 runs. OpenCode is not on the Terminal-Bench 4.0 board.
Claude Code vs OpenCode pricing
OpenCode itself is free; you pay for the model, use free models, or buy Go at $10 or $40/mo. Claude Code needs Pro at $20 or more, or API credit. Opus 5.5 costs $4/$20 per 1M tokens in both.
Can OpenCode use Claude models?
Yes, with an Anthropic API key or through Zen at list price. Not with a Claude Pro or Max login: Anthropic forbids it and OpenCode removed that plugin in v1.3.0 (March 2026).
Is OpenCode really free?
The tool is MIT-licensed and free. It includes some free models for a limited time, and a few of those may train on your data. Paid options are Go, Zen credits and Enterprise.
Is OpenCode safe to use?
Weigh its 2026 record: a remote code execution bug in January and an Oct 17 Console breach that exposed stored provider API keys for 1.4% of Console users. If you use it, keep keys out of the Console and rotate any you stored.
Which is better for beginners?
Claude Code: one login, a default model, a desktop app and mobile app. OpenCode asks you to choose providers and models, which suits people who want that control.
Can I use both?
Yes. OpenCode reads .claude/skills and falls back to CLAUDE.md, and Claude Code reads AGENTS.md, so one setup works in both.
- Claude Code overview
- Claude pricing
- Claude Code model config
- Claude Code data usage
- Claude Code license
- Claude Opus 5.5 announcement
- OpenCode
- anomalyco/opencode on GitHub
- OpenCode providers
- OpenCode Go
- OpenCode Zen
- OpenCode 2.0
- Systima token overhead test
- OpenCode Console breach (BleepingComputer)
Prices and features change often. Everything here was checked against official pages on 2026-10-21. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on GitHub.
