--- title: "Claude Code alternatives: OpenCode, Cline, Kilo, Zoo Code" canonical: https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/claude-code-alternatives generated: 2026-10-22T19:31:42.314Z source: https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/claude-code-alternatives base_url: https://api.uplinkswitch.com/v1 --- # Claude Code alternatives, October 2026: OpenCode vs Claude Code, Cline, Kilo and Zoo Code on one key OpenCode vs Claude Code, then Cline, Kilo Code and Zoo Code: what each tool charges, the same turn priced on five models, and one key that runs all five. October 19, 2026·UplinkSwitch·[All posts](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog) Claude Code alternatives come in two kinds. Pick Claude Code when you want Anthropic's own agent on the Claude models. Pick OpenCode or Kilo Code when you want the same models plus GLM, DeepSeek and Kimi in one picker, and Cline or Zoo Code when you live in VS Code. All five run on one API key, and the model, not the tool, sets the bill: Claude Sonnet 5.5 is $1.20 in and $3.00 out per million tokens here against Anthropic's $2.00 and $10.00. OpenCode vs Claude Code is the pair most people search, so it comes first. This post has no measured runs of its own yet; the cost figures are one fixed turn shape priced from the live catalog, and the tool facts carry the date they were read. ## Claude Code alternatives at a glance | Tool | Runs in | Open source | What the tool itself charges | Models on one key | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Claude Code](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/claude-code) | Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop app | No (the CLI is published on GitHub; the source is not) | None on a key; or a Claude plan from $17 a month | Claude ids, Anthropic format | | [OpenCode](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/opencode) | Terminal, desktop app | Yes, MIT | None on a key; OpenCode Zen sells list price plus 4.4% + $0.30 a card top-up | Any id on the key | | [Cline](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/cline) | VS Code | Yes, Apache-2.0 | None | Any id on the key, one at a time | | [Zoo Code (the Roo Code fork)](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/roo-code) | VS Code, VSCodium, Cursor | Yes, Apache-2.0 | None | Any id on the key, native tool calls only | | [Kilo Code](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/kilo-code) | VS Code, JetBrains, CLI | Yes, Apache-2.0 | None on a key; Kilo Gateway bills provider rates plus 5% on credit purchases | Any id on the key, picked from /v1/models | Licenses from each project's repository and fees from kilo.ai/pricing and OpenCode's Console docs, read 2026-10-19; Claude plan prices from claude.com/pricing, read 2026-10-19. Each tool name links its setup guide on this site. One column decides the bill: what the tool charges. Four of the five charge nothing when they run on your own key. The two that sell a gateway of their own, Kilo and OpenCode, price it at the developer's list plus a fee on credit, and both also take a key from here at the rates in the next table. ## What the same turn costs in every tool An agent turn late in a session is mostly cached context: 80,000 cached, 2,000 new input and 1,500 output tokens, the shape the [Claude Code pricing post](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/claude-code-api-cost) uses. Every tool here re-sends the conversation each turn, so the cached rate decides most of the bill, in all of them. | Model | Input / cached / output per 1M | List | One turn here | One turn at list | Day of 150 turns here | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Claude Sonnet 5.5](https://uplinkswitch.ai/models/claude-sonnet-5-5) | $1.20 / $0.075 / $3.00 | $2.00 / $10.00 | $0.0129 | $0.027 | $1.94 | | [Claude Haiku 5.5](https://uplinkswitch.ai/models/claude-haiku-5-5) | $0.06 / $0.01 / $0.15 | $0.10 / $0.50 | $0.0011 | $0.0018 | $0.17 | | [GLM 5.3](https://uplinkswitch.ai/models/glm-5.3) | $0.3276 / $0.068 / $1.0296 | $1.092 / $3.432 | $0.0076 | $0.0236 | $1.15 | | [DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813](https://uplinkswitch.ai/models/deepseek-v4-pro-0813) | $0.792 / $0.0625 / $1.188 | $1.32 / $3.96 | $0.0084 | $0.0121 | $1.25 | | [Kimi K3](https://uplinkswitch.ai/models/kimi-k3) | $0.90 / $0.12 / $4.50 | $3.00 / $15.00 | $0.0182 | $0.0525 | $2.72 | USD. Ours from the live catalog; list is the developer’s published rate, the read date on each model page. The turn and the day are assumptions, not measurements. The same turn is $0.0129 on Claude Sonnet 5.5 and $0.0076 on GLM 5.3, whichever of the five tools sends it. Claude Code sends only Claude ids; the other four send any of these. Today's real-model verdicts: Claude Sonnet 5.5, same fingerprint since oct 12; Claude Haiku 5.5, same fingerprint since oct 19; GLM 5.3, same fingerprint since oct 12; DeepSeek V4 Pro 0813, same fingerprint since oct 12; Kimi K3, same fingerprint since oct 12, live from the proof page. ## OpenCode vs Claude Code [OpenCode](https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode) is an open-source terminal agent (MIT, read 2026-10-19) with a desktop app, built to be model-agnostic: a provider block in `opencode.json` names a base URL and the ids you want, and they show up in its `/models` picker ([OpenCode providers docs](https://opencode.ai/docs/providers/)). Claude Code is Anthropic's own agent, closed source, with the deepest Claude integration: prompt caching, subagents, hooks, and a plan that includes it. Models: Claude Code runs Claude ids in the Anthropic format. OpenCode runs any id on the key, Claude included, through the OpenAI format. Billing: neither tool bills on a key. OpenCode also sells [OpenCode Zen](https://opencode.ai/v2/docs/console/models/), its tested model list at the developer's list price plus a 4.4% + $0.30 card fee from a $20 balance (read 2026-10-19); the [OpenCode guide](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/opencode) puts Zen's rates next to ours for the same ids. Pick Claude Code for the Claude models with Anthropic's harness and a plan. Pick OpenCode for GLM, DeepSeek, Kimi and GPT next to Claude in one terminal, open source, on a key. ## Cline vs Claude Code [Cline](https://github.com/cline/cline) is the open-source VS Code agent (Apache-2.0, read 2026-10-19) the other two editor tools on this page forked from. It lives in the editor sidebar, shows diffs before they land, runs terminal commands and takes an OpenAI Compatible provider: base URL, key, one model id at a time. There is no caching switch; cached input bills at the cached rate on its own. Pick Cline when the work happens in VS Code and you want to approve each change. Pick Claude Code when you want a terminal agent that runs longer tasks on its own. Both bill the same tokens on the same key; the [Cline guide](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/cline) has the panel. ## Zoo Code (Roo Code) vs Claude Code The Roo Code extension shut down on May 15, 2026; its Marketplace listing says so and points to [Zoo Code](https://docs.zoocode.dev), the community fork ([Zoo-Code-Org on GitHub](https://github.com/Zoo-Code-Org/Zoo-Code), Apache-2.0), and to Cline. Roo Code, Inc. moved to Roomote, a paid cloud agent (read 2026-10-19). Zoo Code keeps Roo's modes (Code, Architect, Ask, Debug) and the same OpenAI Compatible panel, and uses native tool calls only, which every chat model on this key returns. Pick Zoo Code if you ran Roo Code and want the same panel and modes in VS Code. Pick Claude Code for the terminal and the Claude harness. The [Zoo Code guide](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/roo-code) covers the shutdown and the setup. ## Kilo Code vs Claude Code [Kilo Code](https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode) is a fork of Roo and Cline (Apache-2.0, read 2026-10-19) for VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal, owned by Anaconda since July 2026. A custom provider fetches `/v1/models` from the base URL and shows a searchable picker, so every id on the key appears without typing. Kilo also sells inference itself: [Kilo Gateway](https://kilo.ai/pricing) at provider rates plus 5% on credit purchases, and Kilo Pass from $19 a month (read 2026-10-19). Pick Kilo Code for JetBrains, a model picker across many ids, or a team that wants one custom provider shared as BYOK. Pick Claude Code for the Claude harness. Is Kilo Code better than Cursor? They are different shapes, an extension on your key against an editor with a subscription; the [Kilo Code guide](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/kilo-code) works the per-token bill. ## Claude Code vs Copilot, Codex and Gemini Code Assist Three closed tools share the search results with the four above, and none of them is an on-key tool here, so this section states only how each bills. [GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot/plans) is a per-seat subscription inside the editor, with premium requests metered on top of the seat. [OpenAI Codex](https://developers.openai.com/codex) is a terminal and cloud agent sold through ChatGPT plans and OpenAI's API. [Gemini Code Assist](https://codeassist.google) is Google's editor assistant with a free tier and per-seat plans (all read 2026-10-19 on the pages linked). None of them takes a base URL to another gateway, which is the line this post draws: the GPT and Gemini models themselves run in OpenCode, Kilo, Cline and Zoo Code from this key, in the OpenAI format, at the rates on the Models page. The tools do not. ## Free and open-source Claude Code alternatives OpenCode (MIT), Cline, Zoo Code and Kilo Code (Apache-2.0) are free to install and open source, licenses read 2026-10-19 on their repositories. Claude Code's CLI is [on GitHub](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code) for issues and releases; the Free Claude plan does not include it. What costs money in every one of them is the model, per token. A steady day of 150 turns is $0.17 on Claude Haiku 5.5 and $1.94 on Claude Sonnet 5.5 here, against $0.26 and $4.05 at Anthropic's list. There is no free tier on this key; the smallest top-up is $10, and the [free AI API post](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/free-ai-api) works what $10 buys per model. ## The same key in all of them One base URL and one key. Claude Code takes two variables in the Anthropic format ([Claude Code setup docs](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/setup)); the other four take an OpenAI-compatible provider. Claude Code ``` export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.uplinkswitch.com/v1" export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="sk-uplink-live-..." claude ``` OpenCode: opencode.json ``` { "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json", "provider": { "uplinkswitch": { "npm": "@ai-sdk/openai-compatible", "name": "UplinkSwitch", "options": { "baseURL": "https://api.uplinkswitch.com/v1", "apiKey": "{env:UPLINKSWITCH_API_KEY}" }, "models": { "claude-sonnet-5-5": { "name": "Claude Sonnet 5.5" }, "glm-5.3": { "name": "GLM 5.3" }, "deepseek-v4-pro-0813": { "name": "DeepSeek V4 Pro" }, "kimi-k3": { "name": "Kimi K3" } } } }, "model": "uplinkswitch/claude-sonnet-5-5", "small_model": "uplinkswitch/claude-haiku-5-5" } ``` Cline and Zoo Code: the provider panel ``` API Provider: OpenAI Compatible Base URL: https://api.uplinkswitch.com/v1 API Key: sk-uplink-live-... Model: claude-sonnet-5-5 (or glm-5.3, deepseek-v4-pro-0813, kimi-k3) ``` Kilo Code: kilo.json ``` { "provider": { "uplinkswitch": { "npm": "@ai-sdk/openai-compatible", "env": ["UPLINKSWITCH_API_KEY"], "models": { "claude-sonnet-5-5": { "name": "Claude Sonnet 5.5" }, "glm-5.3": { "name": "GLM 5.3" } }, "options": { "baseURL": "https://api.uplinkswitch.com/v1" } } }, "model": "uplinkswitch/claude-sonnet-5-5" } ``` Create one key per tool in the [console](https://uplinkswitch.ai/console), so each shows its own line in the usage log, and give each a monthly spend limit, so a loop in one tool stops at a number you chose. Every key on the account draws on the same prepaid balance. To run GLM, DeepSeek or Kimi inside Claude Code itself, which sends only the Anthropic format, see [Claude Code Router setup with one API key](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/claude-code-router). ## Keep Claude Code, cut the bill The search results want alternatives, and the five tools above are them. The other way out of a Claude Code bill is to keep the tool and change the key: Claude Code on this base URL bills the Claude models under Anthropic's list, with prompt caching intact and no plan. The [Claude Code pricing post](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/claude-code-api-cost) works a day and a month against the Pro and Max prices, and [coding plans vs pay-per-token API](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/coding-plans-vs-api) does the same for the Kimi, GLM and Qwen plans. Reviews are on [Product Hunt](https://www.producthunt.com/products/uplinkswitch). ## Questions **Is there anything better than Claude Code?** Better depends on what you measure. For Claude models with Anthropic’s own harness, Claude Code is the reference. For other models in the same job, OpenCode and Kilo Code run GLM, DeepSeek and Kimi from one picker, and Cline and Zoo Code do it inside VS Code. On cost, the tool matters less than the per-token rate: every tool on this page bills the same tokens on the same key. **What are some free alternatives to Claude Code?** OpenCode, Cline, Zoo Code and Kilo Code are free and open source (licenses read 2026-10-19 on their repositories). What costs money is the model, per token. A steady day of 150 agent turns on Claude Haiku 5.5 is $0.17 here, $0.26 at Anthropic's list. **Is Claude Code still the best for coding?** Anthropic’s harness and the Claude models are still the pairing most of the comparison articles in the search results favour, and nothing on this page changes that. What the alternatives add is choice: other models, open source, VS Code instead of a terminal, and no plan. Pick by where you work and which models you want; the key and the bill are the same. **Is there a ChatGPT alternative to Claude Code?** OpenAI’s equivalent is Codex, a terminal and cloud agent sold through ChatGPT plans and its API. It is not an on-key tool here. OpenCode, Kilo Code, Cline and Zoo Code run GPT ids from this key in the OpenAI format, so the GPT models work in any of them without Codex. **OpenCode vs Claude Code: which costs less per task?** Neither tool bills anything on a key; the model does, and the same model costs the same per token in both. The difference per task comes from how much context each tool re-sends and how much of it hits the cache, which depends on the task. We have not published measured runs; the table above prices one fixed turn shape instead. **Can Cline use Claude models?** Yes. Cline’s OpenAI Compatible provider takes any id on the key, Claude ids included, since the Claude models answer the OpenAI format here. Type one id in the Model field; switch models by editing it. **Is Roo Code still active?** No. The Roo Code extension was shut down on May 15, 2026; its Marketplace listing and archived repository point to Zoo Code, the community fork, and to Cline (read 2026-10-19). Zoo Code keeps the same OpenAI Compatible panel, so the same base URL, key and model ids work. See [the Zoo Code setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/roo-code). **Is Kilo Code free or paid?** The extension and CLI are free for individuals. Inference is separate: Kilo Gateway bills provider rates plus a 5% fee on credit purchases, Kilo Pass is a $19 to $199 monthly credit plan, and a custom provider takes your own key with no fee (kilo.ai/pricing, read 2026-10-19). See [the Kilo Code guide](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/kilo-code). **Is Claude Code better than GitHub Copilot?** They bill differently and run differently. Copilot is a per-seat subscription inside the editor with premium requests on top; Claude Code is a terminal agent on a plan or a per-token key. This page measured neither against the other, so the honest answer is the billing model: a seat for Copilot, tokens for Claude Code and every tool above. ## Related - [Claude Code pricing](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/claude-code-api-cost) - [Cheaper Claude Code on Opus 5.5](https://uplinkswitch.ai/claude-code) - [OpenCode Zen vs one key](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/opencode) - [Cline setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/cline) - [Roo Code and Zoo Code setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/roo-code) - [Kilo Code API key](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/kilo-code) - [Claude Code setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/claude-code) - [Claude Code Router setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/claude-code-router) - [Cursor setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/cursor) - [Cursor with your own API key: cost](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/cursor-api-key-cost) - [Coding plans vs pay-per-token API](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/coding-plans-vs-api) - [OpenClaw setup](https://uplinkswitch.ai/guides/openclaw) - [Compare LLM API prices and work out your bill](https://uplinkswitch.ai/blog/llm-api-pricing-2026)