Free AI coding assistant for your terminal. A free, open-source alternative to Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.
Website | PyPI | npm | Web IDE
# Universal (Linux / macOS)
curl -fsSL https://free.ai/install | sh
# pip
pip install freeai-code
# npm
npm install -g freeai-code# Interactive coding session in your project directory
cd your-project/
free-code
# Ask a one-shot question about your codebase
free-code ask "How does the auth system work?"
# Execute a task
free-code run "Add unit tests for the User model"
# Initialize and scan codebase
free-code init| Command | Description |
|---|---|
free-code |
Interactive coding session (alias: free-code chat) |
free-code ask "question" |
One-shot question about the codebase |
free-code run "task" |
Execute a coding task |
free-code init |
Initialize config, scan codebase |
free-code config |
Show current configuration |
free-code config set key value |
Set a config value |
free-code login |
Authenticate with Free.ai |
- File read/write with diff preview and approval gates
- Shell command execution (with confirmation in safe mode)
- Git integration (status, diff, commit, branch)
- Test runner auto-detection (pytest, jest, go test, cargo test)
- Streaming output with syntax highlighting
- Context window optimization and repo map generation
- .gitignore-aware file discovery
- Session sync — continue conversations from web to CLI and back
Config is stored at ~/.free-code/config.yaml.
# Set your Free.ai token (get one at https://free.ai/account/)
free-code config set token sk-free-xxx
# Use your own API key (BYOK — no markup, use your own provider)
free-code config set provider openai
free-code config set api_key sk-xxx
# Choose a model
free-code config set model qwen2.5-coder-32b
# Enable safe mode (confirm before file writes)
free-code config set safe_mode true| Provider | Default Model | Free Tier |
|---|---|---|
| free.ai (default) | Qwen 2.5 Coder 32B | 50K tokens/day |
| openai | GPT-4o | BYOK — no markup |
| anthropic | Claude Sonnet 4 | BYOK — no markup |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | BYOK — no markup | |
| openrouter | 346+ models | BYOK — no markup |
- Scans your project (respects .gitignore)
- Builds a context map of your codebase
- Sends your request + relevant code context to the AI
- AI plans steps, reads/writes files, runs commands
- You review and approve changes (safe mode)
All file operations happen locally on your machine. The AI sees only what it needs.
- Anonymous: 10K tokens/day (Qwen Coder only)
- Free account: 50K tokens/day (sign up at free.ai)
- Paid plans: From $5/month for 200K tokens (pricing)
- BYOK: $0 — bring your own API key, no markup
- Free.ai — 400+ free AI tools
- Web IDE — Use in your browser
- API Docs — Build on top of Free.ai
- Compare vs Claude Code
- Compare vs Cursor
| Feature | Free.ai Coder | Claude Code | OpenAI Codex | Cursor | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 50K tokens/day | None ($20/mo) | None ($200/mo) | None ($20/mo) | None ($10/mo) |
| Self-hosted models | Yes (Qwen, DeepSeek) | No | No | No | No |
| BYOK (bring your own key) | Yes — $0 markup | No | No | Partial | No |
| Open source CLI | Yes (MIT) | No | No | No | No |
| Web IDE | Yes (free.ai/coder/) | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Terminal access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 346+ models | Yes | Claude only | GPT only | Multiple | GPT only |
| Session sync (CLI ↔ web) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Use your own API keys from any provider — zero markup, zero fees. Free.ai just proxies the request.
# OpenAI
free-code config set provider openai
free-code config set api_key sk-proj-xxx
# Anthropic
free-code config set provider anthropic
free-code config set api_key sk-ant-xxx
# Google
free-code config set provider google
free-code config set api_key AIzaSyxxx
# OpenRouter (access 346+ models)
free-code config set provider openrouter
free-code config set api_key sk-or-xxxWhen using BYOK, requests go directly to the provider. No markup. No logging. Your key, your usage, your bill.
You can also set keys via environment variables:
export FREEAI_PROVIDER=openai
export FREEAI_API_KEY=sk-proj-xxx
free-code- Free.ai — 400+ free AI tools on the web
- Python SDK —
pip install free-dot-ai— use Free.ai from your code - CLI Coder —
pip install freeai-code— AI coding in your terminal - iOS App — Native iPhone/iPad app
- Android App — Native Android app
- API Docs — Build on top of Free.ai
- Web IDE — Code in your browser
MIT