Comparison
OpenCode vs Claude Code in 2026: open source or Anthropic's own?
One is open source and runs any model; the other is Anthropic's, tuned for Claude. What each does better, and what changed for Claude subscribers.
OpenCode is a free, open-source (MIT) coding agent that works with almost any model, from Claude and GPT to free and local open models; Claude Code is Anthropic's own agent, which runs Claude models and comes with Claude plans from $20 a month. The biggest practical difference in 2026: you can no longer use a Claude Pro or Max subscription in OpenCode, which removed that option after Anthropic prohibited it, so Claude in OpenCode means paying per token with an API key. On Artificial Analysis's coding-agent index, Claude Code with Sonnet 5.5 scores 68 and OpenCode with the open GLM-5.3 model scores 54, at under a third of the cost per task.
Key takeaways
- License: OpenCode is MIT-licensed, with about 212,000 GitHub stars. Claude Code is proprietary.
- Models: OpenCode connects to more than 75 providers, plus ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot sign-ins. Claude Code runs Claude only.
- Claude subscriptions: OpenCode's docs say Anthropic "explicitly prohibits" using Claude Pro or Max in it, and it removed its plugin in March 2026.
- Cost: OpenCode is free with your own keys, and OpenCode Go costs $10 a month for open models. Claude Code needs Pro at $20 or more.
- Usage: in Stack Overflow's 2026 survey, 65.5% of agent users had used Claude Code and 13.6% OpenCode.
| OpenCode | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Anomaly (formerly SST) | Anthropic |
| License | MIT (open source) | Proprietary |
| Models | 75+ providers, local and free models | Claude |
| Claude Pro or Max sign-in | No; prohibited by Anthropic | Yes |
| Cost to start | Free with your own keys; Go $10 a month | Claude Pro, $20 a month ($17 annually) |
| Where it runs | Terminal, desktop app (beta), IDE extensions, local web | Terminal, IDEs, desktop app, web, phone |
| Cloud sessions | No | Yes |
| Artificial Analysis index | 54 (with GLM-5.3) | 68 (with Sonnet 5.5) |
| Used by agent users (Stack Overflow 2026) | 13.6% | 65.5% |
Can you use Claude Pro or Max with OpenCode?
No. OpenCode's documentation says plugins once let you use Claude Pro or Max models in it, but "Anthropic explicitly prohibits this," and OpenCode removed its own in version 1.3.0 in March 2026 (OpenCode). Anthropic's Claude Code terms say third-party developers may not route requests through Free, Pro or Max credentials (Anthropic), and The Register reported in February 2026 that OpenCode was removing subscription support after legal requests from Anthropic.
Claude still works in OpenCode with an Anthropic API key, billed per token, or through OpenCode's Zen service. OpenCode does let you sign in with ChatGPT Plus or Pro, GitHub Copilot, GitLab Duo or SuperGrok.
What does OpenCode do that Claude Code doesn't?
- Any model. More than 75 providers, local models, and a rotating set of free models in its Zen service; some free models may use your data for training.
- Open source. MIT-licensed, so you can read, fork and self-host it.
- An open server. Starting OpenCode runs a server with a documented API, and the terminal interface is just one client; IDE plugins and a local web interface drive the same server (OpenCode).
- Language servers built in. It loads the right language servers automatically; Claude Code adds them through plugins.
- Plans of its own: OpenCode Go at $10 a month and Go Plus at $40 for open models, and pay-as-you-go Zen.
Both have a plan mode (OpenCode's read-only plan agent), subagents, MCP, custom commands, skills and plugins.
What does Claude Code do that OpenCode doesn't?
- Anthropic's cloud: cloud sessions on Anthropic's machines, routines on a schedule (Claude Code on the web), and Remote Control from your phone (Claude Code on your phone).
- Integrations: Claude Tag in Slack, managed code review on GitHub, and a Chrome extension.
- Agent teams and hooks.
- Tuning: Anthropic builds Claude Code and its models together, and its configurations lead the independent agent benchmarks (the rankings).
- A flat plan: usage comes with Pro or Max instead of a per-token bill (Claude Code usage limits).
Which is better? Benchmarks and token use
Artificial Analysis is the only independent leaderboard with both (Artificial Analysis):
- Claude Code with Sonnet 5.5: index 68, about $14.19 a task.
- Claude Code with Opus 5.5: 66, about $13.04.
- OpenCode with GLM-5.3: 54, about $4.24.
The two use different models here, so most of the gap is the model, not the agent. No controlled test runs both agents on the same model, so claims that one uses fewer tokens than the other are anecdotal. OpenCode isn't listed on Terminal-Bench's own leaderboard.
What about Pi?
Pi is another open-source (MIT) terminal agent, built by Mario Zechner and now part of Earendil, which calls itself "a minimal agent harness" (Pi). It deliberately skips subagents and plan mode, ships a small core of read, write, edit and bash tools, and grows through TypeScript extensions and shared packages. In Stack Overflow's 2026 survey, 4.4% of agent users had used it.
What about Codex?
OpenAI's Codex CLI is open source too, under Apache 2.0, and runs on every ChatGPT plan, with Plus at $20 a month. Unlike OpenCode, it runs OpenAI's models. More in Claude Code vs Codex and Claude Code alternatives.
Which should you choose?
- You want the strongest results and a flat monthly price: Claude Code.
- You want open source, any model, or to run local models: OpenCode.
- You want Claude in an open-source agent: OpenCode with an Anthropic API key, paying per token.
- You want the smallest possible harness to build on: Pi.
Sharing a session
OpenCode's /share command publishes a session as a public read-only link, and Claude Code shares cloud sessions the same way; in both, viewers can read but not prompt. For a team that wants to work in one session together, Poly (usepoly.co) runs Claude Code and Codex in a shared browser room: everyone sees each step live, and any member can approve a change before it happens. Free to start. What is Poly?
Common questions
Is OpenCode better than Claude Code?
Not on benchmarks: Claude Code with Sonnet 5.5 scores 68 on Artificial Analysis's index against 54 for OpenCode with GLM-5.3. OpenCode is open source, runs any model and costs far less per task.
Can I use my Claude subscription with OpenCode?
No. OpenCode removed Claude Pro and Max sign-in in March 2026, and its docs say Anthropic explicitly prohibits it. You can use Claude in OpenCode with an Anthropic API key, billed per token.
Is OpenCode free?
Yes. The software is free and MIT-licensed; you pay only for the models you connect, and some models are free. OpenCode Go adds open models for $10 a month.
What is Pi?
An open-source, minimal terminal coding agent from Earendil, built by Mario Zechner. It skips subagents and plan mode in favor of a small core you extend with TypeScript.
Does OpenCode use fewer tokens than Claude Code?
There's no controlled test of both on the same model. Independent benchmarks run them on different models, so their cost and token differences mostly reflect the models.