Contents
- Why this guide
- TL;DR — Quick picks
- What is “agentic coding”?
- What are the best open source Claude Code alternatives for developers?
- Comparison table
- Why go local & open in 2025
- Notes & caveats
- FAQ
Why this guide (and who it’s for)?
If you’ve tried Claude Code and want a more flexible, open, and budget-friendly setup, this guide is for you. We focus on strong open-source Claude Code alternatives that deliver agentic coding workflows in VS Code, work with local models, and avoid vendor usage limits—perfect for startups and teams that need privacy, control, and predictable costs.
Cline is a VS Code–native agent built for plan → review → run loops supporting permissioned file/terminal actions and MCP tool integrations. You can pair Cline with local models for near-zero marginal cost, or route to cloud models when you need extra horsepower. Cline also includes complementary tools: configurable assistants, self-hosted autocomplete, terminal-first pair programming, local code/shell automation, and research-grade autonomous agents.
How we evaluated:
- VS Code integration and developer ergonomics
- Agentic capabilities (planning, tool use, guarded execution)
- Local-first and BYO-model support
- Cost control and freedom from imposed usage caps
- Team-readiness (auditability, repo safety, on-prem options)
Tip: Use the TL;DR for quick picks, then jump to the profiles to see where each option shines. For the simplest path: start with Cline + a local model for daily work, and keep a secondary cloud model on deck for tricky refactors or long-context reviews.
TL;DR — Quick picks
- Best all-around (VS Code + agentic): Cline — open source, Plan Mode, MCP tools, any model (cloud or local).
- Best for terminal-first devs: Aider — CLI-driven edits with Git-aware diffs.
- Best for research & automation: OpenDevin — project-scale orchestration and autonomous workflows.
What is “agentic coding”?
Agentic tools go beyond autocomplete. They plan actions, use tools (terminal, filesystem, browser, or standardized tool APIs like MCP), and iterate based on feedback. In practice, that means you can approve a plan, let the assistant run guarded commands, modify files, and verify results—all from your editor.
MCP (Model Context Protocol): a standard for connecting assistants to tools & data. It reduces custom glue-code and makes tool use portable across models.
Which are the best open source Claude Code alternatives for developers?
1) Cline (VS Code extension)
Why it stands out: Cline offers deep agentic workflows in VS Code with Plan Mode, transparent steps, permissioned terminal/file operations, and MCP integration. Choose any model (frontier cloud or local via Ollama/LM Studio/OpenRouter/etc.), avoiding lock-in and vendor caps.
- Ideal for: individual devs & startups seeking a full agent in VS Code, cost control, and local-first privacy.
- Highlights: plan → review → run loop; guarded exec; flexible model routing; tool standardization via MCP.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Free; open source. Pay only for the model/API you choose.
2) Continue
Why it stands out: Functions as an assistant with local model support; features vary by config.
- Ideal for: teams standardizing an open stack across editors.
- Highlights: customization, local-first, editor portability.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Solo $0/dev/mo; Team $10/dev/mo; Models add-on $20; Enterprise — contact sales.
3) Tabby
Why it stands out: Self-hosted autocomplete server with inline suggestion support
- Ideal for: startups needing team-wide autocomplete
- Highlights: self-hosted, scalable, reliable completions.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Community $0/user/mo (up to 5); Team $19/user/mo (up to 50); Enterprise — contact sales.
4) Aider
Why it stands out: Terminal-based programming assistant oriented toward code edits via CLI.
- Ideal for: developers who live in the terminal and want precise, auditable edits.
- Highlights: Git-smart diffs/commits, CLI-driven flow.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Free; open source (Apache-2.0). Pay only for the model/API if hosted.
5) OpenDevin
Why it stands out: Supports planning and execution across shells and files, positioned for larger project automation.
- Ideal for: experimenters & research teams exploring end-to-end automation.
- Highlights: autonomy, multi-step orchestration.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Open source (MIT). Local $0; OpenHands Cloud offers credits, pricing TBD.
6) Open Interpreter
Why it stands out: Run LLMs locally with options for executing code or shell commands.
- Ideal for: privacy-sensitive workflows and repeatable automation.
- Highlights: reproducible scripts, terminal integration.
- Pricing (Sept 2025): Free; open source (AGPL-3.0).
Comparison table
| Tool | Open Source | VS Code Integration | Local Models | Agentic (plan/act/tools) | No Usage Limits* | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cline | Yes | Native extension | Ollama / LM Studio & more | Yes (Plan Mode, terminal/files, MCP) | Yes* | Full agent in VS Code |
| Continue | Yes | VS Code / JetBrains / CLI | Ollama / LM Studio | Configurable | Yes* | Build-your-own assistant |
| Tabby | Yes | Official VS Code extension | Self-hosted | Primarily autocomplete | Yes* | Team-wide completions |
| Aider | Yes | VS Code-adjacent (terminal) | Many providers | Git-aware edits | Yes* | Terminal-first refactors |
| OpenDevin | Yes | External (workspace) | Varies | Autonomous | Yes* | Research & E2E tasks |
| Open Interpreter | Yes | VS Code-adjacent (terminal) | Ollama / LM Studio | Code+shell execution | Yes* | Local scripting |
“No usage limits” means no vendor caps when you self-host or run local models. Throughput depends on your hardware or chosen API.
Why go local & open in 2025
- Privacy: keep sensitive code local.
- Predictable cost: scale with hardware; no seat quotas.
- Customization: choose models, prompts, and tools.
- Offline resilience: work without connectivity.
Notes & caveats
- MCP support & tools: Many projects now support MCP for easier tool integration.
- Editor fit: Terminal-first agents run fine in VS Code terminals but aren’t full editor agents.
- Autonomy vs. safety: Grant file/terminal permissions carefully. Good agents ask before executing.
FAQ
What’s best for VS Code startups?
Cline — agentic + MCP + any model.
Cheapest alternatives to Claude Code?
Go open source + local. Cline is agentic and free; you just pay for the model you run.
Which combo should a small team use?
Cline with a local model for daily work, cloud backup for tricky refactors.
Do these support tool use & web access?
Yes—Cline and others can run tools; Cline supports MCP for standardized APIs.
Which options have no usage limits?
Local-first options like Cline, Tabby, Aider, and Open Interpreter remove vendor caps.
Best local model options?
Cline works with Ollama/LM Studio; Tabby is self-hosted; Aider and Open Interpreter also run with local models.