5 Best Free AI Coding CLI Tools in 2026
What Are the Best Free AI Coding CLI Tools?
Five tools let you code with AI in your terminal for $0:
| Tool | Price | Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigravity CLI | Free (Google account) | Gemini 3.5 Flash | Zero-setup daily coding |
| OpenCode | Free (BYOK) | 75+ providers | Power users, model switching |
| Qwen Code | Free (API included) | Qwen 3 Coder | Completely free, no keys needed |
| Aider | Free (local models) | Any via Ollama | Offline, git-native workflows |
| Gemini CLI | Free until June 18 | Gemini 2.5 Pro | Strongest free model (temporary) |
1. Google Antigravity CLI — Best Overall Free Option
curl -fsSL https://antigravity.google/cli/install.sh | bash
agyFree for all Google accounts. Gemini 3.5 Flash model, 1M token context, plugins, subagents, MCP support. No API key management — just sign in.
Verdict: Lowest friction. If you have a Google account, install this first. I tested all five over two weeks. Antigravity and Qwen Code surprised me the most — genuinely usable for real work, not just demos.
2. OpenCode — Best for Flexibility
go install github.com/opencode-ai/opencode@latest140K+ GitHub stars. Supports 75+ providers — use Claude, GPT, Gemini, or local models. You bring your own API key; the tool is free.
Verdict: Swiss Army knife. Never locked into one provider. Best if you already have API keys.
3. Qwen Code — Best Truly Free (Tool + API)
pip install qwen-codeAlibaba’s CLI agent with completely free API access. No key required, no credit card. Apache 2.0 licensed.
Verdict: The only tool where both client AND API are free. Great if you can’t or won’t pay for any API.
4. Aider — Best for Offline / Git Workflows
pip install aider-chat
aider --model ollama/deepseek-coder-v339K stars. Git-native — every AI change is an auto-commit. Works with local models via Ollama for $0 cost and full privacy.
Verdict: Best for developers who live in git and want fully offline AI coding.
5. Gemini CLI — Strongest Free Model (Until June 18)
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
gemini1,000 requests/day free with Gemini 2.5 Pro — still one of the most capable models available. Deprecated but functional until June 18, 2026.
Verdict: Use it while it lasts. After June 18, migrate to Antigravity CLI.
How to Choose (Decision Tree)
- “Just want it to work, no setup” → Antigravity CLI
- “Want the strongest model for free” → Gemini CLI (until June 18) → then Antigravity
- “Want to use my own keys / switch providers” → OpenCode
- “Want everything free, no keys at all” → Qwen Code
- “Want fully offline / local models” → Aider + Ollama