Best AI tools for free AI coding
Ranked by fit for most people. Prices checked against official pages.
| Tool | Best for | Skill | Free tier | Paid from | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini CLI | Free open-source terminal agent using Gemini | dev | Yes (1,000 requests/day per README) | Pay-as-you-go via API key src 2026-10-13 | Free tier rate limits; terminal only |
| Cline | Open-source VS Code agent, bring your own model key | dev | Free for individuals (pay model API) | Model API costs src 2026-10-13 | You pay model API costs directly |
| Aider | Open-source git-aware pair programmer in the terminal | dev | Free open source (pay model API) | Model API costs src 2026-10-13 | You pay model API costs; CLI only |
| GitHub Copilot | AI pair-programming inside VS Code/JetBrains | dev | Yes | $10/mo src 2026-10-13 | Less autonomous than dedicated agent IDEs on lower tiers |