OpenCode Alternatives: 7 Coding Agents to Switch To
Seven OpenCode alternatives checked on 15 Oct 2026: Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Kilo Code, Crush, Pi and Goose, by licence, models and release.
In our view the closest OpenCode alternative is Kilo Code, whose CLI is a fork of OpenCode. Claude Code, Codex CLI and Gemini CLI are the big vendor agents, and Crush, Pi and Goose are agents that take many models. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
This list is for people weighing a move off OpenCode this week. If you are new to it, read what is OpenCode first. The Comparisons hub has the head to head posts.
Why look for an OpenCode alternative now?
Because OpenCode 2.0 breaks old setups. Anomaly’s OpenCode 2.0 post, dated 12 Oct 2026, lists three breaking changes: “1.0 plugins will not work in 2.0”, “Server API is completely different” and the move of the tui.json config. The post’s upgrade command is opencode upgrade --major. OpenCode’s migration guide says “Port plugins, because V1 plugin implementations do not run in V2.”
If your setup has no 1.x plugins, the upgrade may be all you need, and OpenCode is still MIT with more than 213,000 stars on GitHub. On 15 Oct 2026 its latest GitHub release was v1.19.0 (11 Oct), while the @opencode/cli package on npm was at 2.0.29.
Seven alternatives, plus a different kind of tool
Here are seven coding agents and one desktop app for running agents; the “Best for” lines are our view. Stars and releases are from each GitHub repo on 15 Oct 2026.
1. Claude Code. Claude Code is, in Anthropic’s words, “an agentic coding tool that reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands, and integrates with your development tools”. Its licence file says “All rights reserved”, so the code is not open source (more here). Latest release v2.1.300 (14 Oct), more than 151,000 stars. Best for: Claude models. See OpenCode vs Claude Code and Claude Code alternatives.
2. Munder Difflin. Munder Difflin is what we make, and it is not a replacement for OpenCode. It is free and open source: a desktop app that runs a team of coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLI on your own computer. OpenCode can be one of those agents, because it starts the CLI you installed. Best for: keeping OpenCode and adding others. Start with how to install and use Munder Difflin.
3. Codex CLI. OpenAI’s README calls it “a coding agent from OpenAI that runs locally on your computer”. It is Apache 2.0. You sign in with ChatGPT to use your Plus, Pro, Business, Edu or Enterprise plan, or use an API key with extra setup. Latest release rust-v0.162.1 (9 Oct), more than 129,000 stars. Best for: OpenAI models.
4. Gemini CLI. Google’s README says it “brings the power of Gemini directly into your terminal”. It is Apache 2.0, and the README lists a free tier of “60 requests/min and 1,000 requests/day with personal Google account”. Latest release v0.64.0 (13 Oct), more than 107,000 stars. Best for: a free tier.
5. Kilo Code. Kilo’s README says “Kilo CLI is a fork of OpenCode, enhanced to work within the Kilo agentic engineering platform.” It also runs in VS Code and JetBrains, is MIT, and lists “500+ models”. Latest release v7.8.12 (15 Oct), more than 27,000 stars. Best for: OpenCode habits under a different maintainer.
6. Crush. Charm’s Crush promises “your workflows, wired into your LLM of choice”: a wide range of LLMs, or your own through OpenAI or Anthropic compatible APIs. Its licence is the “Functional Source License, Version 1.1, MIT Future License”. Latest release v0.98.1 (9 Oct), more than 28,000 stars. Best for: a polished terminal UI.
7. Pi. The README says “Pi is a minimal, extensible agent harness that you can make your own”, and that it “skips features like sub-agents and plan mode”. It is MIT; badlogic/pi-mono now redirects to earendil-works/pi. Latest release v1.2.0 (12 Oct), more than 115,000 stars. Best for: building your own agent.
8. Goose. The README says “goose is a general-purpose AI agent that runs on your machine”, with a desktop app, a CLI and “15+ providers”. It is Apache 2.0 and part of the Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation; block/goose now redirects there. Latest release v1.54.0 (8 Oct), more than 55,000 stars. Best for: work beyond code.
OpenCode alternatives at a glance, checked 15 Oct 2026
Every cell comes from the tool’s GitHub repo, README or docs, opened on 15 Oct 2026.
| Tool | Maker | Licence | Models it can use | Latest release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenCode | Anomaly | MIT | 75+ providers, local models | v1.19.0, 11 Oct |
| Claude Code | Anthropic | All rights reserved | Claude, direct or via cloud providers | v2.1.300, 14 Oct |
| Munder Difflin | Munder Difflin | Free and open source | Whatever your agents run | See the download page |
| Codex CLI | OpenAI | Apache 2.0 | OpenAI, ChatGPT sign in or API key | rust-v0.162.1, 9 Oct |
| Gemini CLI | Apache 2.0 | Gemini | v0.64.0, 13 Oct | |
| Kilo Code | Kilo | MIT | 500+ models | v7.8.12, 15 Oct |
| Crush | Charm | FSL 1.1, MIT future licence | Many providers, compatible APIs | v0.98.1, 9 Oct |
| Pi | earendil-works | MIT | OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and more | v1.2.0, 12 Oct |
| Goose | Part of the Agentic AI Foundation | Apache 2.0 | 15+ providers | v1.54.0, 8 Oct |
OpenCode’s model count is from opencode.ai, Claude Code’s cloud providers from Anthropic’s enterprise deployment page, and Pi’s providers from the README’s pi-ai package line.
Which OpenCode alternatives are open source?
Five of the seven carry a standard open source licence on GitHub: Codex CLI, Gemini CLI and Goose under Apache 2.0, and Kilo Code and Pi under MIT. Crush is different. Its licence bars a “Competing Use” and grants MIT “on the second anniversary of the date we make the Software available”, so each version turns MIT two years after release. Claude Code is “All rights reserved”.
Which one is closest to OpenCode?
Kilo Code, because its CLI is a fork of OpenCode, per Kilo’s README. Our view: that makes it the shortest move. Whether your 1.x plugins carry over is not stated in Kilo’s README, so check before you rely on it.
Who should pick what?
Our view: pick by why you are leaving.
- You want the shortest move: Kilo Code.
- You want to keep OpenCode and add other agents: Munder Difflin.
- You want Claude models: Claude Code.
- You pay for ChatGPT already: Codex CLI.
- You want a free tier: Gemini CLI.
- You want a terminal UI with LSP context: Crush.
- You want to build your own agent: Pi.
- You want a desktop app for more than code: Goose.
If none of that applies, run opencode upgrade --major, port your plugins and stay put. Switching tools to avoid porting a few plugins is a lot of moving boxes.
FAQ
What is the closest alternative to OpenCode?
Kilo Code, in our view. Kilo's README on GitHub says "Kilo CLI is a fork of OpenCode, enhanced to work within the Kilo agentic engineering platform." It is MIT licensed and also runs in VS Code and JetBrains.
Is there an open source OpenCode alternative?
Yes. On 15 Oct 2026 GitHub listed Codex CLI, Gemini CLI and Goose under Apache 2.0, and Kilo Code and Pi under MIT. Crush uses the Functional Source License with an MIT future licence. Claude Code's licence file says "All rights reserved".
Will my OpenCode 1.x plugins work in OpenCode 2.0?
No. Anomaly's OpenCode 2.0 post lists "1.0 plugins will not work in 2.0" as a breaking change. OpenCode's migration guide says to port plugins, because V1 plugin implementations do not run in V2.
Can I use OpenCode and Claude Code together?
Yes. They are separate CLIs, so you can install both. Munder Difflin is free and open source: a desktop app that runs a team of coding agents such as Claude Code, Codex and Gemini CLI on your own computer, and it can start the OpenCode CLI you installed as one of them.