--- slug: "open-source-coding-agents-compared" title: "Open-source coding agents compared" description: "OpenCode, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Aider, Cline, goose, OpenHands, Kilo Code and Qwen Code side by side: license, where each runs, which models it can use." published: "2026-10-15" updated: "2026-10-15" signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T05:02:49.930Z" tools: ["aider", "gemini-cli", "openai-codex-cli", "opencode", "qwen-code", "kilo-code", "cline", "goose", "openhands", "crush", "claude-code"] page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/guides/open-source-coding-agents-compared" --- # Open-source coding agents compared Updated 2026-10-15. Page: https://agenttooldrop.com/guides/open-source-coding-agents-compared The coding agents in our catalog whose source you can read, side by side: the license, where each one runs, and which models it can use. Claude Code is at the end as the closed reference point most people compare against. Open source here means an OSI license on the agent, as stated in its LICENSE file. An open agent does not make the model open: unless you point it at a local model, your prompts and code go to the model provider you configure. The Models column mentions local models only where the project documents them. ## At a glance | Tool | Where it runs | Models | License | Install | Stars | Last push | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Aider](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/aider) | Terminal, inside your git repo | Most cloud LLMs and local models | Apache-2.0 | Install with pip and aider-install | 49,554 | 2026-05-22 | | [Gemini CLI](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/gemini-cli) | Terminal, headless mode for scripts, a GitHub Action | Gemini, through Code Assist Standard or Enterprise, the Gemini API or Vertex AI | Apache-2.0 | Install globally with npm | 107,372 | 2026-10-14 | | [OpenAI Codex CLI](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/openai-codex-cli) | Terminal, plus `codex exec` for scripts and CI | OpenAI models, through a ChatGPT plan or an API key | Apache-2.0 | Install with the standalone installer (macOS, Linux) | 129,272 | 2026-10-15 | | [OpenCode](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/opencode) | Terminal (TUI), desktop app, local web interface | Many providers, connected with /connect; optional OpenCode Go subscription | MIT | Install OpenCode 2 with npm | 213,573 | 2026-10-15 | | [Qwen Code](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/qwen-code) | Terminal; VS Code, Zed and JetBrains; desktop app; experimental web UI | Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini APIs; local models through Ollama or vLLM | Apache-2.0 | Install with npm (Node.js 22+) | 28,487 | 2026-10-15 | | [Kilo Code](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/kilo-code) | VS Code, JetBrains, terminal, web | 500+ models, switchable mid-task, at the provider's rate | MIT | Install the CLI with npm | 27,607 | 2026-10-15 | | [Cline](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/cline) | VS Code, JetBrains (plugin not open source), terminal, desktop app | Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, OpenRouter, Bedrock, Ollama, LM Studio, any OpenAI-compatible API | Apache-2.0 | Install the CLI with npm | 70,339 | 2026-10-15 | | [goose](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/goose) | Desktop app for macOS, Linux and Windows; CLI; API | 15+ providers including Ollama; Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscriptions through ACP | Apache-2.0 | Install the CLI with the install script | 55,293 | 2026-10-15 | | [OpenHands](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/openhands) | Self-hosted Agent Canvas on a laptop, Docker, VMs or OpenHands Cloud | Runs the OpenHands agent or drives Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode and other ACP agents | MIT | Install Agent Canvas with npm | 90,928 | 2026-10-15 | | [Crush](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/crush) | Terminal on macOS, Linux, Windows, Android and BSDs | Many providers, OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible APIs, Ollama, LM Studio | FSL-1.1-MIT | Install with npm | 28,644 | 2026-10-15 | | [Claude Code](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/claude-code) | Terminal, VS Code, JetBrains, desktop app, web | Claude, with a Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account | Proprietary | Install with the native installer (macOS, Linux, WSL) | 150,924 | 2026-10-14 | ## Terminal first ### Aider Pair programs with an LLM in your terminal, editing files in your git repo and committing each change Pick it if you want every change recorded as a git commit and your choice of model provider, including local models. License: Apache-2.0. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 49,554 stars, last push 2026-05-22. Skip it if: You want an IDE-native agent with visual diffs, or you do not want to manage your own model API keys. Install with pip and aider-install: ```sh python -m pip install aider-install aider-install ``` Install source: https://aider.chat/docs/install.html. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/aider.md ### Gemini CLI Brings Gemini models into the terminal to query and edit codebases, run shell commands and search the web Pick it if your organization has a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or pays for Gemini API or Vertex AI access. License: Apache-2.0. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 107,372 stars, last push 2026-10-14. Skip it if: You planned to use it for free with a personal Google account or through Google AI Pro or Ultra: Gemini CLI stopped serving those users on June 18, 2026 and Google points them to Antigravity CLI. Install globally with npm: ```sh npm install -g @google/gemini-cli ``` Install source: https://geminicli.com/docs/get-started/installation/. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/gemini-cli.md ### OpenAI Codex CLI Runs OpenAI's coding agent locally to inspect your repo, edit files and run commands from the terminal Pick it if you have a ChatGPT plan or an OpenAI API key and want control over sandboxing and approvals on each run. License: Apache-2.0. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 129,272 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You have neither a ChatGPT plan nor an OpenAI API key, or you would rather work in an editor, where OpenAI points you to its IDE extension or the Codex app. Install with the standalone installer (macOS, Linux): ```sh curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh ``` Install source: https://github.com/openai/codex#readme. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/openai-codex-cli.md ### OpenCode Runs an open-source coding agent in your terminal, desktop app or browser with the LLM provider you choose Pick it if you want an MIT-licensed agent with a TUI, a desktop app and a local web interface that works with many model providers. License: MIT. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 213,573 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You install CLI tools through Windows package managers, which OpenCode 2 does not support; also note OpenCode 1 and 2 cannot be installed side by side under the default command. Install OpenCode 2 with npm: ```sh npm install -g @opencode/cli ``` Install source: https://opencode.ai/v2/docs/. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/opencode.md ### Qwen Code Runs a coding agent in your terminal that works with Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini or local models Pick it if you want a terminal agent not tied to one model vendor, or Qwen models in particular. The free Qwen OAuth tier ended on 2026-04-15. License: Apache-2.0. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 28,487 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You were counting on the free Qwen OAuth tier, which the docs say was discontinued on 2026-04-15; you now need an API key, an Alibaba Cloud plan or a local model. Its docs say optional usage statistics can be collected, so check the setting. Install with npm (Node.js 22+): ```sh npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest ``` Install source: https://github.com/QwenLM/qwen-code#installation. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/qwen-code.md ## In your editor ### Kilo Code Writes and edits code from natural language in VS Code, JetBrains or the terminal, using a model you pick Pick it if you want the same agent in VS Code, JetBrains and the terminal and want to switch models per task. License: MIT. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 27,607 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: The README's VS Code setup has you create a Kilo account to reach its model catalog, so skip it if you want no vendor account in the loop. If you already run OpenCode, the Kilo CLI adds little since it is a fork of it. Install the CLI with npm: ```sh npm install -g @kilocode/cli ``` Install source: https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode#installation. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/kilo-code.md ### Cline Runs an approval-based coding agent in VS Code, JetBrains, the terminal or a desktop app with any model Pick it if you want an agent in VS Code or JetBrains that shows each edit as a diff and asks before each change. License: Apache-2.0; the JetBrains plugin is not open source. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 70,339 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You need every client to be open source (the JetBrains plugin is not), or you want an agent that runs without per-step approvals by default. Install the CLI with npm: ```sh npm i -g cline ``` Install source: https://github.com/cline/cline#readme. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/cline.md ## Desktop app or your own server ### goose Runs a general-purpose AI agent on your machine as a desktop app, CLI or embeddable API Pick it if you want a local agent for code and other work, not tied to one vendor, that you extend with MCP servers. License: Apache-2.0. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 55,293 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You want a coding agent built into your IDE; goose runs as its own desktop app or CLI. Install the CLI with the install script: ```sh curl -fsSL https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose/releases/download/stable/download_cli.sh | bash ``` Install source: https://github.com/aaif-goose/goose#readme. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/goose.md ### OpenHands Runs OpenHands, Claude Code, Codex and other ACP agents from a self-hosted control center Pick it if you want agents to keep working on a server or in Docker sandboxes and to start them from Slack or GitHub. License: MIT. Pricing: Open source. GitHub: 90,928 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You just want one agent in your terminal or editor; the npm install runs the agent server directly on your machine with full filesystem access unless you use the Docker option, and it needs Node.js 24 and uv. Install Agent Canvas with npm: ```sh npm install -g @openhands/agent-canvas agent-canvas ``` Install source: https://github.com/OpenHands/OpenHands#readme. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/openhands.md ## Source-available, not OSI open source Crush publishes its source under FSL-1.1-MIT, which bars competing commercial use until each version converts to MIT two years after release. ### Crush Runs a terminal coding agent from Charm that works with your choice of LLM and uses LSPs for context Pick it if you want a terminal agent that uses your language servers and any model provider, and the FSL-1.1-MIT terms work for you. License: FSL-1.1-MIT (source-available; each version becomes MIT two years after release). Pricing: Free. GitHub: 28,644 stars, last push 2026-10-15. Skip it if: You need an OSI open-source license: Crush uses FSL-1.1-MIT, which bars competing commercial use until a version converts to MIT after two years. Install with npm: ```sh npm install -g @charmland/crush ``` Install source: https://github.com/charmbracelet/crush#readme. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/crush.md ## The closed reference point ### Claude Code Reads your codebase, edits files, runs commands and handles git work from the terminal, IDE, desktop or web Not open source: Claude Code is proprietary, and most of its surfaces need a Claude subscription or an Anthropic Console account. License: Proprietary; Anthropic Commercial Terms of Service. Pricing: Paid. GitHub: 150,924 stars, last push 2026-10-14. Skip it if: You need an open-source agent or have no Claude subscription or Anthropic Console account; Claude Code is proprietary and most surfaces require one of them. Install with the native installer (macOS, Linux, WSL): ```sh curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash ``` Install source: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/overview. Entry: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/claude-code.md ## Newer options worth a look New and rising tools from the catalog that this guide does not compare yet, by new and rising score. Younger and less proven than the picks above. - [Orca](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/orca.md): Runs several CLI coding agents side by side, each in its own git worktree, in one desktop app. Skip it if: You prefer a terminal-only setup or use one agent at a time. It collects anonymous usage data unless you opt out, its Computer Use feature lets agents operate desktop apps, and it ships releases almost daily with a large open issue and pull request backlog. - [herdr](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/herdr.md): Keeps coding agent terminals running in a background server and marks each pane as working, blocked or idle. Skip it if: You already have a tmux setup you like and run one agent at a time. Agents can use herdr's socket API to spawn panes and prompt other agents, and after a server or machine restart the original processes are gone, only the layout and supported sessions come back. - [nono](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/nono.md): Runs coding agents in a least-privilege sandbox with per-tool filesystem, network and credential rules. Skip it if: You want VM or container isolation; the README says nono runs with no daemon, container or VM. APIs may still change before 1.0, and Windows is supported through WSL2. It runs agent commands and brokers credentials, so review a profile's grants before pulling it from the registry. - [CC Safety Net](https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/cc-safety-net.md): Blocks destructive git and file commands and reads of secret files before a coding agent's tool call runs. Skip it if: You need containment: the README says it is not a sandbox and does not contain processes, set filesystem permissions or watch network egress. It is maintained mostly by one developer and needs Node.js 18 or higher. ## How we chose Picked from the 95 tools in our catalog, each verified against its own repository and docs; 11 made this guide. Within each group, new and rising tools come first, sorted by the new and rising score (star velocity, recent pushes and releases, repo age and an editorial weight), then the standards, the well-known tools, by name. It is not a benchmark. The number beside a tool is its rank in the full new and rising ledger, not within this guide; standards are not ranked. Install commands are copied from each project's docs; every tool page links to the page they came from. GitHub signals (stars, last push, latest release) were fetched on 2026-10-15. Crush is listed separately because its license is source-available rather than OSI open source. Hermes Agent is left out because its entry describes a self-hosted agent you reach from the terminal or chat apps rather than a coding tool; it is in Claude Code alternatives, along with Cursor and GitHub Copilot, which are proprietary.