OpenCode vs Claude Code

OpenCode is an MIT-licensed terminal agent that connects to many model providers. Claude Code is Anthropic's proprietary agent that runs only Claude models. Both support MCP, subagents and headless use.

Where they differ

Licence. OpenCode uses MIT. Claude Code is proprietary, and its repo holds no source.
Models and cost. OpenCode lists 75+ providers, including local ones through Ollama, LM Studio and llama.cpp. Claude Code needs a paid Anthropic plan or an API account.
Isolation. OpenCode documents allow, ask and deny permissions, not an OS-level sandbox. Claude Code has a sandboxed Bash tool on macOS, Linux and WSL2.
Surfaces. OpenCode has a beta desktop app and two major versions, v1 and v2, with different install commands. Claude Code documents git worktrees and phone access through Remote Control.

Which fits

Pick OpenCode if you want open-source code and a free choice of providers, including local models.
Pick Claude Code if you already pay for Claude and want a documented OS-level sandbox.

	OpenCode	Claude Code
platforms	macOSWindowsLinux	macOSWindowsLinux
price	FreeThe tool is free and MIT-licensed (seen 2026-10-28). Model cost comes from whichever provider you connect: your own API keys/local models (no…	SubscriptionThe CLI needs a Claude Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console (API) account; the free claude.ai plan does not include it.
source	Open source	Proprietary
MCP	✓ yes	✓ yes
Multi-agent	✓ yes	✓ yes
Headless / CI	✓ yes	✓ yes
Sandbox	? not verified	✓ yes
Local models	✓ yes	– no
Your own API key	✓ yes	✓ yes
Git worktrees	? not verified	✓ yes
SSH	? not verified	? not verified

OpenCode

Claude Code

platforms

macOSWindowsLinux

price

FreeThe tool is free and MIT-licensed (seen 2026-10-28). Model cost comes from whichever provider you connect: your own API keys/local models (no…

SubscriptionThe CLI needs a Claude Pro, Max, Team, Enterprise or Console (API) account; the free claude.ai plan does not include it.

source

Open source

Proprietary

MCP

✓ yes

Multi-agent

✓ yes

Headless / CI

✓ yes

Sandbox

? not verified

✓ yes

Local models

✓ yes

– no

Your own API key

✓ yes

Git worktrees

? not verified

✓ yes

SSH

? not verified

Claude Code is stronger at

Documented non-interactive mode (claude -p), GitHub Actions and GitLab CI integration, and an Agent SDK

Subagents, background agents and git worktrees (claude --worktree) for parallel sessions

OS-level sandboxed Bash tool on macOS (Seatbelt), Linux and WSL2 (bubblewrap)

Same engine across terminal, IDEs, desktop app, web, and phone via Remote Control and the Claude mobile app

OpenCode is stronger at

MIT-licensed with an actively pushed repo (last push 2026-10-27, v2.2.0 released the day before)

Provider-agnostic: 75+ providers, documented Ollama, LM Studio and llama.cpp setup, and logins via GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT Plus/Pro

Documented non-interactive run, headless serve, and attach commands, plus local and remote MCP servers

Built-in plan (read-only) and build agents, with a general subagent for parallel multistep work

which to pick

pick Claude Code if

Developers who already pay for Claude and want a scriptable, sandboxable agent that works across terminal, IDE, CI and phone.

pick OpenCode if

Developers who want an open-source terminal agent they can point at any model provider, including local models.

skip Claude Code if

People who want an open-source tool or need to run local or non-Anthropic models.

skip OpenCode if

Teams that need a documented OS-level sandbox or a single vendor-supported model stack.

OpenCode vs Claude Code: what differs

Where they differ

Which fits

More

Claude Code is stronger at

OpenCode is stronger at

which to pick