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What are the best free AI coding tools in 2025?
The best free AI coding tools in 2025 are: Continue.dev (completely free and open-source), Sourcegraph Cody (generous free tier), Replit AI (free tier for learning), GitHub Copilot (free for students and open-source maintainers), and ChatGPT (free tier with GPT-4o-mini). Continue.dev offers the most comprehensive free experience, rivaling paid tools when paired with your own API keys.
Understanding "free" AI coding tools
When evaluating free AI coding tools, it's important to understand the different models:
Truly Free (No Strings Attached)
Example: Continue.dev with local models via Ollama
Zero cost, zero limitations. Usually requires more technical setup.
Free Tier (Usage Limits)
Example: Sourcegraph Cody, Replit AI, ChatGPT Free
Free with limitations on requests per month, features, or model access.
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)
Example: Continue.dev with OpenAI/Anthropic API keys
Tool is free, but you pay for API usage (typically $10-30/month for moderate use).
Conditionally Free
Example: GitHub Copilot for students
Free if you meet specific criteria (student, open-source maintainer, etc.).
Best free AI coding tools: quick rankings
| Rank | Tool | Free Model | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continue.dev | Truly Free (open-source) | Maximum flexibility & customization | Requires setup |
| 2 | Sourcegraph Cody | Free tier | Professional features at no cost | Usage caps |
| 3 | Replit AI | Free tier | Zero-setup cloud development | Limited compute |
| 4 | GitHub Copilot | Conditional (students/OSS) | Students & open-source contributors | Verification required |
| 5 | ChatGPT | Free tier | Code explanations & brainstorming | No IDE integration |
| 6 | Aider | BYOK | Command-line power users | API costs |
| 7 | Cline | BYOK | VS Code integration | API costs |
Best free AI coding tools: detailed reviews
1. Continue.dev - Best overall free option
Why we recommend it: Continue.dev is the leading open-source AI coding assistant, offering truly free usage with local models or flexible BYOK options with cloud models.
What's actually free
- 100% free with local models: Use Ollama to run Llama, CodeLlama, or other open-source models locally
- BYOK flexibility: Bring your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key and pay only for usage ($10-30/month typically)
- No feature limitations: All features available in the open-source version
- No telemetry or tracking: Complete privacy and control over your data
Why it's the best free option
- Truly free—no hidden costs, usage limits, or feature restrictions
- Works with VS Code and JetBrains IDEs
- Choice of local models (free) or cloud models (BYOK)
- Active open-source community and regular updates
- Can run completely offline for maximum privacy
- Support for multiple AI models simultaneously
Trade-offs
- Requires initial setup and configuration
- Local models need decent hardware (8GB+ RAM recommended)
- Less polished UX than commercial products
- No official support—rely on community forums
- Documentation can be sparse for advanced features
Real cost analysis
Completely free option: Use with Ollama and local models. Zero cost, runs entirely on your machine.
BYOK option: ~$10-30/month for moderate usage with Claude or GPT-4 API keys. Still much cheaper than paid alternatives.
Hardware requirements: For good local model performance: 16GB RAM, modern CPU. M1/M2 Macs work excellently.
2. Sourcegraph Cody - Best free tier
Why we recommend it: Sourcegraph Cody offers a generous free tier with professional-grade features, making it the best option for those who want a polished experience without payment.
What's included in the free tier
- Monthly usage limits: 500 autocompletions and 20 chat messages per month
- Access to Claude 3.5 Sonnet: State-of-the-art AI model included free
- Full codebase context: Understands your entire project, not just current file
- Multi-IDE support: VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Emacs
- No credit card required: Sign up and start using immediately
Advantages
- Professional features in free tier (unlike many "freemium" tools)
- Zero setup—works out of the box
- Access to frontier AI models without API costs
- Excellent for large codebases and enterprise-quality code intelligence
- Can upgrade to paid tier ($9/month) if you need more usage
Limitations
- Usage caps can be restrictive for heavy users (500 autocompletions goes quickly)
- Limited to 20 chat messages per month on free tier
- Cannot use custom AI models
Perfect for: Developers who want a professional free tier without configuration, occasional AI assistance users, and those evaluating before committing to paid options.
3. Replit AI - Best for zero-setup development
Why we recommend it: Replit AI offers a free tier that's perfect for learning, prototyping, and sharing code without any local setup.
What's included in the free tier
- Cloud-based IDE: No local installation required—code from any device with a browser
- AI chat and completions: Limited but usable AI assistance
- Public repls: Unlimited public projects with instant sharing
- Collaborative coding: Real-time collaboration features
- Always-on hosting: Deploy and share your projects instantly
Perfect for: Students learning to code, rapid prototyping, sharing reproducible examples, and situations where local setup is inconvenient.
4. GitHub Copilot - Free for students & open-source
Why we recommend it: GitHub Copilot is the gold standard for AI coding assistance, and it's completely free if you're a student or verified open-source contributor.
Who gets free access
- Students: Free with GitHub Student Developer Pack (requires valid student email or ID)
- Open-source maintainers: Free for verified maintainers of popular open-source projects
- Full feature access: No limitations—same features as paying customers
How to qualify: Apply for GitHub Student Developer Pack with proof of student status, or verify your status as an open-source maintainer through GitHub.
5. ChatGPT - Best for code explanations
Why we recommend it: ChatGPT (free tier) is excellent for brainstorming, learning, and getting code explanations, though it lacks IDE integration.
What's included in the free tier
- GPT-4o-mini access: Fast, capable model for most coding tasks
- Unlimited messages: No hard message limits (subject to rate limiting during peak times)
- Code generation & explanation: Full conversational coding assistance
- Multi-language support: Supports all major programming languages
Perfect for: Learning new concepts, debugging complex issues, brainstorming approaches, and explaining code to others. Less ideal for in-IDE autocomplete workflows.
6. Aider - Best BYOK command-line tool
Why we recommend it: Aider is a powerful command-line AI coding tool that's free to use—you just need to bring your own API key.
Cost: Free tool + API costs (~$10-30/month for moderate usage with GPT-4 or Claude).
Perfect for: Developers comfortable with command-line tools, git-based workflows, and those who want powerful multi-file editing without a specific IDE requirement.
7. Cline - Best free VS Code extension
Why we recommend it: Cline is a free VS Code extension that brings powerful agentic AI workflows to your editor with BYOK.
Cost: Free extension + API costs (~$10-30/month for moderate usage).
Perfect for: VS Code users who want autonomous multi-file editing capabilities similar to Cursor but at a fraction of the cost.
How to choose the right free AI coding tool
By technical comfort level
- Beginner / want zero setup → Sourcegraph Cody or Replit AI
- Comfortable with some setup → Continue.dev
- Advanced / command-line user → Aider
By usage level
- Occasional use → Sourcegraph Cody (free tier)
- Daily heavy use → Continue.dev (no limits)
- Learning/prototyping → Replit AI or ChatGPT
By student/eligibility status
- Student → GitHub Copilot (apply for student pack)
- Open-source maintainer → GitHub Copilot (apply for OSS access)
- Not eligible → Continue.dev or Cody
By privacy concerns
- Maximum privacy → Continue.dev with local models
- Willing to share code snippets → Sourcegraph Cody
- OK with cloud services → Any tool
True cost comparison: free vs. paid
Here's what you actually pay with different "free" options over a year:
| Tool | Setup Complexity | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continue.dev (local) | Medium | $0 | $0 | Requires good hardware |
| Continue.dev (BYOK) | Medium | $10-30 | $120-360 | API usage costs |
| Cody (free tier) | Low | $0 | $0 | 500 completions, 20 chats/mo |
| Replit AI (free) | None | $0 | $0 | Limited compute, public projects |
| Copilot (student) | Low | $0 | $0 | Must verify student status |
| ChatGPT (free) | None | $0 | $0 | No IDE integration, rate limits |
| GitHub Copilot (paid) | Low | $10 | $120 | None |
| Cursor (paid) | Low | $20 | $240 | None |
Bottom line: Even the BYOK options (Continue.dev with API costs) typically cost half or less than paid alternatives, while offering similar or better capabilities with proper setup.
Smart strategies for free AI coding
The "Two Tool" strategy
Use Cody free tier for your most critical 500 autocompletions per month, and ChatGPT free for brainstorming and explanations. Zero cost, maximum coverage.
Start local, upgrade strategically
Begin with Continue.dev and local models. Once you know your usage patterns, add API keys only for models you actually need.
Student? Claim your benefits
If you're a student, apply for GitHub Copilot student access immediately. It's the best free option available—professional-grade tool at zero cost.
Monitor API costs carefully
If using BYOK tools, set spending limits in your OpenAI/Anthropic accounts. $30/month is typically enough for heavy usage with smart model selection.
Use free tiers during learning
Free tiers are perfect while learning. Once you're productive and generating value, paying $10-20/month for unlimited usage becomes worthwhile.
Combine strengths
Use Continue.dev for coding, ChatGPT for architecture discussions, and Cody when you need codebase-wide context. All free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free AI coding tools as good as paid ones?
It depends. Continue.dev with good API keys (Claude, GPT-4) can match or exceed paid tools' capabilities. Free tiers like Cody offer professional features but with usage limits. For most users, free options provide 80%+ of the value at 0% of the cost.
What's the best completely free option with no hidden costs?
Continue.dev with local models via Ollama is the only truly unlimited free option. It requires decent hardware (16GB RAM recommended) but has zero ongoing costs.
How much do BYOK options really cost?
For moderate usage (a few hundred AI requests per month), expect $10-30/month in API costs with GPT-4 or Claude. This is still 50-70% cheaper than paid tools like Cursor. Use cheaper models like GPT-4o-mini or Claude Haiku for routine tasks to reduce costs further.
Should students use free tools or GitHub Copilot?
Students should absolutely apply for free GitHub Copilot access through the GitHub Student Developer Pack. It's the best AI coding tool available and completely free for verified students—no reason to use anything else.
Can I run AI coding tools completely offline?
Yes. Continue.dev with Ollama allows completely offline operation using local models like Llama or CodeLlama. Performance depends on your hardware, but works well on M1/M2 Macs or PCs with good GPUs.
Do free tiers have annoying limitations that make them unusable?
Sourcegraph Cody's 500 autocompletions per month can feel restrictive for heavy users, but is fine for occasional use. Continue.dev and ChatGPT Free have no hard limits that make them unusable.