Overview

Rating

10.0 / 10

Rating

Best For

Terminal-first developers who want a privacy-respecting, provider-agnostic coding agent with multi-session support

Best For

Developers who want an open-source terminal coding agent that runs Qwen models or models from other providers

Product Summary

OpenCode is an open-source AI coding agent built for the terminal by Anomaly. It connects to 75+ LLM providers via Models.dev, supports parallel agent sessions on the same project, and has a privacy-first design — no code or context data is ever stored. Available as a TUI, IDE extensions, and a beta desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Product Summary

Qwen Code is Alibaba's open-source AI coding agent for the terminal, built for Qwen models and compatible with OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models.

Starting Price

$0Per forever

Starting Price

Free

Free Trial

Yes

Free Trial

Free Version

Yes

Free Version

Yes

Website

github.com

Website

github.com

Key features

Core capabilities each platform advertises.

Open Code

Privacy-first — zero retention of code, prompts, or context data
75+ LLM providers via Models.dev (Claude, GPT, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT Plus/Pro, local)
Multi-session capability — run planning + build agents in parallel on the same repo
LSP-enabled code understanding across languages
Shareable session links for debugging and team review

Qwen Code

Terminal coding agent with file, shell, and Git tools
Qwen models plus OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models
MCP servers and built-in skills
Subagents and agent teams

Strengths and tradeoffs

What each tool does well, and the limitations to keep in mind.

Open Code

Pros

Open-source under MIT — 147K+ GitHub stars, no vendor lock-in
Privacy-first design with zero data retention
75+ providers including local, GitHub Copilot, and ChatGPT Plus/Pro accounts
Multi-session parallel agents (build + plan modes)
Free with optional Zen service for optimized models

Cons

Terminal-first — less polished than IDE-native agents like Cursor
Desktop app still in beta on macOS/Windows/Linux
Steeper learning curve than minimalist tools like Claude Code
Provider availability depends on third-party API access (e.g., Anthropic OAuth restrictions)

Qwen Code

Pros

Apache 2.0 license, free to use with your own API key
Works with Qwen, OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models
Headless mode for scripts and CI

Cons

The Qwen OAuth free tier was discontinued in April 2026
The Coding Plan's Lite tier no longer accepts new orders

What people are saying

Open Code

jeremy_kHacker News

It was the first time I felt like I could write up a large prompt, walk away from my laptop, and come back to a lot of work having been done.

Read full review

Qwen Code

Data not available

Open Code or Qwen Code — which should you choose?

Choose Open Code if you wantChoose if you want

Terminal-first AI pair programming for keyboard-driven developers
Privacy-sensitive or air-gapped engineering environments
Parallel agent workflows (planner + builder) on the same codebase
BYOK across many providers without changing tools
Debugging with shareable session traces for team review

Choose Qwen Code if you wantChoose if you want

Coding in the terminal with Qwen models
Running one agent across several model providers
Automating code review and bug fixes in CI

Compare Open Code and Qwen Code on your own traffic

10KFree traces/mo

1,000+Models

5 minSetup

Respan lets you trace LLM and agent calls across any model or framework, A/B test prompts on production traffic, and route requests across 1,000+ models through one gateway.

Try Respan free

Open Code vs Qwen Code (2026)

Overview

Key features

Strengths and tradeoffs

What people are saying

Open Code or Qwen Code — which should you choose?

Compare Open Code and Qwen Code on your own traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Other popular comparisons

Open Code vs Qwen Code (2026)

Overview

Key features

Strengths and tradeoffs

What people are saying

Open Code or Qwen Code — which should you choose?

Compare Open Code and Qwen Code on your own traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a coding agent?

Will coding agents replace developers?

How do I choose between GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Claude Code?

Other popular comparisons