OpenCode: The Open Source Claude Code Alternative (5-Minute Setup)

Tired of being locked into expensive AI coding subscriptions? Frustrated that your Claude Code or Copilot investment only works with one provider? OpenCode is the open source answer: a terminal-native AI coding agent with 26,000+ GitHub stars that works with your existing Claude Pro subscription, 75+ other providers, or completely free models.

Here is how to get productive in five minutes.

What Makes OpenCode Different

OpenCode is not just another AI wrapper. It is a full coding agent that understands your codebase:

• Use your existing subscriptions - Claude Pro/Max, OpenAI, or GitHub Copilot all work
• 75+ LLM providers - Switch between cloud, local (Ollama), or free models instantly
• LSP integration - Real semantic understanding of your code, not just text matching
• Plan vs Build workflow - Safely preview changes before applying them
• Undo everything - Made a mistake? One command reverts it

5-Minute Setup

1. Install OpenCode

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash

Or use your package manager:

# npm
npm i -g opencode-ai

# Homebrew
brew install sst/tap/opencode

# Chocolatey (Windows)
choco install opencode

2. Connect Your AI Provider

opencode auth login

Select your provider and enter your API key. Pro tip: If you have Claude Pro or Max, select Anthropic. Your subscription works here and it is the most cost-effective option.

3. Initialize Your Project

cd your-project
opencode

Once inside OpenCode, run:

/init

This analyzes your codebase and creates an AGENTS.md file that helps the AI understand your project structure, coding patterns, and conventions. This step is what makes OpenCode responses so much more relevant than generic AI tools.

The Plan vs Build Workflow

This is the killer feature most people miss. OpenCode has two modes, toggled with Tab:

Plan Mode - The AI analyzes your request and suggests changes without touching any files. You see exactly what it wants to do before it does it.

Build Mode - The AI executes changes, creating and modifying files as needed.

The workflow: Start in Plan mode, review the approach, then switch to Build when you are satisfied. This prevents the “AI went rogue and broke everything” problem.

Essential Commands

Choose Your Model

Free: Sign up for OpenCode Zen and use GLM-4.7. It is genuinely capable for 80% of coding tasks and costs nothing.

Best quality: Connect your Claude Pro/Max or GPT-4 subscription. Same workflow, premium models.

Maximum privacy: Run local models through Ollama. Your code never leaves your machine.

The key insight: your workflow stays identical regardless of which model you use. Switch based on task complexity, budget, or privacy needs.

Why I Made the Switch

I was tired of the lock-in. Claude Code only works with Claude. Copilot only works with OpenAI models. Every tool wanted its own subscription.

OpenCode flipped that: I use my existing Claude Pro subscription when I need quality, GLM-4.7 for quick tasks, and local models for client work that cannot touch external APIs. Same interface, same commands, same muscle memory.

That flexibility is worth the switch.

Get started: opencode.ai/docs

Try free models: opencode.ai/zen

Install now:

curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash