AI coding agents for the terminal
Coding agents that live in your shell: they read the repo, edit files and run commands. The big four come from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and the OpenCode project. Three smaller ones are worth knowing if you want memory, a codebase you can read in an afternoon, or a harness you rewrite in Lua. 7 tools, in the order they appear in the directory. This is not a ranking.
Grouped by job: AI Coding Agents
Claude Code
Anthropic's agentic coding tool that runs in the terminal and works across your codebase.
OpenCode
Open-source AI coding agent for terminal, desktop and web, with multi-session agents and 75+ model providers.
OpenAI Codex CLI
OpenAI's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent that runs locally in your terminal: it reads your repo, edits files and runs commands, with codex exec for scripts and CI. Sign in with ChatGPT or use an API key.
Google Gemini CLI
Google's open-source (Apache-2.0) coding agent for the terminal: it reads and edits your codebase, runs shell commands, connects MCP servers and runs headless with gemini -p for scripts. Now built for Gemini Code Assist Standard and Enterprise teams and paid Gemini API or Vertex AI keys; free and Google AI Pro/Ultra users moved to Antigravity CLI.
Dropstone
AI coding agent for the terminal and your IDE with one memory across chat, CLI and code: correct it once and it applies the lesson everywhere; runs on self-hosted models, plans from $5/month.
Hazzel
Small, readable open-source (Apache-2.0) terminal coding agent in Python: bring your own key for one of eight providers or run Ollama locally, no subscription, every change shown as a diff before it touches disk, with undo, /review, /commit and per-turn token cost.
uji
Small, lightweight terminal coding agent where everything is a module you can swap at runtime, even the core: every view is Lua you can rewrite, and you add plugins as you go. Install with a curl script or Homebrew; GPL-3.0.
Where it runs, what it runs on, what it costs.
Straight from each vendor's own pages. Plans move often, so the check date is below.
| Tool | Runs in | Models and sign-in | License | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows, plus VS Code, JetBrains, a desktop app, the web, Slack and mobile. | Claude models on a Claude plan or Anthropic Console account. The CLI also supports third-party providers. | Proprietary (Anthropic commercial terms) | Included with Claude Pro: $17/mo billed annually, $20 monthly. Max from $100/mo. Not on the free plan. |
| OpenCode | Terminal, desktop app, IDE extension and web. | 75+ providers through Models.dev, local models, free built-in models, or your GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT Plus/Pro login. | MIT | Free. Optional Go $10/mo or Go Plus $40/mo, or Zen pay as you go. |
| OpenAI Codex CLI | Terminal on macOS, Linux and Windows. The same plan covers the Codex IDE extension, desktop app and Codex cloud. | Sign in with ChatGPT, or use an API key, where model access follows your key. codex exec runs it in scripts and CI. | Apache-2.0 | Free to install. CLI use starts with ChatGPT Plus at $20/mo, or an API key at API rates. |
| Google Gemini CLI | Terminal on macOS, Windows and Linux. VS Code companion, plus JetBrains and Zed through ACP. | Gemini models on a Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise license, or a paid Gemini API or Vertex AI key. | Apache-2.0 | Code Assist Standard $19 per user a month on a 12-month term, $22.80 monthly. No free tier since June 18, 2026. |
| Dropstone | Terminal and your IDE, with one memory across chat, CLI and code. | Open-weight models Dropstone hosts, on infrastructure you can run yourself. | Proprietary (Blankline) | Free tier. Lite $5/mo, Pro $15/mo, Max from $75/mo. |
| Hazzel | Terminal. A small Python codebase. | Your own key for one of eight providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, or Ollama locally with no key. | Apache-2.0 | Free. You pay your provider, and it shows the token cost every turn. |
| uji | Terminal. Install with a curl script, Homebrew or Fedora COPR. | Built-in OpenAI and Anthropic APIs, sign-in by browser or API key, and any other provider added in Lua. | GPL-3.0 | Free. You pay your model provider. |
Checked 2026-10-30. Sources: Claude pricing, anthropics/claude-code license, Codex pricing, openai/codex on GitHub, Gemini CLI on GitHub, Code Assist pricing, OpenCode, OpenCode Go, Dropstone pricing, Hazzel on GitHub, uji docs.
Pick it if.
- Claude CodeYou already pay for Claude and want one agent across terminal, IDE, desktop and browser.
- OpenAI Codex CLIYou already pay for ChatGPT, or you want an open-source agent running headless in CI with codex exec.
- OpenCodeYou want to choose the model and the bill, run local models, or reuse a Copilot or ChatGPT login.
- Google Gemini CLIYour team already licenses Gemini Code Assist on Google Cloud, or you want Gemini on a paid key.
- DropstoneYou want corrections to stick across sessions and surfaces, on open-weight models you can host.
- HazzelYou want a terminal agent small enough to read end to end, with every diff shown before it writes.
- ujiYou want to rewrite the agent itself, down to the screen, in Lua.
Each listing.
The directory page, alternatives in the same category, and a head-to-head where we have one.
- Claude CodeAlternativesvs OpenCodevs Cursorvs GitHub Copilotvs Devin Desktopvs Codex CLIvs Gemini CLI
- OpenCodeAlternativesvs Claude Codevs Cursorvs GitHub Copilotvs Codex CLI
- OpenAI Codex CLIAlternativesvs Claude Codevs Cursorvs GitHub Copilotvs OpenCodevs Devin Desktopvs Gemini CLI
- Google Gemini CLIAlternativesvs Claude Codevs Codex CLIvs Cursor
- DropstoneAlternatives
- HazzelAlternatives
- ujiAlternatives
Category pages list every tool in that category, including ones left off this page. Built one of these? Get it featured in its category.
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