OpenCode vs Claude Code: models, cost and setup compared

OpenCode and Claude Code are both coding agents for the terminal. Claude Code is Anthropic's agent for Claude models, on a Claude plan or an API key. OpenCode is open source under the MIT license and runs models from more than 75 providers, on your own API keys or a subscription it supports, such as ChatGPT Plus.

How do OpenCode and Claude Code compare?#

Both are full coding agents: they read your project, edit files and run commands. The real differences are the models, how you pay for them, and whether you can read and change the agent's source.

What does each one cost?#

Claude Code is included in Anthropic's Pro, Max and Ultra plans and in Team and Enterprise seats, and its use counts toward the plan's usage limits:

Without a plan, it runs on an Anthropic API key billed per token, or through a cloud provider such as Amazon Bedrock. Whether a plan or a key costs less for you is worked out in The cheapest way to use Claude Code.

OpenCode itself costs nothing. When we checked on 2026-11-03, its site said it comes with a set of free models you can use without an account. For other models you pay the provider you connect it to: per token on an API key, or through a subscription it can sign in with.

Claude plans are the exception. On the same date, OpenCode's docs said Anthropic explicitly prohibits using a Claude Pro or Max plan in OpenCode, and that OpenCode stopped bundling the plugins that allowed it as of version 1.3.0. For Claude models, the docs point to an API key from the Anthropic Console.

Which model providers does each tool support?#

Claude Code speaks the Anthropic Messages format and runs Claude models, and /model switches between them during a session. OpenCode connects to each provider's own API and to any OpenAI-compatible service. You add a provider with /connect or in opencode.json, then pick any of their models with /models, so one session can move between Claude, GPT and Gemini.

These are the models Claude Code runs on 5abeer, at our price per million tokens. The default is claude-sonnet-5.5:

And these are the models OpenCode runs on 5abeer:

Which one should you pick?#

How do you move a project between them?#

OpenCode 1's docs list three Claude Code files it reads as fallbacks, so most projects open in OpenCode as they are:

• A project's CLAUDE.md, when the project has no AGENTS.md.
• ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md, when there is no ~/.config/opencode/AGENTS.md.
• Skills in .claude/skills/ and ~/.claude/skills/. OpenCode needs name and description in each SKILL.md, with the name matching its folder, so check both on skills you wrote for Claude Code.

OPENCODE_DISABLE_CLAUDE_CODE=1 turns off all of that .claude support, OPENCODE_DISABLE_CLAUDE_CODE_PROMPT=1 turns off only ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md, and OPENCODE_DISABLE_CLAUDE_CODE_SKILLS=1 only .claude/skills. The rest moves by hand:

Going the other way, Claude Code 2.1.277 or later reads AGENTS.md when there is no CLAUDE.md or CLAUDE.local.md in the folder or above it. Watch a project that has both files: by default OpenCode reads only AGENTS.md and Claude Code reads only CLAUDE.md. To share instructions, keep a single AGENTS.md, or set Project instructions to claude-md-and-agents-md in Claude Code's /config so it also loads AGENTS.md, and put what both tools need there. The Claude Code side of each piece is in MCP in Claude Code and Claude Code skills.

How do you run both on 5abeer?#

5abeer serves Claude models in the Anthropic Messages format for Claude Code, and Claude, GPT and Gemini models in the OpenAI format for OpenCode. Each key works with one provider's models, so one Claude key works in both tools. All your keys draw on one balance, and every API price is below the model's official price.

1. 1

   Create your keys#

   Create a Claude key, plus one for each other provider you want in OpenCode, as in Create a key.

2. 2

   Set up Claude Code#

   Put these settings in ~/.claude/settings.json, with your Claude key in place of YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY:

   settings.jsonmacOS / LinuxWindows

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   {
     "env": {
       "ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL": "https://api.5abeer.ai",
       "ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_5ABEER_API_KEY",
       "ANTHROPIC_MODEL": "claude-sonnet-5.5"
     }
   }
   

   ~/.claude/settings.json

   Run claude in your project. /status shows the base URL in use. The full steps are in Claude Code setup.

3. 3

   Set up OpenCode#

   Install OpenCode 1 as in OpenCode setup. Put this config in opencode.json in your project or in ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json, and set KHABEER_API_KEY to your Claude key:

   opencode.jsonmacOS / LinuxWindows

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   {
     "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
     "provider": {
       "khabeer": {
         "npm": "@ai-sdk/openai-compatible",
         "name": "5abeer",
         "options": {
           "baseURL": "https://api.5abeer.ai/v1",
           "apiKey": "{env:KHABEER_API_KEY}"
         },
         "models": {
           "claude-sonnet-5.5": {
             "name": "Claude Sonnet 5.5"
           }
         }
       }
     },
     "model": "khabeer/claude-sonnet-5.5"
   }
   

   opencode.json

   Run opencode in your project and pick a model with /models. To add GPT or Gemini models, add a provider entry with that provider's key, as in Claude and GPT models together.

You can also skip the keys. Every 5abeer Bundle plan runs both tools, and the Claude plan runs Claude Code. The 5abeer AI app sets each tool up on your plan, with no API key and no files to edit, as in What each plan runs. 5abeer's plans cost less than the official ones, with details on the OpenCode page and the Claude Code page.

Questions#

Is OpenCode free?#

The tool is: it's open source under the MIT license, and its site says it comes with a set of free models you can use without an account. Other models are paid: you pay their provider per token on an API key, or through a subscription OpenCode signs in with.

Can I use my Claude Pro or Max plan in OpenCode?#

No. OpenCode's docs say Anthropic explicitly prohibits it, and OpenCode stopped bundling the plugins that did it as of version 1.3.0. Use a Claude API key in OpenCode, or keep the plan for Claude Code.

Which subscriptions can OpenCode sign in with?#

Its docs name ChatGPT Plus or Pro, GitHub Copilot, GitLab Duo and xAI's SuperGrok, each connected with /connect. Some Copilot models may need a Copilot Pro+ plan, and GitLab Duo's agent platform needs a GitLab Premium or Ultimate subscription.

Which OpenCode version should I install?#

OpenCode 1, which our setup is written for. Both versions use the opencode command and are not installed side by side by default, and Homebrew's plain brew install opencode now installs OpenCode 2, so use an install command from OpenCode setup.

Which tool costs less on an API key?#

It depends on the tokens, not the tool. On 5abeer a model has one price per token whichever tool calls it, but each tool builds its own requests, so the same task can use a different number of tokens. Give each tool its own key, run the same task in both, and compare each key's usage, as in Track your usage.

Sources#

Checked on 2026-11-03:

• OpenCode: Home page FAQ, docs: Intro, Providers, Rules, Skills, Agents, Commands, MCP servers, CLI, IDE and the OpenCode license
• Claude Code docs: Overview, Manage costs, How Claude remembers your project, Subagents, MCP and the Claude Code license

Get started#

Compare every model's price on the API page, or create a key and set up either tool.