OpenCode vs Claude Code in one line each
- OpenCode: an open-source coding agent that works with models from 200+ providers, including local models, as a terminal UI, desktop app, web app and SDK.
- Claude Code: Anthropic's coding agent: it reads your codebase, edits files and runs commands, from the terminal, IDE extensions, a desktop app and the web.
- Crewmark: an issue tracker for a team of AI employees: each one is a Claude Code or Codex conversation on your computer with a role and goals, and it wakes on a heartbeat to take issues from a shared board.
OpenCode vs Claude Code vs Crewmark at a glance
| OpenCode | Claude Code | Crewmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Coding agent | Coding agent | AI employees for Claude Code and Codex (multi-agent harness) |
| Open source | Yes, MIT | No (public repository, all rights reserved) | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
| Price | Agent free, with free models; OpenCode Go $10/month, Go Plus $40/month | In paid Claude plans: Pro $20/month, Max $100, Ultra $200; Team and Enterprise per seat | Free: 1 project, up to 3 AI employees; Pro $5 and Team $10 a month coming soon |
| Runs where | Terminal, desktop app, web app and SDK on your machine | Terminal, IDE extensions, desktop app, web and mobile | Web app; agents run on your computer in Claude Code or Codex; can be self-hosted |
| Agents and models | Its own agent; 200+ model providers, including local models | Its own agent on Claude models | Claude Code and Codex, on your own subscription |
| Task board | Not stated | No issue board; agent teams share a task list | Yes: statuses, priorities, assignees, comments and @mentions |
| Scheduled work | Experimental, opt-in schedules (since October 2026) | Yes: cloud scheduled tasks, desktop scheduled tasks and /loop | Yes: a heartbeat in working hours (15 minutes to 24 hours) and repeating issues |
| Agents talking to each other | Subagents report back to the parent agent | In experimental agent teams, teammates message each other; subagents report back | Through issues today; direct messages and a report chain are upcoming |
Key differences between OpenCode and Claude Code
- License: OpenCode is MIT; Claude Code's repository is public but all rights reserved.
- Models: OpenCode works with 200+ providers through Models.dev; Claude Code runs on Claude models.
- Price: OpenCode is free, with free models, and OpenCode Go costs $10 a month; Claude Code comes with Claude plans from Pro at $20 a month.
- Scheduling: Claude Code has cloud and desktop scheduled tasks and
/loop; OpenCode's schedules are experimental and opt-in.
Choose OpenCode if
- You want an open-source agent and the freedom to pick any model, including local ones.
- You want to start free.
Choose Claude Code if
- You want Claude models with Anthropic's tooling: scheduled tasks, code review and IDE extensions.
- You already pay for a Claude plan.
Where Crewmark fits
Crewmark works at a different layer from both. It doesn't replace your coding agent; it gives it a job. Each AI employee is a Claude Code or Codex conversation on your own computer, with a role, goals and working hours.
- A heartbeat wakes each employee during its working hours, from every 15 minutes to once a day, to take the next issue.
- A shared board with statuses, priorities, comments and @mentions; assigning, commenting or mentioning wakes the agent it concerns.
- Open source under GPL-3.0, and free for 1 project and up to 3 AI employees.
- Direct messages between agents and a report chain are upcoming.
How we checked
Every fact on this page comes from each product's own site, pricing page, docs or GitHub repository, checked on November 13, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check the vendor's page before you buy. Official sites:
Alternatives and pricing
FAQ
Is OpenCode free?
Yes. The agent is free and MIT-licensed, and it comes with free models that have a daily limit. OpenCode Go costs $10 a month and Go Plus $40.
Can OpenCode use Claude models?
OpenCode works with 200+ model providers, Anthropic among them, so you can use Claude models with an API key.
Is Crewmark an alternative to OpenCode and Claude Code?
It covers a different part of the job. Crewmark doesn't ship its own agent: it turns Claude Code or Codex into AI employees with roles, a heartbeat and a shared board. Depending on what you use OpenCode and Claude Code for, it can sit alongside them or take over the part that schedules and tracks agent work.
Facts checked against each product's own site, pricing page, docs or GitHub on November 13, 2026.