Agentic harness comparison
Claude Code vs OpenCode
Compared on where each one runs, which editors it supports, how autonomous it is, and how it bills — the four things that actually decide Claude Code vs OpenCode. Rankings reflect fit and trade-offs, not a single universal winner; partner links, when present, do not replace that methodology.
Details last verified August 14, 2026.
Anthropic
Claude Code
Terminal · Agentic
OpenCode
OpenCode
Terminal, desktop beta, and IDE extensions · Agentic
| Specification | Claude Code | OpenCode |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Anthropic | OpenCode |
| Runs in | Terminal | Terminal, desktop beta, and IDE extensions |
| Editor support | Any (editor-agnostic) | Any (editor-agnostic), VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf / Zed extensions, Desktop app (beta) |
| Autonomy | Agentic | Agentic |
| Pricing model | Hybrid | Usage-based |
| Requires changing editor | No | No |
Benchmark scores carry the month they were measured. Values we could not confirm are shown as “Not verified” rather than estimated.
Claude Code
Runs in the terminal rather than an IDE, so it sits alongside whatever editor the team already uses. Primary consumer access is via Claude Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise; Console/API is the alternate path.
Best for
- Multi-file refactors
- Migrations
- Delegated engineering tasks
Watch out
From 2026-08-14, new Pro/Max/Team sessions default to Auto (classifier-gated; classifier overhead free on those plans — Enterprise/API still opt-in). +50% weekly usage boost ends 2026-08-19 23:59 PT — don't size Pro/Max recommendations on temporary headroom. Included usage still shares allowance with Claude chat; an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY can bill API credits instead. Free Claude.ai does not include Claude Code. BAA + Claude Code requires ZDR, which blocks Covered Models (e.g. Fable 5) — plan HIPAA stacks accordingly.
OpenCode
Open-source coding agent with Plan/Build modes, multi-provider /connect auth, and project /init — free client, bring-your-own models or OpenCode Zen/Go.
Best for
- Terminal-first open-source workflows
- Multi-provider model flexibility
- Teams that want Plan mode before edits
Watch out
You pay whichever model provider you connect (or Zen/Go). OpenCode Go is not blanket ZDR — Grok 4.5 / GPT-5.6 Luna retain ~30 days; DeepSeek V4 Flash ZDR only through 2026-08-31. Claude Pro/Max OAuth in third-party harnesses violates Anthropic ToS — use API keys. Windows beginners often prefer WSL2.
Common questions
Claude Code vs OpenCode
Answered from the verified figures on this page rather than general guidance.
Do I have to change editor to use Claude Code or OpenCode?
Neither does. Claude Code runs in the terminal alongside any editor and OpenCode runs in the terminal, desktop beta, and ide extensions alongside any editor, so people keep the setup they already have.
How are Claude Code and OpenCode priced?
Claude Code is hybrid and OpenCode is usage-based. The headline seat or plan price is not the heavy-agent bill — included credits, shared pools, and overages dominate once you loop agents hard. Estimate cost per successful task and set spend caps. Cost tracks how much you delegate, so set a spending limit before rollout rather than after the first surprise.
Is Claude Code or OpenCode better for large refactors?
Both are agentic, so neither has a structural advantage on delegated work. Judge them on editor fit and price instead.
Will my project rules transfer between Claude Code and OpenCode?
Usually not automatically. Cursor rules, CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, and extension-specific configs are different conventions. Keep one source of truth in the repository (commonly AGENTS.md) and copy or link into each tool’s native format so switching does not wipe months of project teaching.
Does Claude Code require a Max plan?
No. Claude Pro includes Claude Code with a shared usage pool alongside Claude chat. Max raises limits; Free Claude.ai chat does not include Claude Code. An ANTHROPIC_API_KEY can bill Console/API instead of the subscription pool.
Does OpenCode train on or store my code?
It depends on the path — treat BYOK, OpenCode Go/Zen, and local endpoints as separate rows in a privacy matrix. The open-source client with BYOK or a local model sends prompts only to the provider you choose. OpenCode Zen paid models often claim ZDR/no training, but free or trial Zen endpoints may use data to improve — avoid confidential repos on those free endpoints. OpenCode Go is a separate hosted path with its own retention terms; confirm the live docs before regulated code.
Do coding agents replace code review?
No. Agents can draft patches faster, but they do not remove the need for human review of plans, tool calls, permissions, diffs, tests, and rollback paths. Treat autonomy as a reason for stronger review, not less — see the coding assistant rollout guide at /ai-harnesses/guides/coding-assistant-rollout-guide.
Should we harden MCP before rolling out a coding agent?
Yes for any agent that can install MCP servers or run tools. Maintain a short allowlist, review each server’s folder and network access before install, fail closed on unknown tools, and log tool calls. .cursorignore and similar rules do not block MCP or shell access once a command is approved.
Is a “free” open-source agent actually free to run?
The client can be $0, but inference usually is not. BYOK paths bill your provider for every retry, large context window, and tool loop; hosted passes and credits are quota-based, not unlimited. Budget tokens and operator review time together — a cheap seat with heavy agent use can exceed a bundled subscription.
Next step
Which one fits
Autonomy and editor constraints decide this far more reliably than a benchmark score.
If most of your week is small, frequent edits, an assistive workflow beats delegation and an agentic harness sits idle while billing. If you regularly hand over work spanning many files, the reverse is true.
Where one tool requires changing editor and the other does not, that difference usually outweighs any capability gap across a team — rollouts fail on adoption, not capability.
“Open vendor” links use a first-party redirect for click counting. They are not commissionable partner placements unless a programme is active for that vendor. Affiliate disclosure.