Is OpenClaude free to use?

Yes, the software is free and open source. You only pay for the underlying model API you configure, or it costs $0 if you use local models via Ollama or LM Studio.

Which AI models does OpenClaude support?

It is model-agnostic and supports OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Codex, Ollama, LM Studio, GitHub Models, DeepSeek, and approximately 200 other hosted or self-hosted providers.

Can OpenClaude run locally without an internet connection?

Yes, it can be paired with local instances of Ollama or LM Studio to keep code and prompts entirely on-premises for offline coding.

Does OpenClaude integrate with IDEs or GUIs?

No, it is a terminal-only CLI tool. It does not offer IDE panels, GUIs, or web dashboards, but it works within tmux, VS Code terminals, and SSH sessions.

What are the system requirements for OpenClaude?

It runs locally on Node.js 22+ and is distributed through npm as @gitlawb/openclaude.

OpenClaude

Open-source, model-agnostic terminal coding agent

Free· Free and open source; you pay only for whichever underlying model API you configure (or $0 with local Ollama / LM Studio).CodingModel-agnostic — routes to OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Codex, Ollama, LM Studio, GitHub Models, DeepSeek and 200+ others

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In short

OpenClaude is a model-agnostic, open-source CLI tool that automates coding tasks like file editing and shell execution. It is best for developers seeking a Claude Code-style workflow without vendor lock-in, supporting both cloud APIs and local models.

Best for

Developers and small teams who want a Claude Code-style terminal agent without vendor lock-in — especially those routing to local Ollama/LM Studio models or mixing cheap and premium providers per task.

Skip if

Non-technical users, teams that need a GUI or IDE integration, and organisations that want a single-vendor supported product with SLAs rather than a self-managed open-source CLI.

OpenClaude is an open-source, terminal-based coding agent distributed through npm as `@gitlawb/openclaude`. It runs locally on Node.js 22+ and drives development tasks — reading and editing files, executing shell commands, searching with grep and glob, calling MCP servers, and streaming diffs — while keeping every action reviewable. Where most coding agents lock you to a single vendor, OpenClaude is deliberately model-agnostic: it advertises support for OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Codex, Ollama, LM Studio, GitHub Models, DeepSeek and roughly 200 additional models across hosted and self-hosted providers, so teams can point it at whatever backend fits their budget, latency, or data-residency needs. Typical workflows include interactive coding sessions where the agent proposes changes as visible diffs you approve or reject, non-interactive scripted runs that emit JSON for CI pipelines and pre-commit hooks, and long refactors that lean on session management to resume, branch, or rewind prior turns. Repository-scoped configuration profiles let a monorepo, a Rust crate, and a Next.js app each carry their own model, tool allowlist, and prompt tuning without polluting a global config. Because it ships as a plain CLI, it slots into tmux, VS Code terminals, and remote SSH sessions the same way, and self-hosters can pair it with a local Ollama or LM Studio instance to keep code and prompts entirely on-prem. A small pixel-art 'buddy' companion adds some personality without burning tokens. It is best understood as a Claude Code / Aider-style workflow that is intentionally not tied to Anthropic's models or hosted service.

Editor's take

A pragmatic answer to 'I like the Claude Code workflow but I do not want to be tied to one vendor.' The 200+ model claim is really 'whatever the OpenAI-compatible or Ollama API can reach', which is exactly the right abstraction for a CLI agent. Rough edges around docs and defaults, but the session model and scriptable JSON mode are genuinely useful.

— The AI Tool Bible editorial team

Pros

✅ Model-agnostic: openai, gemini, grok, ollama, lm studio, github models, deepseek and 200+ backends
✅ Fully open source and installable via a single npm command
✅ First-class support for local models via Ollama and LM Studio for private / offline coding
✅ Real developer toolset baked in: bash, file edit, grep, glob, and MCP server calls
✅ Session resume, branching, and rewind make long refactors and exploratory work practical
✅ Non-interactive JSON mode makes it scriptable inside CI, pre-commit hooks, and cron jobs
✅ Per-repository config profiles keep monorepo and polyglot setups clean

Cons

⚠️ Terminal-only — no IDE panel, GUI, or web dashboard
⚠️ Quality depends heavily on which backend model you configure; no opinionated default
⚠️ Requires Node.js 22+, which some enterprise environments still lag on
⚠️ Documentation and community are small compared to Claude Code, Aider, or Cursor
⚠️ The 'OpenClaude' name invites confusion with Anthropic's Claude, though it is unaffiliated
⚠️ No hosted offering — every user manages their own API keys, rate limits, and billing

Use cases

Terminal-based pair programmingAutomated refactors across a repositoryScripted code changes in CI pipelinesLocal, offline coding with Ollama or LM StudioMulti-file bug fixes with reviewable diffsMCP-server-driven agent workflowsCodebase exploration and Q&A via grep/glob toolsCost optimisation by routing tasks to cheaper models

Frequently asked

Is OpenClaude free to use?: Yes, the software is free and open source. You only pay for the underlying model API you configure, or it costs $0 if you use local models via Ollama or LM Studio.
Which AI models does OpenClaude support?: It is model-agnostic and supports OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Codex, Ollama, LM Studio, GitHub Models, DeepSeek, and approximately 200 other hosted or self-hosted providers.
Can OpenClaude run locally without an internet connection?: Yes, it can be paired with local instances of Ollama or LM Studio to keep code and prompts entirely on-premises for offline coding.
Does OpenClaude integrate with IDEs or GUIs?: No, it is a terminal-only CLI tool. It does not offer IDE panels, GUIs, or web dashboards, but it works within tmux, VS Code terminals, and SSH sessions.
What are the system requirements for OpenClaude?: It runs locally on Node.js 22+ and is distributed through npm as @gitlawb/openclaude.