Coding assistants · 5 tools compared
Last verified:
Prices may changeFor students & teachers
GitHub Copilot ◐Free plan
Verify a school account to use paid features for free. Best free perks among the bunch.
Start free with no criteria
Gemini CLI ✓Free
Free within daily limits with just a Google account. Open-source code lets you verify its behavior.
Try big edits for free
Gemini CLI ✓Free
Handles multi-file edits from start to finish within daily limits. Split big tasks across multiple days.
Keep code private
Zed ◐Free plan
Connect your own API key or local models like Ollama with no payments or data leaks. Takes free use the furthest.
If you already use ChatGPT
OpenAI Codex ◐Free plan
Free accounts offer just a taste, but Plus subscribers get access at no extra cost.
| Item | Gemini CLI | GitHub Copilot | Zed | Antigravity | OpenAI Codex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ✓Free | ◐Free plan | ◐Free plan | ✓Free | ◐Free plan |
| Free limits | Free within a daily request limit just by logging in with a Google account | Limit of 2,000 completions and 50 chats per month | Personal is free forever, including 2,000 edit predictions. Unlimited AI usage when bringing your own API keys. | Free for individual developers. Contact sales for organization plans. | Available with strict limits on Free and Go plans. |
| Paid price | None | Pro is $10/month, higher plans offer increased usage limits | Pro $10/month (includes $5 worth of tokens) · Business $30/user/month | None | Higher limits start with ChatGPT Plus (₩29,000/month), with the highest limits on Pro. |
| Student / edu discount | No | Free for students, teachers, and popular open-source maintainers | No | No | No |
| Korean | ○KoreanUnderstands instructions in Korean. Installation guides are mostly in English. | ○KoreanResponds when asked in Korean. You can also write code comments in Korean. | △PartialThe UI is in English. It generally understands instructions given in Korean. | △PartialThe interface is in English. It generally understands instructions given in Korean. | ○KoreanUnderstands Korean instructions and explains in Korean. |
| Platforms | Windows · macOS · Linux | Web · Windows · macOS · Linux · Browser extension | Windows · macOS · Linux | macOS · Windows · Linux | Web · Windows · macOS · Linux · Browser extension |
| Commercial use | ConditionalYou need to review the free tier terms of service and data usage policies. | AllowedCommercial use is permitted. Enterprise plans offer dedicated settings to prevent code leaks. | AllowedCommercial use is allowed. Using your own API key lets you decide where your code is sent. | ConditionalYou should check the free terms of service and how data is used. | AllowedCommercial use is allowed. Check admin settings for organization accounts. |
| Free limit unit | Daily requests | 2,000 completions & 50 chats / month | 2,000 edit predictions (unlimited with own key) | Free for individual developers | Trial level |
| Usable on free tier alone? | Usable if used in small daily doses | Virtually unlimited for students & teachers | Fully usable if you have your own API key | Free without conditions, but is a new tool | Close to a trial |
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Start completely free without special criteria using just a Google account. Daily request limits work well for light daily use without paying. It is open source, but big tasks hit limits fast and docs are English-focused. Check data terms.
Students and teachers get full access for free after school verification. Without it, you get 2,000 completions and 50 chats per month. It works directly inside your existing editor as an extension, making setup effortless.
The Personal plan is free forever. Connecting your own API key or local models like Ollama removes all usage limits. Built-in 2,000 edit predictions run out fast without your own key. The UI is in English with limited Korean docs.
Google's agent-based dev tool is free for individual developers without student status or subscriptions. As a new tool, Korean resources are sparse. Be sure to verify code privacy terms and check OS compatibility before downloading.
The free tier is merely a trial, making ongoing work tough. However, existing ChatGPT Plus subscribers can use agents in the web and terminal at no extra charge. Check your active subscriptions before spending extra money.
First, check eligibility and existing subscriptions. GitHub Copilot is free for students and teachers, while Codex is included with ChatGPT Plus. Otherwise, Gemini CLI and Antigravity offer no-strings-attached free tiers, and Zed provides unlimited usage if you bring your own API key. Because daily limits reset daily while monthly credits vanish after a few large tasks, choose based on how you work. All five are global tools, so practice on personal projects and always review code data policies.
| Situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 🎒 For students & teachers | GitHub Copilot | Verify a school account to use paid features for free. Best free perks among the bunch. |
| ⚡ Start free with no criteria | Gemini CLI | Free within daily limits with just a Google account. Open-source code lets you verify its behavior. |
| 💼 Try big edits for free | Gemini CLI | Handles multi-file edits from start to finish within daily limits. Split big tasks across multiple days. |
| 🔒 Keep code private | Zed | Connect your own API key or local models like Ollama with no payments or data leaks. Takes free use the furthest. |
| 🌱 If you already use ChatGPT | OpenAI Codex | Free accounts offer just a taste, but Plus subscribers get access at no extra cost. |
Not a ranking. Different situations, different answers.
Last verified:
Prices may change; confirm on each official site before paying. A comparison's verified date is the oldest of the comparison and its tools.
An open-source terminal agent you can start using for free.
An AI coding assistant that autocompletes code right inside your editor
An open-source editor with unlimited use via your own API keys
Google's free agentic development tool.
A coding agent included with ChatGPT plans