AI coding assistants have completely changed how we write code. Gone are the days when we had to manually search Stack Overflow for every error. Now we have tools that understand our codebase and help us code faster. Two tools that have been making waves recently are Claude Code by Anthropic and OpenCode, an open-source alternative.

I've been using both of these tools for a while now, and I wanted to share my thoughts on which one might be better for you. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, so let's break them down.

What is Claude Code?#

Claude Code is Anthropic's official AI coding assistant. It's a terminal-based tool that lives in your command line and helps you write, debug, and refactor code using natural language.

Key highlights:

• Built by Anthropic (the company behind Claude AI)
• Works exclusively with Claude models (Opus 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5)
• Available on CLI, web, desktop, VS Code, JetBrains, and even Slack
• Supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) for connecting to external tools
• 80.9% accuracy on SWE-bench Verified benchmark

The tool is designed to be your AI pair programmer. You can ask it to explain code, fix bugs, write tests, or even handle git operations - all through natural language.

Installation

Getting started with Claude Code is straightforward. You can install it using curl or your preferred package manager.

# macOS, Linux, WSL
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
 
# Using Homebrew
brew install --cask claude-code
 
# Windows PowerShell
irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex

Once installed, just run claude in your terminal and authenticate with your account.

What is OpenCode?#

OpenCode is an open-source AI coding agent built by the community. It's also terminal-first but offers way more flexibility in terms of which AI model you can use.

Key highlights:

• Completely free and open-source
• Supports 75+ LLM providers (Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, local models)
• Built-in LSP integration for 25+ programming languages
• Privacy-first - stores zero code on external servers
• 93K+ GitHub stars and growing fast

The best part about OpenCode is that you're not locked into any single AI provider. You can use Claude, switch to GPT-4, or even run local models through Ollama if you're privacy-conscious.

Installation

OpenCode can be installed through multiple methods depending on your preference.

# Using curl (recommended)
curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash
 
# Using npm
npm install -g opencode-ai
 
# Using Homebrew
brew install anomalyco/tap/opencode
 
# Using Chocolatey (Windows)
choco install opencode

After installation, run opencode and configure your preferred AI provider using the /connect command.

Feature Comparison#

Let me break down the key differences between these two tools. This should help you understand what each offers.

Model Support

If you're already paying for Claude and love its responses, Claude Code makes sense. But if you want flexibility to switch providers or use local models, OpenCode wins here.

Pricing

OpenCode is clearly more budget-friendly. You only pay for the API calls you make to your chosen provider. Claude Code requires a subscription on top of potential API costs.

IDE Integration

Both tools offer solid IDE support:

• Claude Code: VS Code, JetBrains, Chrome extension, Slack, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD
• OpenCode: VS Code, Cursor, Zed, desktop app (beta)

Claude Code has better enterprise integrations with CI/CD pipelines. OpenCode focuses more on developer-centric IDE support.

Privacy

This is where OpenCode really shines. It's designed with privacy in mind and stores zero code on external servers. You can even run it with local models through Ollama, meaning your code never leaves your machine.

Claude Code is cloud-dependent and your prompts go through Anthropic's servers. Fine for most use cases, but might be a concern for sensitive projects.

Performance Comparison#

I ran both tools on similar tasks to see how they perform in real-world scenarios.

Speed

Claude Code is noticeably faster for task completion. In benchmarks, it completed a refactoring task in about 3 minutes compared to OpenCode's 9 minutes. However, OpenCode was more thorough and included full test suite validation.

Code Quality

When using the same underlying model (Claude), both tools produce similar quality output. The difference comes from their approach - Claude Code optimizes for speed while OpenCode optimizes for thoroughness.

Context Understanding

Both tools handle codebase context well:

• Claude Code: Uses MCP servers and plugins for extended context
• OpenCode: Uses LSP integration for real-time language understanding

OpenCode's LSP integration gives it an edge for catching type errors and understanding code structure without additional setup.

Unique Features#

Each tool has some features that set it apart from the other.

Claude Code Exclusives

• MCP (Model Context Protocol): Connect to databases, APIs, and external tools seamlessly
• Hooks and Plugins: Automate workflows and extend functionality
• Subagents: Create custom AI agents for specific tasks
• Enterprise CI/CD: Native GitHub Actions and GitLab integration

OpenCode Exclusives

• Plan Mode: Review AI's approach before it makes changes
• Undo/Redo: Revert changes with /undo and /redo commands
• Multi-provider: Switch between AI providers without changing tools
• Share Conversations: Share your sessions with team members via /share
• Themes: Customize the terminal appearance to your liking

Which One Should You Choose?#

Here's my honest take on when to use each tool.

Choose Claude Code if:

• You're already invested in the Claude ecosystem
• You need enterprise features like CI/CD integration
• Speed is more important than flexibility
• You want tight integration with Anthropic's latest models
• Budget isn't a major concern

Choose OpenCode if:

• You want flexibility to use different AI models
• You're cost-conscious and prefer pay-as-you-go
• Privacy is a priority for your projects
• You like open-source and community-driven tools
• You want to use local models without internet dependency

My Personal Pick

For most individual developers and small teams, OpenCode is the better choice. The flexibility to choose your AI provider, the privacy-first approach, and the fact that it's completely free makes it hard to beat.

However, if you're in an enterprise environment with existing Claude subscriptions and need those CI/CD integrations, Claude Code is the more polished option.

Getting Started Tips#

Whichever tool you choose, here are some tips to get the most out of it.

For Claude Code

# Start a session
claude
 
# Ask about your codebase
> what does this project do?
 
# Make changes
> add input validation to the login form
 
# Commit changes
> commit my changes with a descriptive message

For OpenCode

# Start OpenCode
opencode
 
# Initialize for your project
/init
 
# Use Plan mode first (press Tab)
> I want to add a new feature for user authentication
 
# Switch to Build mode (press Tab again)
> Sounds good! Make the changes.

Both tools work best when you give them clear, specific instructions. Don't just say "fix the bug" - tell them exactly what bug and where.

Conclusion#

Both Claude Code and OpenCode are excellent AI coding assistants that can significantly boost your productivity. Claude Code offers a polished, fast experience tightly integrated with Anthropic's ecosystem. OpenCode provides flexibility, privacy, and cost savings with its open-source approach.

The AI coding landscape is evolving rapidly, and having tools like these at our disposal is genuinely exciting. I'd recommend trying both to see which fits your workflow better. You might even end up using both for different projects!

Let me know in the comments which tool you prefer and why. I'm curious to hear about your experiences. Happy coding✨!