Open-source terminal agent
FlareCode vs OpenCode
OpenCode is the run-it-yourself agent. FlareCode is the managed, async one.
OpenCode is a free, open-source (MIT) coding agent you run on your own machine — terminal, desktop, or IDE — and point at any of 75+ model providers with your own keys. It's the maximal-control, zero-lock-in route. FlareCode is the opposite trade: a hosted platform that runs agents in the cloud, keeps working after you close the laptop, gives you a durable workspace, async PR review from your phone, a predictable per-task spend limit, and a preview-to-deploy loop — with nothing to install or self-host.
Context
What is OpenCode?
OpenCode (by Anomaly) is an open-source, MIT-licensed AI coding agent that runs locally as a terminal interface, desktop app, or IDE extension. It's model-agnostic — bring your own keys for 75+ providers, or run local models — and it's free; an optional hosted model gateway (OpenCode Zen) is pay-as-you-go. It runs on your machine and edits your working tree directly.
Portfolio
Built around many repos, many agents, and one fleet rail.
Evidence
Tests, browser checks, diffs, logs, and PRs stay visible before review.
Policy
Spend caps, branch scope, secrets, egress, and human merge gates stay product-level.
Side by side
The breakdown
| FlareCode | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cloud control tower for a repo portfolio — persistent agent workspaces, fleet state, evidence, cost policy, and reviewed PRs | Open-source, model-agnostic local agent |
| Where it runs | Hosted cloud sandbox, one per agent — nothing to install | Your machine (terminal / desktop / IDE) |
| How you work | Describe → walk away → review the PR | Drive it yourself, locally |
| Autonomy loop | Plans, writes code, runs your tests, fixes its own failures | Interactive build/plan agents you supervise |
| Self-verifies | Tests must pass + opens the app in a real browser; shows you the proof | Can run tests; not a gated, managed step |
| Learns your repos | Learns each repo — past goals/PRs recalled into planning | Rules / AGENTS.md files you maintain |
| Multi-repo | First-class — a fleet view across many projects and repos | Per-session, local |
| Async / mobile review | Core to the product — Slack, GitHub mobile, email | Share links + web; tied to your machine |
| Workspace | Durable, encrypted, backed up — survives idle + restarts | Local working tree on your machine |
| Preview & deploy | Live in-app preview + one-step publish / deploy | Your own responsibility |
| Model choice | Bundled Kimi K2.6, or BYOK (Claude, GPT, Gemini, OpenRouter, custom) | 75+ providers, full BYOK, local models |
| Pricing model | Flat plans, inference at provider cost, true BYOK | Free + open source; pay only your model keys |
| Per-task spend limit | Predictable — a per-task spend limit you set | Your provider's own limits |
| Output | GitHub PR on a flarecode/* branch | Edits your working tree; PRs via git/gh |
| Open source | Closed platform; public issues + roadmap on GitHub | Yes — MIT, very active project |
Honest take
Where each one wins
Where FlareCode pulls ahead
- Fully hosted: no install, runs in the cloud, and keeps going after you close the laptop.
- Async, mobile-first PR review and a managed ship-to-GitHub flow — OpenCode is tied to your machine.
- A durable, encrypted workspace that survives idle and restarts, including from-scratch projects.
- An autonomous goal loop with evidence-gated 'done' (tests + a real-browser check) and a predictable per-task spend limit.
- Per-repo memory that compounds — past goals/PRs and your codebase are recalled into planning, not rules files you maintain by hand.
- Bundled Kimi K2.6 with a $100/mo free allowance — no keys to wire up to start.
- A multi-repo fleet view, plus live preview and one-step deploy.
- Keys and egress are contained by the platform: your API keys are brokered server-side and never reach the sandbox, and outbound to cloud-metadata and internal hosts is blocked (verified) — controls a tool running on your own machine can't enforce.
Where OpenCode is the better pick
- Free and open source (MIT) — inspect it, fork it, run it however you like.
- Total model freedom: 75+ providers and local models, zero vendor lock-in.
- Runs entirely on your own machine — your code never leaves your control.
- A large, fast-moving community and no platform fee.
FAQ
FlareCode vs OpenCode
>Is FlareCode an OpenCode alternative?
Yes, for builders who'd rather not run and supervise an agent on their own machine. OpenCode is a free, open-source local agent with total model freedom; FlareCode is hosted and async — it runs agents in the cloud, returns reviewed PRs, and adds a durable workspace, per-task spend limits, and a deploy loop.
>Is FlareCode open source like OpenCode?
No. OpenCode is MIT-licensed and self-hosted. FlareCode is a hosted, closed-source platform with a public issues-and-roadmap repo; the trade is zero setup, a managed async fleet, a durable workspace, and a ship-to-production loop in exchange for self-hosting.
>Can I bring my own models like OpenCode?
Yes. FlareCode defaults to bundled Kimi K2.6 (with a $100/mo free allowance) and supports BYOK for Claude, GPT, Gemini, OpenRouter, and custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints, billed at provider cost. OpenCode goes further on raw provider breadth (75+) since you wire up everything yourself.
>Why pay for a hosted agent when OpenCode is free?
If you want to run and supervise everything locally, OpenCode is a great free choice. FlareCode is for when you'd rather not: it runs in the cloud after you walk away, reviews come back as PRs on your phone, the workspace is durable, spend is bounded per task by a limit you set, and you can preview and deploy the result — across many repos at once.
Sources checked: OpenCode documentation
Comparisons reflect public information and change over time. Something out of date? tell us.
Bottom line
Which should you pick?
Choose OpenCode if you want a free, open-source agent with total model freedom that you run and control on your own machine. Choose FlareCode if you want that work hosted and async — durable, cost-predictable, reviewed from your phone, and shippable in one step across many repos.
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