What it is
Overview
A terminal-based coding assistant that connects to over 200 AI models without requiring IDE plugins or extensions. OpenClaude runs as a command-line tool where developers can generate code, debug issues, and automate tasks through conversational prompts. The open-source build attracts software developers and DevOps engineers who prefer terminal workflows over GUI integrations. Early users praise the multi-model compatibility and the ability to customize the codebase directly.
At a glance
Usability & Quality overview
Best for
- terminal-based coding workflows
- users who want model flexibility
- developers who prefer reviewable code changes
Watch out for
- Sparse real-user evidence
- Security hardening required after a patched vulnerability
Built on another provider's modelResells a third-party model API
Offers genuine workflow automation by chaining coding tasks without requiring step-by-step prompting, plus specialized development tooling that works across 200+ AI models. Goes beyond simple chatbot wrappers with integrated bash operations, file management, and development-specific features.
Strong evidenceQuality score
openclaude Terminal-based AI coding agent with flexible model support and reviewable code changes.
This score is our editorial judgment, computed automatically from the sources, weights, and dates shown above. It reflects the data we could verify as of September 2, 2026, not a guarantee or statement of fact about openclaude. Third-party ratings and quotes belong to their original platforms and authors. Thin data lowers our confidence label, and we say so instead of guessing. Work on openclaude? Dispute any datapoint and we will review it, publish your response, and correct verified errors.
PricingFree
Individual plan details haven't been verified yet — they'll appear here on the next data refresh.
Community feedback
Aggregated reviews
Ratings and quoted comments below are aggregated from third-party sources and reflect those users' views, not SearchTools.ai's.
What reviewers talk about
themes inside the Sentiment pillar — not score ingredients
56Output Quality14 mentions
“Claude Code literally got forked, and now it can work with GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Mistral, basically any model that can plug into the OpenAI chat completions format. so you still get the Claude Code style workflow and tools like: bashfile read and writegrepglobagentstasksMCP But now you are not locked into just Claude. feels like a big unlock for people who like the Claude Code interface and tooling, but want freedom on the model side. It is called OpenClaude and it is fully open source t”
“Hi Guys, I am relatively new to the LocalLLM scene, and today I started to download my first Local LLM with Gemma 4 26b. I am using Ollama and am running on a M1 Max with 32GB of RAM. When I just use Gemma 4 inside of Ollama, it works like a charm. It takes up a good amount of memory, but that is to be expected with my limited hardware. As soon as I start something like Open Claude, it fully breaks down. For a simple Hello World C++ program, it took 5 minutes to write. (In a new folder so it did”
“the fact that it works with other models says more about how good the architecture is than anything. claude code's real value was always the agent harness, not the model underneath”
“OpenClaw has huge system prompt (with memory, INSTRUCTION, tools, etc) that model has to read before READING your prompt. Sometimes it pushes like 40K TOKENS even if you say Hi.”
33Value & Pricingthin data · 6 mentions
“i was kind of skeptical at first when following this tutorial because of past experiences with pasting commands in terminals, however this worked out perfectly! (for anyone else reading, this is fully free as long as you use a free ai model in openrouter such as qwen 3.6)”
“But it's not free I need api key for it I want for free can you make a video on something like bypassing opus limit”
“Qual k melhor modelo para se usar, conectei um free do gpt mas atingiu rapidamente o limite de 50 requisições diarias… tem algum gratis que nao ha limite?”
“1) the author will get likely legal threats from Anthropic, just like Clawbot/OpenClaw author got 2) Using provider's coding cli (Claude Code for Anthropic models, Codex for OpenAI) is great because of lower costs, and better tuning of the CLI against model; you don't have this with leaked source code from weeks ago, in particular when you use it with other models; instead of coding own CLI, code (or use) a layer on top of those (tuned and cheaper) CLIs”
24Reliability28 mentions
“You don't need to do a hard switch - just install it and try it in parallel. Openclaude is an Open Source project aot v.0.7.0, so expect some bugs, the development is really agile. In my experience it works really well. The tooling is basically a copy of the leaked sources, plus some additions by contributors. The devs are responding to issue reports and the development is active.”
“Fully open source until DMCA takedown request hits the stolen source code?”
“3. Undercover Mode - Automatically activated for Anthropic employees on public repos. Strips all AI attribution from commits, tells the model "Do not blow your cover." No force-OFF switch exists. motherf*ckers”
“Second leak within a week”
64Ease of Use19 mentions
“Claude Code literally got forked, and now it can work with GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, Mistral, basically any model that can plug into the OpenAI chat completions format. so you still get the Claude Code style workflow and tools like: bashfile read and writegrepglobagentstasksMCP But now you are not locked into just Claude. feels like a big unlock for people who like the Claude Code interface and tooling, but want freedom on the model side. It is called OpenClaude and it is fully open source t”
“They should have released it from the jump. Imagine gatekeeping a bunch of js.”
“I feel like when people are discussing Claude Code alternatives I usually see opencode or reasonix, but I rarely see anyone mentioning OpenClaude: https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude I've been pivoting between different coding agents for a while now, and sadly I keep coming back to Claude Code due to it's very nice community support variety of different hooks and plugins and just how customizable it is... In everything but the fact that it's a closed source project :/ I keep trying to use Open”
“I feel like when people are discussing Claude Code alternatives I usually see opencode or reasonix, but I rarely see anyone mentioning OpenClaude: https://github.com/Gitlawb/openclaude I've been pivoting between different coding agents for a while now, and sadly I keep coming back to Claude Code due to it's very nice community support variety of different hooks and plugins and just how customizable it is... In everything but the fact that it's a closed source project :/ I keep trying to use Open”
Watch & learn
Video content
YouTube
YOUTUBE514 viewsRun a Claude Code-Style AI Agent From USB | Free & Portable
TheBlackBoxSecurity20 days ago
YOUTUBE15 viewsOpenClaude vs Claude Code Pro: 3 Real-World Tests & Actual Cost Breakdown
TechTonic-f3w20 days ago
Capabilities
Key features
Code Assistant
Helps you write, explain, and fix code directly inside your editor
Developer Tools
Provides utilities that help programmers build, test, and ship software faster
Agent Builder
Builds autonomous AI agents that plan and execute multi-step tasks for you
The honest take
What users love & flag
Distinct themes surfaced across user reviews — each grounded in real review text, ranked by how often it comes up.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is openclaude?
openclaude is a terminal-based AI coding agent that works with over 200 AI models including OpenAI, Ollama, Gemini, and others. It runs directly in your command line within any repository, allowing you to give natural language coding requests and watch the AI execute them with reviewable diffs. Unlike IDE plugins, it works in any development environment and doesn't lock you into specific AI providers.
Is openclaude free to use?
Yes, openclaude is open-source software with no subscription fees or usage limits. You only pay for the AI models you choose to use through their respective providers. You can also run it entirely locally using Ollama to avoid any external costs.
How do I install and run openclaude?
openclaude installs globally via npm and requires Node.js version 22 or higher. Once installed, you run it directly in your terminal within any code repository where you want AI coding assistance.
Can I switch between different AI models while using openclaude?
Yes, you can switch between any of the 200+ supported AI models mid-session using simple slash commands without requiring code rewrites. The tool supports multiple providers including OpenAI, Gemini, Grok, Ollama, LM Studio, GitHub Models, OpenRouter, and DeepSeek.
What development tools can openclaude actually use?
openclaude can execute bash commands, edit files, perform grep searches, use glob operations, and run tests. It operates in a transparent loop where you can watch it read files, search your codebase, make edits, and execute commands in real-time with all changes shown as reviewable diffs.
Does openclaude work with my existing development setup?
Yes, openclaude is designed to work with any development environment since it runs in the terminal rather than as an IDE plugin. It operates within your existing repository structure and doesn't require you to change your development workflow or tools.
Can I see what changes openclaude makes to my code?
Absolutely. All changes appear as reviewable diffs, and you can watch the AI's decision-making process in real-time through streaming interactions. This transparency ensures you maintain full visibility into what modifications are being made to your codebase.
Does openclaude support automation and scripting?
Yes, openclaude offers both interactive and non-interactive modes. The scriptable mode provides JSON and stream-JSON output with tool allowlists, budgets, and session control for automation scenarios. Sessions also persist across terminal restarts with support for conversation branching and rewinding.
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