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It's a split decision.
OpenCode fits developers who want a coding-focused agent, a choice of 200+ model providers, free models without an account, and an explicitly self-hostable option. Goose is a better fit for teams building broader agent workflows: it has a desktop app, CLI, API, Rust-based runtime, portable YAML recipes, and ACP support. Goose is free to run, but you supply model access. OpenCode has paid Go and Go Plus plans for bundled model access.
01Side by side
| OpenCode | Goose | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free models; Go $10/month; Go Plus $40/month | Free software; bring provider keys or eligible subscriptions |
| Free tier | Free models available without an account | Free to run; bring your own provider access |
| Open source and licence | Open source; licence not specified | Apache 2.0 open source |
| Self-hosting | Self-hostable; runs on your machine | Local desktop, CLI and API; server deployment unspecified |
| API and SDKs | SDK drives scripts, CI jobs and tools | API, Goose Development Kit and Rust runtime |
| CLI and docs | Terminal UI; curl, npm, Bun and Homebrew installs | Full CLI; portable YAML recipes document workflows |
| Integrations | 200+ model providers, MCP, GitHub, Linear and more | 15+ providers; 70+ documented MCP extensions; ACP |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux, terminal, iPhone; Android coming soon | macOS, Linux, Windows, CLI and API |
OpenCode Choose OpenCode if
- Choose OpenCode if you need broad model-provider choice.
- Choose OpenCode if you want free models without an account.
- Choose OpenCode if self-hosting and phone access matter.
Goose Choose Goose if
- Choose Goose if you need an API and agent development kit.
- Choose Goose if your team wants Apache 2.0 software.
- Choose Goose if ACP, YAML recipes, or MCP Apps fit your workflows.
02Pricing at real usage
Both tools can start at zero software cost, but they bundle model access differently. OpenCode offers free models without an account; paid access starts with Go at $10 per month. Go lists Kimi K3 at 110 estimated requests per five hours and DeepSeek V4 Pro at 1,050. Go Plus costs $40 monthly and lists 440 and 4,200 estimated requests, respectively. These are estimated request counts, not a guarantee of fixed throughput. Subscriptions can be canceled any time. Extra Usage credit top-ups have no published price, and Go Teams starts with Extra Usage on.
Goose costs nothing to run under its Open Source plan, but you bring an LLM provider or an eligible Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini subscription through ACP. Your model-access cost therefore depends on that arrangement. Goose does not publish seat or usage limits. OpenCode gives you priced subscription tiers; Goose keeps the software free and leaves model access to you.
03API, SDKs and integration
OpenCode connects to 200+ model providers, including local models, and supports MCP servers. Its SDK is intended to drive OpenCode from scripts, CI jobs, and other tools. The terminal UI runs in shells, editors, and remote servers; documented install routes include curl, npm, Bun, and Homebrew. Its product pages do not name SDK languages, so check the SDK docs before choosing a client stack.
Goose offers a desktop app, full CLI, and API for embedding the agent. Its Goose Development Kit provides runtime components for agents in native apps, servers, and browsers, with saved-state resumption. Goose is built in Rust. Its integrations include 15+ model providers, 70+ documented MCP extensions, and ACP: Goose can act as an ACP server for Zed, JetBrains, and VS Code. YAML recipes capture workflows, instructions, extensions, parameters, and subrecipes for reuse in teams or CI.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
OpenCode is open source and explicitly self-hostable, but its product pages do not identify its licence. Goose is open source under Apache 2.0 and runs on your machine; its product pages do not describe a separate self-hosting deployment. Check licence terms and deployment requirements against the projects before adopting either in a company codebase.
Both offer model-provider choice, which can reduce dependence on a single model vendor: OpenCode connects to 200+ providers, while Goose supports 15+ and includes local options such as Ollama. Neither product documents a dedicated data-export or cross-product migration procedure. Goose's portable YAML recipes can carry workflow definitions; OpenCode has custom agents and plugins. Plan to map those configurations and verify how your team will preserve any required session data.
Questions people ask
Is OpenCode or Goose free?
Both can be used without paying for the agent software. OpenCode offers free models without an account, with optional Go at $10 per month and Go Plus at $40 per month. Goose is free to run, but you supply an LLM provider or eligible subscription, which may have its own costs.
Which supports more model providers?
OpenCode connects to 200+ model providers, including local models. Goose supports 15+ providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Ollama, OpenRouter, Azure, and Bedrock. Goose also documents 70+ MCP extensions, so provider count alone does not capture its tool integrations.
Can I use Goose with Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini subscriptions?
Goose supports eligible Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini subscriptions through ACP, as well as provider API keys. Check eligibility and account requirements with the relevant provider before making this the basis of a production workflow.
Which is better for building custom agent workflows?
Goose has an API, the Goose Development Kit, and portable YAML recipes for workflows with instructions, extensions, parameters, and subrecipes. OpenCode provides an SDK for scripts, CI jobs, and tools, plus custom agents and plugins. The better fit depends on whether you need Goose's broader agent-building surfaces or OpenCode's coding-agent focus.