GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenCode

Summary

GitHub Copilot CLI vs OpenCode (Coding Agents (CLI & Cloud)). Agent test scores: GitHub Copilot CLI 9.2/10, OpenCode 9.2/10. They tie on overall score in our tests. Pricing: GitHub Copilot CLI — Copilot Free $0 (monthly AI Credits allowance); Pro $10/mo (1,500 credits); Pro+ $39/mo; Max $100/mo; OpenCode — Go $10/mo; Go Plus $40/mo; Zen pay-as-you-go ($20 prepaid).

Every fact on this page comes from our tool records and test logs. Last updated:

Key facts

GitHub Copilot CLI

VibeToolRank score
9.2/10
Last tested
2026-10-17
Runs
3 runs
Outcome score
9/10
Edition tested
Copilot CLI 1.0.98, Copilot Free, Auto model, existing gh login
Free plan, as measured
0.16-0.27 AI Credits per bugfix run (about 72K-89K tokens in, mostly cached)
Free plan
Yes: Copilot Free includes the CLI with a monthly AI Credits allowance, Auto model only
Price
Copilot Free $0 (monthly AI Credits allowance); Pro $10/mo (1,500 credits); Pro+ $39/mo; Max $100/mo
Pricing checked
2026-10-17

OpenCode

VibeToolRank score
9.2/10
Last tested
2026-10-16
Runs
3 runs
Outcome score
9/10
Edition tested
OpenCode CLI 1.19.2, free Zen model opencode/big-pickle, no account
Free plan, as measured
$0 per bugfix run on a free OpenCode Zen model, no account or API key
Free plan
Yes: open-source agent free with own keys; some free Zen models
Price
Go $10/mo; Go Plus $40/mo; Zen pay-as-you-go ($20 prepaid)
Pricing checked
2026-10-16

Side by side

FieldGitHub Copilot CLI OpenCode
What it isGitHub Copilot CLIGitHub's Copilot coding agent in the terminal, included in Copilot Free.OpenCodeOpen-source AI coding agent for the terminal.
PricingGitHub Copilot CLICopilot Free $0 (monthly AI Credits allowance); Pro $10/mo (1,500 credits); Pro+ $39/mo; Max $100/moOpenCodeGo $10/mo; Go Plus $40/mo; Zen pay-as-you-go ($20 prepaid)
Free tierGitHub Copilot CLIYes: Copilot Free includes the CLI with a monthly AI Credits allowance, Auto model onlyOpenCodeYes: open-source agent free with own keys; some free Zen models
Pricing verifiedGitHub Copilot CLI2026-10-17OpenCode2026-10-16
Edition testedGitHub Copilot CLICopilot CLI 1.0.98, Copilot Free, Auto model, existing gh loginOpenCodeOpenCode CLI 1.19.2, free Zen model opencode/big-pickle, no account
Tested onGitHub Copilot CLI2026-10-17OpenCode2026-10-16
Outcome scoreGitHub Copilot CLI9OpenCode9
Speed scoreGitHub Copilot CLI9OpenCode10
Cost scoreGitHub Copilot CLI9OpenCode10
Developer experience scoreGitHub Copilot CLI9OpenCode7
Reliability scoreGitHub Copilot CLI10OpenCode10
Overall scoreGitHub Copilot CLI9.2OpenCode9.2

What our tests found

GitHub Copilot CLI

3/3 runs fixed our seeded cart bug (4/4 tests pass) in 22-26s on Copilot Free, using 0.16-0.27 AI Credits each. It used our existing gh login with no browser step and never touched the test file.Copilot Free CLI

Pros
  • Fixed the seeded bug correctly in 3 of 3 runs, in 22-26 seconds
  • Runs headlessly with an existing GitHub CLI login (GH_TOKEN), no browser step
  • Ran the test suite itself before finishing
Cons
  • Copilot Free is limited to the Auto model
  • The Free AI Credits allowance isn't stated in GitHub's docs, so heavy use is hard to plan
  • Unattended runs need --allow-all-tools, which lets it run any command in the folder

Who it’s for: Developers who already use GitHub and want a free terminal agent without setting up an API key.

OpenCode

3/3 runs: fixed a seeded cart-discount bug (2 failing tests) in 18-22s with a free Zen model and no account or API key, without touching the tests. Only task T3 was run. In scripts, opencode run hangs silently if stdin is left open.CLI, free model

Pros
  • Solved our bug-fix task 3/3 in about 20s
  • Free Zen models work with no account or API key
  • Minimal, correct diffs that left the tests untouched
Cons
  • opencode run hung silently in a script until stdin was redirected from /dev/null
  • Free model names and availability change over time
  • We only ran the bug-fix task (T3), not full app builds

Who it’s for: Developers who want an open-source terminal coding agent they can try for free and later point at their own model keys.

Verdict

Scores use rubric v0.1 from separate runs. Editions and tasks can differ (see Edition tested and What our tests found); some tests were a single run, which caps reliability scores. Overall: GitHub Copilot CLI 9.2, OpenCode 9.2. Check the free-tier limits above against your project before choosing.

FAQ

Which is better, GitHub Copilot CLI or OpenCode?

In our tests they tied at 9.2/10 overall. Compare the free tiers and pricing to decide.

Is GitHub Copilot CLI free?

Yes: Copilot Free includes the CLI with a monthly AI Credits allowance, Auto model only (pricing checked 2026-10-17).

Is OpenCode free?

Yes: open-source agent free with own keys; some free Zen models (pricing checked 2026-10-16).

How much does GitHub Copilot CLI cost compared with OpenCode?

GitHub Copilot CLI: Copilot Free $0 (monthly AI Credits allowance); Pro $10/mo (1,500 credits); Pro+ $39/mo; Max $100/mo. OpenCode: Go $10/mo; Go Plus $40/mo; Zen pay-as-you-go ($20 prepaid).

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Scores come from our own tests and are never for sale; sponsored placements are always labelled. Some links are affiliate links (currently Railway). Disclosure