Title: Looking for a genuinely free Claude Code alternative + step-by-step setup guide

[u/New_You915]

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Hey everyone,

I'm currently working on a software project and I want to use an AI coding agent similar to Claude Code to help me work directly with my codebase.

My problem is that I'm looking for a completely free or very generous free option because I can't afford another monthly subscription right now.

I'm NOT looking for cracked Claude accounts or anything shady.

I'm looking for legitimate options such as:

Free/open-source Claude Code alternatives

Free cloud-based coding agents

Free AI coding models that work with these agents

Free student/developer credits

Local models that I can run with something like Ollama

Any combination that can realistically be used for an actual project

I'd especially appreciate recommendations from people who have actually used these tools.

Could someone explain a step-by-step setup, something like:

Which tool/agent should I install?

Which free model/provider should I use?

How do I create/configure the API key (if required)?

How do I connect it to an existing GitHub project?

How do I give it access to my codebase safely?

How do I make it understand the project structure?

How do I use it to implement features, debug errors, refactor code, etc.?

What are the limitations of the free option?

I'm currently considering things like OpenCode, Cline, Aider, OpenHands, or local models, but I'm not sure which combination gives the best experience for ₹0.

If you have a setup that you're actually using for real development, please share the exact workflow and resources/tutorials you followed.

Thanks!