Paywall Dodgers
Coding agents you can install without Cursor or Copilot. The apps are free. A hosted model still costs money, and a local model needs a decent graphics card.
Cursor for new customers is part of The X Subscription. Older Cursor plans are listed for people still on them. Copilot's plans are listed too.
The X Subscription
Legacy Cursor plans
List prices checked , Pacific time. Official pricing page.
List prices checked , Pacific time. Official pricing page.
Best overall free pick: ClineAnother editor: ContinueLightest hardware: Ollama
Cline is a coding agent you install in your editor, the best overall free pick if you want that kind of help without Cursor. The agent is free. A hosted model still has a bill, and a local model needs a decent graphics card.
Continue is an editor assistant that connects to a model you choose, including a local one. It fits beside Cline when you want a lighter assistant. You still pay for a hosted model, or you need a graphics card for a local one.
Aider is a coding agent that runs in the terminal, for people who prefer the command line. You bring the model. The project has been quieter since May 2026.
Ollama runs models on your own computer, the lightest way to skip an API bill when you pair it with Cline or Continue. Small models can run on a laptop. Larger ones need a decent graphics card, and each model has its own license.
Limits