OpenCode vs Z Code: Side-by-Side Comparison 2026

OpenCode vs Z Code comparison 2026. Side-by-side features, pricing & capabilities.

OpenCode is a CLI-based coding agent from SST — open-source terminal ai coding agent. Z Code is an AI IDE from Z.ai (Zhipu AI) — ai-powered code editor from zhipu ai (z.ai).

OpenCode

Open-source terminal AI coding agent from SST. Free with BYOK, or use OpenCode Zen (pay-per-token) and Black (flat-rate subscription at $20/$100/$200/mo) for managed model access.

  • ✓ AI chat
  • ✓ Agentic mode
  • ✓ Multi-file editing
  • ✓ Terminal commands
  • ✓ Test generation

Free · 2 plans

Z Code

Desktop code editor from Z.ai (Zhipu AI) powered by GLM models. Integrates multiple AI agents within one interface with codebase understanding, automated code review, and support for external models. Also available as a VS Code extension.

  • ✓ GLM-5 flagship model (77.8% SWE-bench)
  • ✓ 200K token context window
  • ✓ OpenAI-compatible API
  • ✓ Free GLM-4.7-Flash model
  • ✓ Vision capabilities (Pro/Max)

$10/mo · 3 plans

Feature OpenCode Z Code
Category CLIAI IDE
Starting Price Free $10/mo
Model Family Multi-model (any)GLM
Documentation — ✓
Git Integration — ✓
Open Source Yes (MIT)Models are open-weight (MIT for GLM-4.6)

Pricing verified Mar 20, 2026. OpenCode pricing | Z Code pricing

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Key Differences

  • Category: OpenCode is a CLI-based coding agent; Z Code is an AI IDE.
  • Free tier: OpenCode has a free tier; Z Code does not.
  • Starting price: OpenCode starts at free / BYOK; Z Code starts at $10/mo.
  • Model family: OpenCode uses Multi-model (any); Z Code uses GLM.
  • Open source: OpenCode: Yes (MIT). Z Code: Models are open-weight (MIT for GLM-4.6).
  • Platforms: OpenCode runs on Linux, Windows, macOS; Z Code runs on Windows, macOS.
  • Provider: OpenCode is built by SST; Z Code is built by Z.ai (Zhipu AI).

Which Should You Choose?

Choose OpenCode if you want open-source terminal-based coding with model flexibility. Choose Z Code if you want competitive coding AI starting at $10/mo with free model access. Read our full reviews to see which fits your workflow.

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