Chalkline AI CLI FIELD GUIDEAll subsites
Independent tools / 01

Pick your AI coding setup.

Terminal agents, desktop companions, and local model tools with free access or a path that can stay under $20. Software price and model usage are shown separately.

Freebuff

CLI + Desktop
$0

Free coding agent for the terminal, desktop, web, and cloud. Daily model allowances vary by model and region.

Freebucks refill daily; usage limits and model access can change.

Open Freebuff CLI ↗

Freebuff Desktop

Visual
$0

Run coding agents side by side in separate workspaces, with a desktop interface for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The vendor describes it as free; model availability has daily limits.

Open Desktop details ↗

Kilo CLI

CLI + IDE
$0 tool · $19 optional

Open-source terminal agent with free models, local models, or your own provider key. The optional Kilo Pass starts at $19/month.

Model inference and cloud compute are separate; BYOK/provider charges may apply.

Open Kilo CLI ↗

OpenCode

TUI + Desktop
$0 tool

Open-source coding agent with a terminal UI, desktop app, and IDE integrations; works with local or hosted models.

The app is free; hosted model subscriptions or API usage can cost extra.

Open OpenCode ↗

Gemini CLI

Terminal
Free tier

Google’s open-source terminal agent for codebase tasks, shell workflows, search, and extensions.

Free quotas apply through supported sign-in; limits and paid API rates vary.

Open Gemini CLI ↗

LM Studio

Visual + Local
$0 personal

Browse, download, and run local language models in a graphical app; exposes a local server for compatible clients.

Local inference avoids per-token API bills but uses your own hardware.

Open LM Studio ↗

Aider

Terminal
$0 tool

Open-source pair-programming CLI that edits a repository and works with many hosted or local models.

The client is free; hosted model tokens are billed by your selected provider.

Open Aider ↗

Goose

CLI + Desktop
$0 tool

Open-source agent available in a terminal or desktop app, with configurable model providers and extensions.

Bring a local model or budget for the selected provider’s inference costs.

Open Goose ↗

ChatLLM CLI

Terminal
Verify ≤ $20

Abacus AI’s ChatLLM option for command-line workflows, included as a requested lead to check against your budget.

Current pricing could not be verified here; only subscribe if the vendor’s live price is $20/month or less.

Check Abacus pricing ↗