OpenCode (Zen + Go)

OpenCode provides two curated model catalogs: Zen (pay-as-you-go with frontier models like Claude, GPT, Gemini at $20 top-ups) and Go (low-cost $10/mo subscription with open-source models like GLM-5, Kimi K2.5, MiniMax M2.5). Single API key for coding agents.

OpenCode is an open-source terminal-based AI coding agent (think Claude Code but open-source) that also operates two curated model gateway services: Zen and Go. These gateways are designed specifically for coding agents, with models tested, benchmarked, and optimized for agentic coding workflows. Zen is the premium tier — a pay-as-you-go gateway at $20 top-ups (plus $1.23 card processing fee) that provides access to frontier models including Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.2, Gemini 3 Pro, and others. OpenCode's team has specifically tested and consulted with model providers to ensure these models are configured optimally for coding tasks. Zen uses transparent per-request pricing with zero markups over provider costs, and includes auto-top-up when balance reaches $5. Some models on Zen are 100% free (like Grok Code Fast 1, MiniMax M2.1, and GLM 4.7). Go is the budget tier — a $10/month subscription ($5 for the first month) providing generous limits with open-source models including GLM-5, Kimi K2.5, MiniMax M2.5, and MiniMax M2.7. Go is designed to bring agentic coding to developers worldwide who can't afford per-token pricing on frontier models. The subscription includes reliable access with generous daily limits. While OpenCode is primarily a coding agent platform, its Zen and Go gateways work with any OpenAI-compatible tool — including OpenClaw. The platform emphasizes privacy: all Zen models are hosted in the US with providers following zero-retention policies (with documented exceptions). This makes OpenCode's gateways a practical alternative to setting up individual provider accounts. For OpenClaw users, OpenCode's gateways offer curated model selection (you know every model works well for agentic tasks) and simplified billing (one API key, one bill). The tradeoff is a smaller model catalog compared to OpenRouter, but the curation ensures quality over quantity.

Tags: proxy, multi-model, zen, go, hosted, coding-agent, curated, openai-compatible

Use Cases

Curated coding-optimized model access through a single API key
Budget-friendly daily coding agent with Go's $10/mo subscription
Free model access through Zen's no-cost model tiers (GLM 4.7, Grok Code Fast)
OpenClaw agent with frontier model fallback via Zen (Claude, GPT) and budget via Go
Teams wanting tested, benchmarked models without evaluating dozens of options
Simplified billing for multi-model coding workflows

Tips

Use Zen's free models (GLM 4.7, MiniMax M2.1) for daily OpenClaw operations at zero cost.
Go at $10/mo is a great value for daily coding — GLM-5, Kimi K2.5, and MiniMax M2.5 are all strong coding models.
OpenCode curates models specifically for coding agents. If coding is your primary use case, this curation saves trial-and-error.
Use Zen for frontier model access (Claude, GPT) and Go for budget daily driving — you can have both configured.
Set monthly spend limits in the dashboard to prevent unexpected charges on Zen.
OpenCode works with any OpenAI-compatible tool, not just the OpenCode CLI — use it with OpenClaw, Cline, or Continue.

Known Issues & Gotchas

Zen and Go are separate products with different billing. Zen is pay-as-you-go ($20 top-ups); Go is a $10/mo subscription.
In OpenClaw, Zen uses the 'opencode' provider key; Go uses 'opencode-go'. They're configured separately.
Model prices shown as $0 because pricing is bundled into the gateway fee, not per-token for individual models.
Zen auto-top-up charges $20 when balance hits $5. Disable auto-top-up if you want strict spending control.
The $1.23 card processing fee on Zen's $20 top-up adds ~6% overhead. Larger top-ups would be more efficient if available.
Go's 'generous limits' are not unlimited — heavy daily usage may hit caps. Check current limits in OpenCode docs.
Not all Zen models are paid — some (Grok Code Fast 1, MiniMax M2.1, GLM 4.7) are marked as 100% free.
Privacy exceptions exist: some Zen providers may retain data. Check opencode.ai/docs/zen/#privacy for the full list.

Alternatives

OpenRouter
Synthetic
Direct provider APIs
Kilo Gateway

Community Feedback

The free models in OpenCode Zen is a pretty sweet deal. Right now Grok Code Fast 1, MiniMax M2.1 and GLM 4.7 are 100% free.
— Reddit r/opencodeCLI

When using an aggregator service like OpenRouter or OpenCode Zen, it makes sense to quickly try out different models. Just be mindful that not all models work equally well for coding.
— Dev.to

OpenCode Zen has been life changing, it's truly a no-brainer.
— Twitter/X (@thdxr)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between OpenCode Zen and Go?

Zen is pay-as-you-go ($20 top-ups) with access to frontier models like Claude and GPT, plus some free models. Go is a $10/mo subscription providing generous limits on open-source models like GLM-5, Kimi K2.5, and MiniMax M2.5. Use Zen for quality; Go for budget.

Can I use OpenCode's models with OpenClaw?

Yes. OpenCode's Zen and Go gateways are OpenAI-compatible APIs. Configure them in OpenClaw with the 'opencode' (Zen) or 'opencode-go' (Go) provider keys and your API key.

Are there any free models on OpenCode?

Yes, Zen includes several 100% free models that rotate over time. Currently free models include Grok Code Fast 1, MiniMax M2.1, and GLM 4.7. No subscription or payment needed for these.

Is OpenCode only for coding or can I use it for general AI tasks?

OpenCode's models are specifically tested and optimized for coding agents, but they work for general AI tasks too. The models themselves (Claude, GPT, GLM, Kimi) are general-purpose — OpenCode just ensures they're well-configured for coding workflows.

Does OpenCode store or train on my data?

All Zen models are hosted in US datacenters with providers following zero-retention policies. However, there are documented exceptions for some models — check opencode.ai/docs/zen/#privacy for the full list.

Configuration Examples

OpenCode Zen (frontier models)

providers:
  opencode:
    apiKey: your-opencode-api-key
    model: opencode/claude-opus-4-6
    # Pay-as-you-go: $20 top-ups, zero markup

OpenCode Go (budget subscription)

providers:
  opencode-go:
    apiKey: your-opencode-api-key
    model: opencode-go/kimi-k2.5
    # $10/mo subscription with generous limits

Zen + Go dual setup

providers:
  opencode:
    apiKey: your-opencode-api-key
    model: opencode/claude-opus-4-6
  opencode-go:
    apiKey: your-opencode-api-key
    model: opencode-go/glm-5
    # Budget daily driver, switch with /model opencode-go/glm-5