The short answer
No. Claude Code is not free. To use it you need either a paid Claude plan (Pro or Max) or metered Anthropic API credits. There isn't a free tier that lets you run it as your daily coding agent — any "free" access is limited enough that you'll hit a wall quickly.
What it actually costs
The ways to pay for Claude Code
| Path | What you pay | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Pro/Max subscription | A monthly fee | Usage is capped; heavy coding hits rate limits |
| Anthropic API credits | Per-token, pay as you go | Costs add up fast on large codebases / long sessions |
| "Free" trial access | Nothing, briefly | Too limited to rely on; runs out |
Is there any way to use it for free?
Not really — not for sustained use. You can burn a trial or a small credit grant, but the moment you're doing real work it stops being free. Searches like "how to get claude code for free" mostly lead to trials, referral credits, or workarounds that don't last. The durable answer isn't a trick to make a paid tool free; it's using a free agent instead.
The genuinely free path: an open-source agent + your own model
A coding agent is a model plus a loop that runs tools on your files. The model you're paying for anyway (via your own key), so the only extra cost is the agent shell — and that part can simply be free and open source. Bring your own model, and if you run a local model, your total cost can be literally $0.
What 'free' looks like with Wuwei
The agent is free
No subscription for the agent itself — it's free and open source (MIT).
You control model cost
Bring your own key; pick a cheap model (GLM/DeepSeek) or a local one for $0 usage.
Runs locally
A normal desktop app that reads your real files, not a hosted sandbox.
Switch models freely
When one provider is capped or down, click to another — no lock-in.
FAQ
Is Claude Code free to use?
No. It needs a paid Claude subscription (Pro/Max) or metered API credits. There's no free tier meant for serious daily use.
How do I get Claude Code for free?
You can't, sustainably — trials and small credit grants run out. The durable way to code with an agent for free is to use a free, open-source agent and bring your own model (or run a local model for $0 usage).
What's a free alternative to Claude Code?
Wuwei is a free, open-source (MIT) coding agent. The agent is free; you only pay your own model usage, and a local model costs nothing per token. It runs locally and lets you switch models in a click.