Claude Code alternative

The best open-source Claude Code alternative (2026)

In short: agentty is a drop-in, open-source alternative to Claude Code: sign in with the same Claude Pro/Max plan, or point it at OpenAI, Groq, OpenRouter, Cerebras, or a local Ollama model — all from a single 16.7 MB native binary.

If you like Claude Code's terminal-first workflow but want something open source, faster, and not locked to a single provider, agentty is built for exactly that.

Why people look for a Claude Code alternative

  • They want an open-source agent they can read, self-host, and contribute to.
  • They want to use providers other than Anthropic — OpenAI, Groq, OpenRouter, Cerebras, or a fully local Ollama model.
  • They don't want a Node.js runtime and npm install on every machine.
  • They want stronger isolation — a sandbox around shell and build commands by default.

How agentty compares

agentty keeps the part you like — a fast, keyboard-driven terminal agent — and changes the parts that matter for power users:

  • Single static binary. 16.7 MB, ~3 ms cold start, no Node, no Python, no Electron.
  • Bring your own model. Sign in with your existing Claude Pro/Max, or use API keys for OpenAI, Groq, OpenRouter, Cerebras, or point it at local Ollama.
  • Sandboxed by default. Shell and build calls run isolated; air-gap a whole session over SSH with one command.
  • Runs in Zed over ACP, and speaks MCP.
  • Open source (MIT).

Install in one line

curl -fsSL https://agentty.org/install.sh | sh

No Node, no Python — just a single static binary.

Is it really a drop-in replacement?

For the core loop — chat, read/edit files, run commands, retrieve from your repo — yes. If you depend on a Claude-Code-only feature the day it ships, keep Claude Code for that. For everyone who wants an open, fast, multi-provider agent, agentty is the alternative to try first.

Install in one line — a single static binary, no Node or Python.

curl -fsSL https://agentty.org/install.sh | sh
Get startedStar on GitHub →