Best free AI for coding: free plans compared

Answer in brief

Our best free AI for coding starting pick is GitHub Copilot Free. Copilot Free includes code completions and limited chat and agent access. Check the current plan for quotas; free completions don’t imply unrestricted agent use. Compare alternatives for your task; this is an editorial choice.

Check the official sources

Source review: November 2026 · Complete re-verification pending · By the Best Free AI editors · 6 tools compared

Free AI coding assistants split into two groups: editor plugins that complete your code as you type, and chatbots you paste code into. The best free setup for most developers uses one of each.

One change to know about: Google discontinued free consumer access to Gemini Code Assist and Gemini CLI's Google login in June 2026, so older 'best free AI coding' lists that recommend it are out of date.

best free AI for coding: free plans at a glance

November 2026

01GitHub Copilot FreeBest overallPaid from: Pro, $10/month
02WindsurfBest free autocompletePaid from: Paid plans (confirm Windsurf-specific pricing)
03DeepSeekBest free coding chatbotPaid from: API is billed per token; check current consumer terms separately
04ChatGPTBest all-rounderPaid from: Plus, $20/month (a cheaper Go plan exists in some markets)
05LovableBest for apps without codePaid from: Pro (see Lovable pricing)
06CursorBest to trialPaid from: Paid plans from $8/month

01Best overallSome limits undisclosed

GitHub Copilot Free: best overall

By GitHub (Microsoft)

Copilot Free works inside VS Code and other editors with completions, limited chat and agent mode. It's the lowest-friction free AI coding assistant.

What's free

Code completions in supported editors
Limited chat and agent mode
Copilot in the CLI

Free-plan limits

Chat and agent usage is capped; check GitHub's plan page for the current number

Try GitHub Copilot Free free Is GitHub Copilot Free free? Full breakdown

02Best free autocompleteSome limits undisclosed

Windsurf: best free autocomplete

By Cognition

Windsurf is another AI editor to compare. Confirm its own current free terms; the linked pricing page now describes Devin.

What's free

Free editor access; confirm current Windsurf-specific allowances

Free-plan limits

Limited model choice
The linked Devin pricing page does not establish Windsurf-specific quotas

Try Windsurf free Is Windsurf free? Full breakdown

03Best free coding chatbotSome limits undisclosed

DeepSeek: best free coding chatbot

By DeepSeek

DeepSeek is fully free and particularly good at logic and code, with open-weight models you can also run locally.

What's free

Free consumer chat, per DeepSeek's app announcement
Web search and a step-by-step reasoning mode (DeepThink)
File upload with text extraction
Open-weight models you can also run yourself

Free-plan limits

No published usage numbers; the app can slow down at busy times
Data is processed under DeepSeek's privacy policy in China, which some employers restrict

Try DeepSeek free Is DeepSeek free? Full breakdown

04Best all-rounder

ChatGPT: best all-rounder

By OpenAI

ChatGPT can run code and analyse files on the free plan, which helps for data scripts and quick checks.

What's free

Everyday text chat, described by OpenAI as unlimited within abuse safeguards
Web search, file and image uploads, and data analysis
Image creation inside the chat
Use of existing custom GPTs
500 MB of library storage

Free-plan limits

Tools such as image creation and file analysis have their own usage limits that reset over time
OpenAI doesn't publish fixed daily numbers for those tool limits
Ads may appear for free users in some countries

Try ChatGPT free Is ChatGPT free? Full breakdown

05Best for apps without codeSome limits undisclosed

Lovable: best for apps without code

By Lovable

Lovable writes, runs and hosts a full web app from plain-language chat, so you can build something real without knowing how to code. The free plan has a daily message allowance.

What's free

Build and publish apps and websites by chat
5 daily build credits, capped at 30 per calendar month
Daily chat allowance, separate from build credits

Free-plan limits

Daily build credits stop after the 30-credit monthly cap and resume next calendar month

Try Lovable free Is Lovable free? Full breakdown

Referral bonus: 10 bonus credits when you sign up through this invite link, on top of the free plan (per Lovable's referral program). Code: IWPF5ET. Referral link; see our disclosure.

06Best to trialSome limits undisclosed

Cursor: best to trial

By Anysphere

Cursor is a favourite AI editor, but its free usage is limited and unpublished. Use it to decide whether you'd pay.

What's free

Limited AI usage in the editor

Free-plan limits

Cursor doesn't publish a number for free usage
The old Hobby plan name is now legacy

Try Cursor free Is Cursor free? Full breakdown

How to choose a free AI coding tool

Editor support: Copilot works in many editors; Windsurf and Cursor are their own editors.
Completions vs agents: Free plans are generous on completions and stingy on agent tasks.
Code privacy: Check whether your code is used for training, especially for work projects.
Open weights: DeepSeek models can run locally; check the runtime and network settings before treating a setup as private.

Questions about free AI coding tools

What is the best free AI for coding?

GitHub Copilot Free is the best free AI for coding inside an editor. Windsurf offers an alternative editor, and DeepSeek is the strongest free coding chatbot.

Is GitHub Copilot free?

Yes. Copilot Free includes completions and limited chat and agent use. Copilot Pro costs $10 a month.

Is Gemini Code Assist still free?

No. Google ended consumer access to Gemini Code Assist for individuals on June 18, 2026.

Can I build an app with free AI if I can't code?

Yes. Lovable's free plan builds and hosts a working web app from a chat description, with a daily message allowance. Joining through a referral link adds 10 bonus credits.

Is Cursor free?

Cursor has a limited free plan. It doesn't publish exact free usage numbers, and paid plans start at $8 a month.

Sources

GitHub Copilot plans · GitHub
Devin and Windsurf pricing · Cognition
DeepSeek app announcement · DeepSeek
DeepSeek API pricing · DeepSeek
ChatGPT Free Tier FAQ · OpenAI Help Center
What is ChatGPT Plus? · OpenAI Help Center
Subscription plans · Lovable Docs
Referral program · Lovable Docs
Cursor pricing help · Cursor

Cite this entry

Best Free AI. "Best free AI for coding: free plans compared." Source review recorded November 2026; complete re-verification pending. https://www.bestfreeai.com/best-free-ai/coding.