Jcode, the free coding agent: what is free, what is not.
What it is. Jcode is a free app that lets an AI model work on your computer. You write what you want in plain words, for example "build me a simple web page" or "fix the error in this file", and the AI reads the files in your folder, writes the code and saves the changes. A program like this is called a coding agent. It does not replace code, and it is not an AI itself. It is the tool that connects an AI to your files.
What is free. The Jcode program costs $0. The AI model behind it is separate: you connect one you already pay for (such as a Claude or ChatGPT plan), pay per use, or run a free model on your own PC. I downloaded the real release and ran it on a Windows PC.
- You can read this page without installing anything. If you try Jcode, you need a terminal (PowerShell works).
- You need an AI model to connect: a login or key from a provider, or a model running on your PC. Jcode does not include one.
What is free and what is not
| Part | Cost |
|---|---|
| The program | $0. |
| The AI model | You bring one: a login or a key for a model, or a model on your own PC. |
| Ways to pay for the model | A subscription you already have (Claude or ChatGPT plans, GitHub Copilot), a pay-per-token key such as OpenRouter, or a paid Jcode plan from $10 a month. |
| Free option | A model that runs on your own PC through Ollama or LM Studio. |
The Jcode website puts it this way: "The agent is free. The compute is up to you."
Get it without an installer
The official Windows install is one line, irm https://jcode.sh/install.ps1 | iex. If you prefer a plain folder with no installer, download the file and run it by hand:
$ curl -L -O https://github.com/1jehuang/jcode/releases/download/v0.98.1/jcode-windows-x86_64.tar.gz
The download is one file, jcode-windows-x86_64.exe. Unpack it (right-click, Extract All), rename the file to jcode.exe, and run it from its folder:
$ .\jcode.exe --version
Start it
To keep everything in one folder, set the variable JCODE_HOME to an empty folder first. Then look around, no login needed:
$ jcode --help jcode provider list jcode auth status
Jcode is a terminal program, so you start it by typing jcode in PowerShell or Windows Terminal. A small helper keeps running in the background after you close it. Stop it with jcode server stop.
Which models it can use
The provider list is long: Claude and ChatGPT logins, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Cursor, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, Groq, Mistral, Together, xAI, Z.AI, Ollama, LM Studio and any server that speaks the same language as OpenAI's. You log in with jcode login and the provider name.
To pay nothing for the model, connect a local one through Ollama or LM Studio. It runs on your own PC.
Compared with Claude Code
| Jcode | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of the program | $0 | Comes with a paid Claude plan |
| Models | Many providers, including Claude | Claude models |
| Where you use it | A terminal | A terminal and the Claude desktop app |
| Add-ons | Reads Claude Code's MCP settings and skills | Plugins, skills and MCP, as in my plugins guide |
How to get the best result
- Try it next to your current tool on a copy of a project, and connect the model you already use.
- Give it a clear task in one or two sentences and read what it changed before you keep it.
- Usage statistics: Jcode sends basic ones by default. If you prefer not to, run jcode telemetry disable.
Want more free tools like this? Follow my content and check my other posts.
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