You can try OpenCode with a free model. The free label, however, does not give every option the same data terms. Some providers retain no data and exclude training use; others keep data for a period or may use it for improvement. Consider that difference alongside the price when selecting your first model.
Separate OpenCode from the service supplying the model
OpenCode is an open-source coding agent with terminal, desktop and web interfaces. The agent manages the workflow while the selected model answers requests. A separate provider can supply that model, so installing OpenCode does not put every model service under one set of conditions.
OpenCode Console is an optional route to models through one service. You can connect other providers instead. Its paid Console setup includes signing in, billing details, credits and an API key. Selected free models have their own catalog conditions, and the free-tier chat endpoints require OpenCode.
Free models do not share one data policy
Three examples in the official catalog reviewed on November 7, 2026 show the distinction:
- GLM-5.3-Flash Free: Free for a limited time. Its provider follows zero retention and does not use data for model training.
- Beam Free: Data is not used for training but is retained for 30 days for safety.
- Inkling 2 Small Free: Its provider retains data and may use it for model training.
No training use and no retention are separate promises. As Beam demonstrates, a service can keep data without training on it. Read those two conditions separately before deciding where to send a work file.
Regional availability also varies. Inkling 2 Small Free, for example, is unavailable in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, among other places listed in the catalog. Other models have different country lists. Because free offers are time-limited, check both availability and current terms when selecting one.
Start with a small task and the intended model
- Choose the terminal or desktop build for your operating system from the official OpenCode installation page.
- Use
/modelsin the terminal interface to inspect available models. Match the exact free-model name and its data conditions against the catalog. - For another provider, use
/connectto connect the account or credentials, then select a model with/models. That provider’s account and pricing conditions matter. - Make the first request on a small example without private data: “Explain what this sample code does and suggest two improvements.” Compare the answer with the intended result.
Public or sample data is a better starting point for a free trial than uploading a client project. You can judge whether the model suits the task while keeping control over the information you send. A zero price does not remove the need to choose suitable input data.
Recheck the terms when switching models
Do not carry one model’s terms over to another. Read the free period, regional access, retention and training use in the selected model’s own entry. Provider choice gives OpenCode flexibility; using that flexibility also means choosing the data and access conditions again with each change.
