Gemini Code Assist vs OpenCode
Choose Gemini Code Assist for managed Google Cloud licensing and IDE support; choose OpenCode for free, self-run software and model choice.
The short answer
Choose Gemini Code Assist if your team uses Google Cloud and wants a managed, per-user service for its IDEs and terminal. Choose OpenCode if you want free, open-source software you run yourself and the freedom to choose a model provider.
At a glance
| Gemini Code Assist | OpenCode | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | Standard from $19/user/month (billed annually) or $22.80/user/month (billed monthly) | Free at the core; OpenCode Go is $10/month |
| Free plan or trial | No free tier; 30-day free trial for up to 50 users | Core software is free; several Zen models are offered free of charge for a limited time |
| Model choice | Google Gemini models only | 75+ providers, local Ollama models, or optional Zen gateway |
| Where it runs | Managed Google Cloud service; IDE, terminal and GitHub pull requests | Your machine or server; terminal, desktop app and IDE |
| Multi-step agent work | Agent mode in preview, on Standard and Enterprise | Build and plan agents, with subagent delegation |
| API access | No public API for customer code | Headless HTTP server with an OpenAPI 3.1 spec |
Managed service or software you run
Gemini Code Assist is a managed Google Cloud service. It offers first-party extensions for VS Code and JetBrains, and Gemini CLI is included with both editions. Standard starts at $19/user/month (billed annually) or $22.80/user/month (billed monthly); Enterprise starts at $45/user/month (billed annually) or $54/user/month (billed monthly). Both include a 30-day free trial for up to 50 users.
OpenCode is free at the core and runs on your machine or server. You choose a provider and model, including local Ollama models. Optional OpenCode Go is $10/month; Zen is pay-as-you-go per token. The software needs no purchase, so there is no trial to start using its core features. You operate it yourself rather than relying on a fully managed service.
Model choice and agent work
Gemini Code Assist provides code completion, generation, chat, refactoring, test generation and debugging. Its multi-step, multi-file agent mode is in preview on both editions. You use Google’s Gemini models; you cannot choose another provider.
OpenCode supports 75+ providers and local Ollama models. Its build and plan agents can delegate work to subagents. This suits developers who want to select a provider or model, including a local option. You also choose the inference provider and its terms rather than getting one bundled model service.
Controls and integration
Gemini Code Assist supports single sign-on through Cloud Identity or Google Workspace and has Cloud Audit Logs. It has no public API for customer code. Enterprise Agent Mode can connect to MCP servers, but Code Assist does not provide its own MCP server.
OpenCode has a headless HTTP server and can run in a GitHub Actions runner for pull-request work. Its permission rules can constrain tools and paths; enterprise central configuration can require one gateway and disable other providers. Two security advisories affecting its local server and web UI were patched in 2026. Running the server on a shared or untrusted network needs care.
Sources
- Gemini Code Assist codeassist.google
- OpenCode opencode.ai
