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Top free AI agents for software development

Greg Foster
Greg Foster
Graphite software engineer
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AI agents are autonomous, intelligent tools—often built on large language models (LLMs)—that go beyond responding to prompts. They can perform tasks like writing, reviewing, testing, debugging, and coordinating workflows to boost developer productivity.

Here's an updated rundown of prominent free or open-source AI agents for developers:

An open-source CLI agent powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro. Seamlessly integrates coding, research, content creation, and even image/video generation into your terminal, with a generous free tier offering up to 60 model requests/minute and 1,000 daily requests. It supports Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Google search integration.

An asynchronous coding agent launched at Google I/O 2025. It processes coding tasks in the background while developers continue working. Currently free in beta.

OpenAI released "open weight" models—GPT‑OSS‑120B and GPT‑OSS‑20B‑two—which are free to download and customize for agent workflows, offering high reasoning performance.

  • AutoAgent: Enables creating and deploying LLM agents using only natural language—no coding required. Excels on GAIA benchmarks.
  • Autogen Studio: Microsoft's no-code interface for building, debugging, and evaluating multi-agent workflows. Open-source and visual via drag-and-drop.
  • AutoGPT: Open-source, autonomous agent that decomposes goals into subtasks and executes using tools. Popular but with noted limitations (e.g., looping, hallucinations).

A free, open-source (AGPL, GPL, Apache) editor featuring AI assistance, Model Context Protocol, Git integration, and an agent panel. The free tier has monthly generative limits.

  • CodeGPT: AI agent platform offering code review, automated testing, refactoring, codebase navigation, and agent customization. Free tier available.
  • Zencoder and Qodo: Qodo, formerly Codium, provides intelligent multi-agent code review, testing, generation across IDE, terminal, and CI; Zencoder analyzes whole codebases with advanced repo "grokking."

Launched March 2025, [Graphite Agent](https://graphite.dev/Graphite Agent) is an AI code review assistant that integrates into pull requests. It delivers contextual feedback on bugs, logic, style, security, and more—with customizable rules and minimal noise. Trusted by teams like Snowflake, Duolingo, and Ramp.

Released in beta August 2025 (official launch noted Aug 19, 2025), Chat allows you to ask questions, get instant fixes, apply changes, and even merge—all within the pull request. It understands diffs, codebase context, test coverage, style patterns, and CI statuses. Currently free and unlimited during the beta period.

Tool/FrameworkTypeFree/Open-sourceStandout capability
Google Gemini CLITerminal agentFreeCLI-based coding, research, media, MCP, 1M token context
Google Jules (Beta)Async coding agentFree (beta)Background task resolution
Open‑weight modelsLLM foundationFreeCustomizable base for agent workflows
AutoAgentZero‑code agent toolOpen-source & freeNatural‑language agent creation
Autogen StudioNo-code multi-agent UIOpen-source & freeVisual agent workflow building
AutoGPTAutonomous agentOpen-sourceGoal decomposition & execution
Zed EditorAgentic editorFree (with limits)AI in-editor, MCP, Git, agent panel
CodeGPTAgent platformFree tierPR analysis, refactoring, codebase navigation
Qodo / ZencoderCode review agentsFree tierMulti-agent testing and code quality
Graphite Graphite AgentPR agentFree tierContext-aware code review with minimal noise
Graphite ChatPR agentFree (beta)Conversational interaction, fixes, merge in PR

Just open a pull request in Graphite-enabled workflow, click "Ask Graphite" or press Command + ; to start chatting, get suggestions, commit, and merge—all without context switching.

Graphite Agent currently offers a free tier. Graphite Chat is free and unlimited during its beta, as of its August 2025 launch.

  • Gemini CLI limits: 60 requests/minute, 1,000/day.
  • Zed Editor restricts monthly AI query volume.
  • Other platforms may impose rate limits or usage caps even in free plans—check vendor-specific docs.

Try AutoAgent (natural-language agent creation, no code) or Autogen Studio (visual drag-and-drop multi-agent construction). Both require no coding.

For PR-integrated review: Graphite Graphite Agent provides context-aware feedback, while Graphite Chat enables conversational interaction, fixes, and merging directly inside PR. For other workflows: Qodo, CodeGPT, or Zencoder also offer strong review automation.

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