--- title: "Deploy OpenCode vs Claude Code" description: "Open-source Claude Code alternative you run in a browser" category: "AI/ML" url: https://railway.com/deploy/deploy-opencode-claude-code-alternative --- # Deploy OpenCode vs Claude Code Open-source Claude Code alternative you run in a browser **[Deploy OpenCode vs Claude Code on Railway](https://railway.com/template/deploy-opencode-claude-code-alternative)** Machine-readable deploy manifest (JSON, validated by TemplateCI): https://railway.com/deploy/deploy-opencode-claude-code-alternative/manifest.json - **Creator:** onepush - **Category:** AI/ML ## Template content ### opencode - **Image:** ghcr.io/onepush-dev/opencode:1.19.3@sha256:9a248429018cfcec9e51416ae5e85c78c45bb6c4b9e61141d7f18e435bedd6a3 - **Health check:** /site.webmanifest - **Public domain:** Yes ## Documentation # Deploy and Host OpenCode vs Claude Code (Open-Source AI Coding Agent) on Railway Runs OpenCode as a persistent browser UI on Railway. Open-source Claude Code alternative: model-agnostic, plan and build modes, shell access, /data volume. For developers who want agent workflows without Anthropic's terminal. ## About Hosting OpenCode vs Claude Code on Railway (self hosted OpenCode template) This template runs OpenCode 1.19.3 as a persistent server on your Railway domain, with the web UI behind basic auth and workspace, sessions, provider logins, and git config on a /data volume you control. ## Why Deploy OpenCode vs Claude Code on Railway (Railway Free Trial) Claude Code is excellent when you want Anthropic's tuning and billing, but you rent the agent and the model. The $5 Railway trial covers a real test drive before you commit. Railway is a singular platform to deploy your infrastructure stack. Railway will host your infrastructure so you don't have to deal with configuration, while allowing you to vertically and horizontally scale it. By deploying OpenCode vs Claude Code on Railway, you are one step closer to supporting a complete full-stack application with minimal burden. Host your servers, databases, AI agents, and more on Railway. ### Railway vs Other Hosting Providers and VPS for OpenCode vs Claude Code self hosting Railway handles the deployment and persistent storage for you, while these providers require more manual Docker and proxy setup. | Provider | What You Get with Railway | What You Get with the Other Provider | |---|---|---| | DigitalOcean | one-click deploy, /data volume, web UI, auth | manual Docker, reverse proxy, backups | | AWS | same managed service, no IAM setup | EC2 or ECS, networking, storage, auth | | Hetzner | persistent box, no patching or firewall | cheap VPS, you install Docker and secure it | Railway removes the ops work; a VPS gives control but more setup. ## Common Use Cases for hosted OpenCode vs Claude Code - **Browser coding from any device:** Pick up the same workspace and session from your phone, which Claude Code's local terminal cannot do without a separate remote box. - **Mixing models per task:** Use Claude for a tricky refactor and a cheaper model for bulk edits, without paying Claude Code's single-model bill. - **Persistent remote projects:** Clone repos into /data/workspace, add an SSH key once, and let the agent run tests overnight while your laptop sleeps. - **Long-running agent jobs:** Kick off a plan-mode analysis, close the browser, and return later; the container keeps the session alive. - **Budget-friendly model switching:** Try OpenCode Zen free models for simple questions and save your Anthropic API key for the hard work, avoiding a Claude subscription for light use. ## Dependencies for OpenCode Docker hosted on Railway One Railway service, image ghcr.io/onepush-dev/opencode:1.19.3, port 4096, volume at /data. No database. Entrypoint runs opencode serve --hostname 0.0.0.0 --port 4096 with tini as PID 1. ### Deployment Dependencies for Managed OpenCode Service (AI Coding Agent) Railway supplies compute, domain, TLS, volume. Optional empty: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, OPENROUTER_API_KEY, GEMINI_API_KEY. Provider logins persist on volume. ### Implementation Details for OpenCode (Built on the official OpenCode 1.19.3 image) Volume /data holds /data/workspace (projects) and /data/home (HOME). Home has ~/.config/opencode (opencode.json, agents, commands) and ~/.local/share/opencode (auth.json, sessions, undo, caches, LSPs, .gitconfig, .ssh). Redeploys keep everything. ## How does OpenCode compare against other AI coding agents ### OpenCode vs Claude Code - **Model choice:** OpenCode supports 75+ providers; Claude Code only runs Claude models. - **Deployment:** OpenCode is MIT and self-hostable; Claude Code is proprietary and local. - **Where Claude Code wins:** Anthropic tunes it for Claude; simpler if you have a Claude subscription. - **Cost control:** OpenCode lets you use free Zen or cheap OpenRouter models. ### OpenCode vs Codex CLI - **Open source:** Both are open source, but OpenCode is provider-agnostic; Codex CLI leans OpenAI. - **Interface:** OpenCode adds a self-hosted web UI server; Codex CLI centers on the terminal. - **Where Codex CLI wins:** Lightweight, Apache-2.0, tight OpenAI integration. - **Persistence:** OpenCode on Railway keeps sessions on a volume; Codex CLI runs locally. ### OpenCode vs Cursor - **Licensing:** OpenCode is MIT and self-hostable; Cursor is proprietary with paid plans. - **Model freedom:** OpenCode supports any provider; Cursor is optimized for its own features. - **Where Cursor wins:** Polished editor with inline suggestions. - **Remote access:** OpenCode's browser UI works from any device; Cursor is a desktop editor tied to Cursor's plans. ### OpenCode vs Aider - **Scope:** Both are open source and git-native, but OpenCode adds web UI, multiple sessions, plan/build agents, MCP servers. - **Hosting:** OpenCode has Docker and server mode; Aider has no web UI server. - **Where Aider wins:** Simple to run, Apache-2.0, quick terminal git edits. - **Model support:** OpenCode handles 75+ providers; Aider also reaches many providers through LiteLLM. ## How to use OpenCode vs Claude Code (the OSS AI coding agent)? 1. Open your Railway domain and sign in with username opencode and the generated password from the Variables tab. 2. Pick a model: add an ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to use Claude models, or start with a free Zen model and no keys. Provider logins you create in the UI persist on the /data volume. 3. Ask the agent to clone a repo into /data/workspace (git is in the image), or attach a local terminal with opencode attach. For private repos, drop an SSH key in /data/home/.ssh or use an HTTPS token. 4. Use plan mode to sketch changes and review reasoning, then switch to build mode so the agent edits files, runs shell commands, and executes tests. 5. Review diffs after each step and undo via git snapshots if something goes wrong. ## How to self host OpenCode on other VPS Services (OpenCode self hosting guide) ### Clone the Repository You can run OpenCode without cloning anything. If you want the source: ```bash git clone https://github.com/anomalyco/opencode.git ``` ### Install Dependencies The install script drops a standalone binary; the npm route needs Node.js. ```bash curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash ``` Or use npm: `npm i -g opencode-ai`. ### Configure Environment Variables Set a password before starting the server: ```bash export OPENCODE_SERVER_PASSWORD="your-strong-password" export OPENCODE_SERVER_USERNAME="opencode" ``` Add provider keys only if you plan to use them: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, or OPENROUTER_API_KEY. ### Start the OpenCode Application Run the server on a public interface: ```bash opencode serve --hostname 0.0.0.0 --port 4096 ``` Or use `opencode web`. Put it behind an HTTPS reverse proxy such as Caddy or Nginx. Railway handles TLS, password generation, the data volume, and process restarts for you. ## Official Pricing of OpenCode (OpenCode pricing) OpenCode is free and open source under the MIT license. There's no license fee for the agent itself. You pay for the infrastructure you run it on and for model API usage when you bring your own keys. ## OpenCode cloud vs self hosted comparison (Pricing, features, costs, and more) There is no hosted OpenCode server to rent; OpenCode Zen is the team's optional pay-as-you-go model gateway with a few free models. Self hosting puts the same server on your own box, where you bring provider keys or use free models directly. ### Monthly cost of self hosting OpenCode on Railway A single container on Railway runs about $5-15 per month at light use, more during heavy builds or test loops. That excludes model API fees, which are zero if you stick to free models or bring your own keys. The Railway $5 trial covers your first experiments. ### System Requirements for Hosting OpenCode on a VPS The OpenCode server is lightweight: one small container with 1-2 vCPU and 2-4GB RAM handles typical repos and LSP work. Disk needs grow with your workspace and caches, so plan 20GB or more on the /data volume. Heavy builds want extra CPU and memory. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Do I need a Claude subscription to use Claude models in OpenCode? No. You bring your own Anthropic API key or use another provider like OpenRouter. Claude Code locks you into Anthropic billing; OpenCode just passes through whatever model credentials you configure. ### Can I run the same terminal commands and git workflow I use with Claude Code? Yes. OpenCode reads your repo, edits files, runs shell commands and tests, and supports plan and build modes. It also snapshots changes with git so you can undo or redo agent edits. ### Is my code stored permanently on Railway? Your workspace and sessions live on a private /data volume in your container. They persist across redeploys, but deleting the volume removes everything. It is not shared with other users. ### How do I attach my local terminal to the hosted OpenCode? Install the OpenCode CLI locally and run opencode attach with your Railway domain. The server exposes an OpenAPI HTTP API, and you authenticate with the username opencode and the generated server password. ### Can I switch models mid-project? Yes. OpenCode is provider-agnostic and supports 75+ providers through Models.dev, including local models. You can change models per session without rewriting your workflow, while Claude Code stays on Anthropic models. ### Do I still pay for models? OpenCode itself is free and MIT-licensed. You pay provider API costs when you use your own keys, or use OpenCode Zen's free models. Railway hosting typically runs about $5-15 per month plus whatever your model provider bills. ## Similar templates - [Chat Chat](https://railway.com/deploy/-WWW5r) — Chat Chat, your own unified chat and search to AI platform. - [stella](https://railway.com/deploy/stella) — Self-host stella with web, API, Postgres, Redis, and object storage. - [Hermes Agent | OpenClaw Alternative with Dashboard](https://railway.com/deploy/hermes-agent-or-openclaw-alternative-wit) — Self-Hosted Hermes AI Agent for Telegram, Discord & Slack Open this page in a browser: https://railway.com/deploy/deploy-opencode-claude-code-alternative