What is free right now
OpenCode Zen lists free models such as Big Pickle, GLM-5.3-Flash Free and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash Free, most of them free for a limited time. OpenRouter marks free models with a :free suffix, for example minimax/minimax-m3.1-flash:free, released October 19, 2026 with a 1 million token context; it left the OpenCode Zen free list within four days. The free list changes often, so check it before you plan a week of work. Checked October 23, 2026.
Limits and privacy
As of October 2026, OpenRouter allows 20 requests a minute on free models, and 50 a day until you have bought at least 10 credits, then 1,000 a day. Some free OpenCode Zen models may use collected data to improve the model during their free period; others are listed with zero retention. Read the note for each model before you send private code.
Set up OpenCode in VibeiDE
Install OpenCode from AI tool setup in your Profile, without needing Node.js or npm. The info button beside OpenCode in the composer lists free OpenRouter models and can prefill a setup task for Claude Code or Codex. You connect your own key in OpenCode; VibeiDE does not supply model access.
Queue work for a free model
Each project has its own task queue, and OpenCode runs headless with recorded activity. Give a free model small, checkable tasks, and review the result before it counts as done: finished tasks wait in Ready for review. Keep hard or private work on the model and provider you trust most.
Sources: OpenCode Zen models and free terms, OpenRouter rate limits, MiniMax M3.1 Flash (free) on OpenRouter, VibeiDE release notes.