Best Free AI Coding Tools for Developers and Students
Looking for the best AI tools to help you write better code, for free? Whether you’re a student, beginner, or professional on a budget, this guide highlights the top AI coding assistants that won’t cost you a cent.
We’ve included open-source tools, generous free plans, and browser-based apps that help with code generation, bug fixes, and smart completions.
Top Free AI Coding Tools
1. GitHub Copilot (Free for Students)
Best for: Writing code inside VSCode or JetBrains IDEs
GitHub Copilot uses OpenAI Codex to suggest entire lines or blocks of code in real time. While it’s a paid tool, it’s completely free for verified students and open-source maintainers via GitHub Education. You’ll need a GitHub account to activate the education license.
2. Codeium
Best for: Fast autocomplete in 70+ programming languages
Codeium is a completely free AI autocomplete tool with support for VS Code, JetBrains, Jupyter, and more. It’s lightweight, doesn’t require login for basic use, and supports both cloud and enterprise self-hosting.
3. Tabnine
Best for: Privacy-focused AI coding with local models
Tabnine offers a generous free plan for solo developers and provides real-time code completions inside major IDEs like VS Code, IntelliJ, and Sublime. Its standout feature is the ability to run AI models locally, ensuring privacy and data control—ideal for developers with sensitive codebases.
4. Amazon CodeWhisperer
Best for: AWS developers and cloud-native workflows
Amazon’s CodeWhisperer is designed for AWS integration and also supports general-purpose development. The Individual Tier is completely free and includes real-time suggestions and up to 50 security scans per month—excellent for building secure, cloud-ready apps.
5. Cursor
Best for: AI-powered pair programming inside your editor
Cursor is a new AI coding editor based on VS Code, enhanced with GPT-4 for inline suggestions, code fixes, and debugging help. It offers a free tier with a daily usage quota and integrates tightly with your code context. Ideal for solo developers who want AI help directly in their workflow.
6. Replit Ghostwriter (Free in Community Tiers)
Best for: Real-time collaborative coding with AI on the web
Replit’s Ghostwriter provides smart completions, error fixes, and in-browser coding assistance. While mostly paid, free access is often granted for education, open-source, or community programs. It’s perfect for students or hackathon participants using Replit’s online IDE.
7. Phind (formerly Hello Cognition)
Best for: AI coding Q&A with natural language input
Phind is an AI assistant tailored for developers. You can ask technical questions in plain English—whether it’s about APIs, debugging, or frameworks—and receive code suggestions and detailed explanations. It’s fast, free, and doesn’t require account login.
8. Continue
Best for: Local AI autocomplete via open-source tooling
Continue is a free, open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot. It runs inside VS Code and supports Hugging Face models locally, so your code never leaves your machine. Great for developers looking for transparency, privacy, and offline AI coding help.
Feature Comparison Table
This table summarizes key features of each free AI coding tool, including IDE support, offline capabilities, and availability of free usage tiers.
| Tool | Free Plan | VS Code Support | Offline Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot (student) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Codeium | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Tabnine | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Amazon CodeWhisperer | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Continue | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cursor | ✅ (limited) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Phind | ✅ | ✅ (via browser) | ❌ |
| Replit Ghostwriter | 🎓 Community | 🟡 Online IDE | ❌ |
Get Started with Free AI Coding Tools
Whether you’re debugging, learning, or building your next big idea, these tools can help—without costing you a cent.