Free Tiers & Smart Upgrades
Access $500+ worth of frontier AI tools without spending a dollar—or upgrade smartly when free tiers run out. Verified free stacks, trial strategies, and break-even analysis for AI coding tools and LLMs.
Stop overpaying for AI. The model wars have made frontier-level performance available without monthly fees—if you know where to look. This section tracks verified free access methods, sustainable value tiers, and when it actually makes sense to pay.
What this is: Working configurations for accessing AI tools at minimal cost. Not marketing bait. Not free trials that auto-convert. Actual sustainable access strategies.
Choose Your Starting Point
| If you want to… | Start here | What you’ll get |
|---|---|---|
| Access frontier AI without paying | Free Frontier Stack 2026 | $500+ in compute: Kimi k2.5, Opus 4.5 alternatives, sustainable daily drivers |
| Get Kimi k2.5 specifically | Kimi Access Guide | Free via OpenCode, $0.99-$11.99 first month via AI haggling, or BYOK setup |
| Optimize existing AI spending | Smart Spend Guide | When to upgrade from free, Pro vs Max vs API break-even math, value tier analysis |
Free Tier Landscape (February 2026)
The headline: You can get Claude Opus 4.5-level performance (80.9% SWE-bench) completely free via Antigravity or AMP Ad-Supported. Or get Kimi k2.5 (76.8% SWE-bench) free via OpenCode Zen. Your choice depends on whether you need that final 4% of reasoning power.
Critical context: Free tiers are contracting. Kilo Code removed free Kimi k2.5 on Feb 3, 2026. OpenCode Zen is now the only ongoing free option for Kimi. The window for generous access is closing—secure your stack now.
Value Tiers: When Free Runs Out
Not everything should be free. Here’s when paying makes sense:
| Tool | Free Option | Value Upgrade | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimi k2.5 | OpenCode Zen (ongoing) | Kimi Code $0.99-$11.99 first month | API at $3/1M tokens |
| GLM 4.7 | OpenCode Zen | z.ai $30/year ($2.50/mo) | API pay-as-you-go |
| Claude | Antigravity (preview) | Claude Pro $20/mo | Claude Max $200/mo |
| GPT-5.2 | Limited free tier | API at $1.75/1M input | Pro scaling |
Upgrade Decision Framework
Don’t pay until you’ve exhausted $500+ of free compute.
The smart progression:
- Start with best free: OpenCode Zen (Kimi k2.5) + Antigravity (Opus 4.5) + AMP (daily Opus 4.5)
- Stack additional trials: Kiro 500 credits, Kilo Code $35 value
- Value tier: z.ai $30/year for sustainable GLM 4.7, or Kimi Code haggling for cheap first month
- Professional: Claude Pro ($20/mo) when you need official Anthropic tooling
- Maximum usage: Claude Max ($200/mo) only if you genuinely need unlimited Opus 4.5
See the Smart Spend Guide for complete break-even math.
Comparisons: Choose the Right Tool
Before you commit to any tier, understand the tradeoffs:
- Budget Models Under $1/1M Tokens — GPT-5 mini, Gemini 3 Flash (free inputs), Kimi k2.5, Claude Haiku 4.5
- Mid-Range Models — $1-$3/1M tokens, best price-performance balance
- Premium Models — $200/mo subscriptions vs API costs
Verification & Risks
Free tiers come with caveats. Verify before you depend:
- Kimi Terms Verification — Evidence levels for all pricing claims
- Kimi Data Risks — Data handling and compliance considerations
- Windsurf Post-Acquisition Risks — Platform stability concerns
Related Links
- /compare/models/budget-tier/ — Budget tier model comparison
- /verify/kimi-claims/ — Verified pricing evidence
- /risks/kimi/ — Data handling risks
- /tools/opencode/ — Best free tier option
- /tools/kimi-code/ — Official Kimi IDE
Last updated: February 3, 2026. Free tier availability changes rapidly—always verify at official sites.
- 2026-02-03 | Access Kimi k2.5 Every verified way to access Kimi k2.5: OpenCode Zen (ongoing free, no credit card), Kimi Code AI haggling ($0.99-$11.99 first month), 7-day trial, and tier selection guide. Includes Allegretto swarm beta ($39) and OK Computer rewards system. February 2026 verified methods.
- 2026-02-01 | Free Frontier Stack 2026 Access $500+ worth of frontier AI coding tools without spending a dollar. Complete stack: OpenCode Zen (free Kimi k2.5), Antigravity (free Opus 4.5), AMP (daily Opus 4.5), Kiro (500 credits), and Kilo Code ($35 value). Verified working configurations for February 2026.
- 2026-02-01 | Smart Spend Guide When to upgrade from free AI tiers to paid: Claude Max vs Pro vs API break-even analysis, $800-1200 value extraction for $200 or less, and route-by-task complexity optimization. Smart spending strategy for frontier LLMs.