Ask HN: Alternatives to Claude (Code)?
2 points
2 hours ago
| 1 comment
| HN
Hello all, been trying to switch away from Claude Code and have been trailing this:

- Harness: Opencode (via Openchamber) - Subscription: GitHub Copilot (50$) - API Usage (beyond subscription): Open router - Free models: Opencode go

Here's the models I've trialed and like:

- Large (alternative to Opus): GPT 5.3 Codex - Medium (alternative to Sonnet): Minimax 2.7 - Smol: GPT 5.4 mini

these models are not yet on par to their respective Claude alternatives for me, but maybe I need to switch to something else or tune them, what have you been using?

Also looking for nice Opencode plugins, skills, completion providers (alternative to Cursor that I could use with Zen).

Happy to hear about your choices and experience

SunshineTheCat
1 hour ago
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I ping pong back and forth between claude code and codex.

In my experience (very subjective, obviously) for backend/"logical" tasks Codex seems to outperform Claude.

For front-end/UX related tasks Claude wins easily.

Overall, Claude does seem to be a little better in other areas too.

Codex's biggest advantage in my personal opinion, however, is usage. I think maybe once in several months did I even get close to hitting my limit with the $20 plan.

With Claude, however, I feel like I can sneeze and half my weekly usage is gone. Same $20 price tag.

That's been my experience, I'm sure it differs user to user though.

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vixalien
1 hour ago
[-]
nice, I have been hearing about Codex a lot, so I will def try it
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