
ZCode
situationalAgentic IDE from Z.ai/Zhipu built around GLM-5.3 for goal-driven coding with multi-agent workflows.
Visit zcode.z.ai →> **ZCode** — situational > Verified 2026-08-20 > Limitation: Not open source; no public source repository could be verified. > > https://noemium.com/tools/zcode/Add to kitOpen in NoemiumFact-check this catalog entry for ZCode (coding). Verdict: situational Verdict text: A practical pick for developers already inside the Z.ai/GLM ecosystem who want a dedicated agentic IDE with predictable monthly credits. The catch: model choice is effectively GLM-only, the Linux build is still in beta, and the IDE itself is not open source despite some third-party claims. Limitations: - Not open source; no public source repository could be verified. - Model selection is tightly coupled to the GLM family and partner models. - Pricing and billing are presented in Chinese yuan with unclear international payment support. - Linux support is marked Beta on the downloads page. - Requires a Z.ai/BigModel.cn account and credits; BYOK is not prominently documented. Receipts: https://zcode.z.ai https://bigmodel.cn/pricing Last verified: 2026-08-20 Find outdated prices, wrong claims, or missing limitations. Cite primary sources (docs, pricing pages, benchmarks, model cards). Do not use marketing pages.[](https://noemium.com/tools/zcode/)
ledger entry · observed by @whysanesanders
A practical pick for developers already inside the Z.ai/GLM ecosystem who want a dedicated agentic IDE with predictable monthly credits. The catch: model choice is effectively GLM-only, the Linux build is still in beta, and the IDE itself is not open source despite some third-party claims.
Strengths
- Dedicated agentic IDE built around GLM-5.3 for goal-driven coding.
- Multi-agent workflows inside a single editor.
- Free app download with predictable monthly credit plans.
- Pay-as-you-go model API available via BigModel.cn.
Known limitations
- Not open source; no public source repository could be verified.
- Model selection is tightly coupled to the GLM family and partner models.
- Pricing and billing are presented in Chinese yuan with unclear international payment support.
- Linux support is marked Beta on the downloads page.
- Requires a Z.ai/BigModel.cn account and credits; BYOK is not prominently documented.
Use it when
- Developers already inside the Z.ai/GLM ecosystem.
- Teams that want predictable monthly credits for agentic IDE use.
Skip it when
- You require open-source or auditable tooling.
- You need model choice beyond the GLM family and partner models.
- Linux is your primary OS; the build is still marked Beta.
- You need clear international payment support or documented BYOK.
Buy-check
- ·Price — freemium, app download free; GLM Coding plan Lite ¥94.4/mo, Pro ¥430.4/mo, Max ¥862.4/mo (discounted from ¥118/¥538/¥1078); pay-as-you-go model API also available on BigModel.cn as of 2026-08-20. Open the pricing page, not a screenshot.
- ·Free tier — Free tier exists — burn it first.
- ·Cancel fallout — What happens to your data/projects on cancel — check the ToS, not the FAQ.
- ·Seat math — Per-seat pricing multiplies quietly. Count seats before the annual plan.
- ·Who skips it — Also skipped when: You require open-source or auditable tooling.; You need model choice beyond the GLM family and partner models..
Price trailchangelog →
No price move in this repo yet.
Facts
- pricing
- freemium1
- price note
- app download free; GLM Coding plan Lite ¥94.4/mo, Pro ¥430.4/mo, Max ¥862.4/mo (discounted from ¥118/¥538/¥1078); pay-as-you-go model API also available on BigModel.cn
- free tier
- yes
- open source
- no
- api
- no
- self-host
- no
- category
- coding
- evidence
- source-verified
Sources
No source, no number.
Similar joball alternatives →
| tool | verdict | price | oss | self-host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZCode | situational | freemium | no | no |
| Claude Code | ship | paid | no | no |
| Cursor | ship | freemium | no | no |
| Aider | ship | free | yes | yes |
Facts from the catalog files — not scores you can buy. Quality and speed stay in the briefing, not in a fake 1–5 grid.
Claude Codeanchor
Anthropic's terminal agent that edits, runs and tests code in your repo.
API
paidincluded in Claude Pro $20/mo ($17/mo yearly) and Max 5x $100 / Max 20x $200; shares the plan usage pool; extra usage at API rates
Cursoranchor
AI-first code editor (VS Code fork) with agent mode and inline edits.
FREE TIER
freemiumHobby free; Pro $20/mo; Pro+ $60/mo (3× Agent limits); Ultra $200/mo (20×); Teams from $40/user/mo
Aider
Open-source pair programming in the terminal — git-native, works with any model.
OSSAPIFREE TIER
freefree, open source; bring your own API key