Trae
ByteDance's free AI IDE built on VS Code, with a SOLO Builder mode that scaffolds whole projects from a natural-language description. It includes premium models like Claude and GPT without separate API keys.
✅ Our verdict
Trae is a great free entry point for AI coding, with premium models and a project-scaffolding SOLO mode at no cost. The trade-off is privacy: ByteDance telemetry is aggressive, so avoid it for sensitive or proprietary codebases.
👍 Pros
- +Generous free tier with premium models
- +SOLO Builder scaffolds full projects
- +Built on familiar VS Code
- +Standalone SOLO app (desktop & web)
- +No API key juggling
👎 Cons
- −Telemetry & privacy concerns (ByteDance)
- −Data retained long after account closure
- −Less mature than Cursor/Copilot
- −Heavy users hit Ultra-tier limits
🎯 Use cases
ℹ️ Key facts
Last updated: Jun 2026
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ByteDance's free AI IDE built on VS Code, with a SOLO Builder mode that scaffolds whole projects from a natural-language description. It includes premium models like Claude and GPT without separate API keys.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trae free?
Yes — Trae offers a free plan (Free / Pro $10/mo / Ultra $100/mo) plus a paid tier for advanced features and higher usage limits. You can start for free and upgrade only if you need more.
What is Trae used for?
Trae is an AI coding tool. ByteDance's free AI IDE built on VS Code, with a SOLO Builder mode that scaffolds whole projects from a natural-language description. It includes premium models like Claude and GPT without separate API keys. It currently holds a 4.3/5 rating on Aiverse from real users.
Is Trae worth it in 2026?
Trae is a solid choice with a 4.3/5 rating on Aiverse — a reliable option in the coding category, though it's worth comparing alternatives below for your specific needs.