Trae

by ByteDance

Freemium

Free AI-powered IDE by ByteDance with built-in coding assistant

4.3
out of 5.0
Category Coding
Last Updated May 16, 2026
Website trae.ai

Overview

Trae is a free AI-powered integrated development environment (IDE) built by ByteDance. Based on a VS Code foundation, it offers a familiar editing experience enhanced with built-in AI capabilities including code completion, chat-based coding assistance, and an agentic Builder mode that can handle complex multi-file tasks autonomously.

What sets Trae apart is its generous free tier — users get access to powerful AI models including Claude and GPT-4o at no cost. The Builder mode can scaffold projects, implement features across multiple files, and run terminal commands, functioning as a capable AI coding partner rather than just an autocomplete tool.

Trae is ideal for developers who want AI coding assistance without paying for Cursor or GitHub Copilot subscriptions. It supports all major programming languages and frameworks through its VS Code extension ecosystem.

Pricing

Free
$0 /mo
  • 5,000 autocompletions per month
  • Limited premium model access (10 fast + 50 slow requests)
  • Access to Claude, GPT-4o, and DeepSeek R1
Lite
$3 /mo
  • More autocompletions and faster model access for light usage
Pro
$10 /mo
  • 600 fast requests/month to premium models
  • Zero rate limits
  • Enhanced agentic workflow
  • First month promotional at $3

Pros & Cons

Pros

Completely free tier with access to premium AI models like Claude and GPT-4o
Builder mode handles complex multi-file coding tasks autonomously
VS Code-based interface means familiar workflow and extension compatibility
Fast code completion with context-aware suggestions across the project
Lightweight and responsive compared to some competing AI IDEs

Cons

Backed by ByteDance which raises data privacy concerns for some developers
Relatively new with a smaller community than Cursor or VS Code + Copilot
Builder mode can be inconsistent on large, complex codebases
Limited documentation and learning resources compared to established tools
Extension compatibility is good but not 100% identical to VS Code