free-pi vs Freebuff
free-pi is the free coding agent that gets out of your way: one command, no install, no card, and ads that never touch the model. If you want a free agent that is fast, lean, and easy to trust, free-pi is the one.
Facts checked on from official sources
Why developers pick free-pi
Coding in seconds
Run npx free-pi-cli, sign in with GitHub, and start, with no global install.
Ads stay out of the model
Ad text never enters the model's context, and a sandbox test in the open-source code enforces it.
A free allowance that refills every day
No card, no API key, and a fresh allowance waiting tomorrow.
Built on pi, so it stays lean
free-pi runs on the pi agent harness by Mario Zechner: small, fast, and extensible.
Reverse-engineering in one command
/reverse-engineer-anything loads 200+ REA reverse-engineering tools at once.
Your model, your pick
Choose from a catalog of models, with DeepSeek V4 Flash as the default and options like Claude Haiku, Sonnet 5.5, and Gemini.
At a glance
| free-pi | Freebuff | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | YesFree, no card | YesFree tier, no card (paid plans from $8/month) |
| Get started in | YesOne command: npx free-pi-cli | npm install -g freebuff, then freebuff |
| Ad text in model context | YesNever, enforced by a sandbox test | Not stated on its site |
| Open-source CLI | YesYes, MIT | YesYes, open source |
| One-command reverse-engineering tools | Yes/reverse-engineer-anything (200+ tools) | Not mentioned on its site |
| MCP servers | Yesfree-pi-cli mcp add | Not documented on its site |
Free, without the fine print feeling
Free tools often make you work for the free part. free-pi does not. You run one command, click through a GitHub sign-in, and you are coding. There is no card to enter, no API key to hunt down, and no plan picker to read before your first prompt.
The ads sit in your terminal, where they belong. They never go into the model's context, so the model sees your code and your questions, nothing else. That is not a slogan. A sandbox test in the open-source repo checks it, and you can read it at github.com/dennisonbertram/free-pi-cli.
Because free-pi sits on the pi harness, it stays quick and easy to extend. Add MCP servers with free-pi-cli mcp add. Keep a todo list going on long tasks. Type /reverse-engineer-anything and get 200+ tools loaded at once. If you ever want more room, optional credit packs ($5 and $10) are there.
Which one should you use?
Pick free-pi if…
- You want to be coding within seconds of hearing about it.
- You want a firm guarantee that ad text never reaches your model.
- You like a lean terminal agent you can extend with MCP servers.
- You reverse-engineer things and want 200+ tools in one slash command.
Try it in one command
Pick Freebuff if…
- You want a desktop app and a phone app for your coding agent.
- You like choosing between plans named Starter, Plus, and Pro.
- You prefer paying for things because you do not trust free stuff.
- You enjoy a global install before your first prompt.
FAQ
Is free-pi really free?
Yes. No card and no API key. You sign in with GitHub, and your allowance refills every day. Optional $5 and $10 credit packs exist if you want more.
How does free-pi stay free?
Ads in your terminal (never inside the model's context) and session data that helps train better models. That's the deal that keeps it free.
What do I need to run it?
Node 22.19 or newer. Then run npx free-pi-cli and sign in with GitHub.
Can I choose my model?
Yes. Use the model picker to choose from a catalog of models. DeepSeek V4 Flash is the default.