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ZCode

Z.ai's desktop agent workspace for coding with its GLM models across long, multi-step tasks.

PaidAI coding assistants
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About ZCode

ZCode is a desktop app from the team behind Z.ai's GLM models that it calls an agentic development environment. Instead of being a text editor with a chat panel, it centres on tasks: you describe a goal, and its built-in agent plans the work, edits files, runs terminal commands, drives a browser for previews and keeps Git changes in view so you can review them before committing. A Goals mode is meant for long jobs where the agent keeps planning and checking its own progress. You can also start and steer tasks from a phone, or from chat bots in WeChat, Feishu and Telegram, while the work runs on your machine. It supports subagents, MCP servers, skills, hooks and plugins. The app is tuned for GLM-5.3 and is mainly used with a paid GLM Coding Plan subscription, with a short free trial for new users. It runs on macOS and Windows, with Linux builds in beta.

Best for: Developers already on a GLM Coding Plan who want a desktop agent for long, multi-step coding tasks.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Task-centred workspace with terminal, browser and Git review in one place
  • Goals mode for long-running work with planning and verification
  • Remote control from a phone or WeChat, Feishu and Telegram bots
  • Builds for macOS, Windows and Linux

Why people leave

  • Built around Z.ai's GLM models rather than a free choice of providers
  • Needs a paid Coding Plan after the 5-day trial
  • Linux version is still in beta

Top ZCode alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Claude Code logo
    Claude Code

    Anthropic's coding agent, with a terminal, IDE and desktop app, if you prefer Claude models to GLM.

    83.8
  2. 2OpenAI Codex logo
    OpenAI Codex

    OpenAI's coding agent with a desktop app, CLI and cloud tasks, included with ChatGPT plans.

    74.3
  3. 3TRAE logo
    TRAE

    ByteDance's AI-first editor with an agent mode and a free tier to start with.

    60.6
  4. 4Cursor logo
    Cursor

    A full AI code editor with agents, for those who want to stay inside an editor instead of a task view.

    59.1
  5. 5OpenCode logo
    OpenCode

    Open-source terminal agent that can use many model providers, including GLM models via API.

    57.5

Why people left ZCode

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from ZCode, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

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ZCode: common questions

Is ZCode free?

No, ZCode is a paid product. Starting price: $12.6 a month (GLM Coding Lite, discounted from $18) (checked on ZCode's own site).

Is ZCode open source?

No, ZCode is not open source. Open-source alternatives include OpenCode and Qwen Code.

What platforms does ZCode run on?

ZCode is available for macOS, Windows and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to ZCode?

The highest-ranked ZCode alternatives right now are Claude Code, OpenAI Codex and TRAE. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 ZCode alternatives