Trae
AI-powered IDE by ByteDance
Trae (The Real AI Engineer) is a free AI-powered IDE developed by ByteDance that integrates advanced language models including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and DeepSeek R1 directly into a polished Visual Studio Code environment. With Builder Mode for full app generation and Chat Mode for step-by-step assistance, Trae offers powerful AI coding capabilities at no cost.
Key Capabilities
Trae offers a dual-mode experience: Builder Mode generates complete applications from natural language prompts, while Chat Mode provides step-by-step code analysis, debugging, and suggestions. The IDE provides free access to advanced language models including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and DeepSeek R1. MCP (Model Context Protocol) enables connections with external tools and APIs, with customizable .rules files for project-specific AI behavior. Multimodal input allows uploading screenshots and design files to generate UI components like React/Tailwind code.
Who Should Use Trae
Trae is designed for developers who want access to premium AI models without subscription costs. It is particularly attractive for individual developers and students who cannot justify monthly fees for AI coding tools, developers who want to experiment with multiple AI models in one IDE, and teams looking for a capable alternative to Cursor at zero cost.
Getting Started
Download Trae from trae.ai for macOS (Windows and Linux support planned). The IDE is free during early access with all features unlocked, including Builder Mode, multimodal chat, and code generation with multiple AI models. Start coding immediately with your choice of Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4o, or DeepSeek R1.
Pricing & Accessibility: Trae is currently free during its early access period, with all features including Builder Mode, multimodal chat, and access to premium AI models available at no cost. Available for macOS with Windows and Linux support planned.
Why Consider Trae: Trae is the only IDE offering free access to premium AI models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet and GPT-4o, combining full app generation with multimodal input capabilities at zero cost during its early access period.
Pros
- Completely free with access to premium AI models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet and GPT-4o
- Dual Builder and Chat modes for different coding workflows
- Multimodal input supports screenshots and design files for UI generation
- MCP support for custom external tool integrations
- Built on VS Code foundation with familiar interface
Cons
- Developed by ByteDance which raises data privacy concerns for some users
- Currently limited to macOS with Windows and Linux support pending
- Free pricing may not be sustainable long-term as early access ends
Who is this for?
AI-assisted coding with premium models at no cost, full application generation from natural language prompts, converting screenshots and designs to UI code, multi-model experimentation within a single IDE, step-by-step code debugging and analysis
Frequently Asked Questions about Trae
Is Trae really free?
Yes, Trae is currently free during its early access period with all features unlocked, including access to premium AI models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet, GPT-4o, and DeepSeek R1. Future pricing has not been fully announced.
Who makes Trae?
Trae is developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. This has raised privacy concerns among some developers, though the tool itself provides powerful AI coding capabilities with multiple model options.
Does Trae work on Windows?
As of early 2026, Trae is available for macOS only. Windows support has been announced and Linux support is planned for future releases.
Pricing
free
$0
Free tier: Full access to all features during early access
Details
APINo
Open SourceNo
LanguagesEnglish
Learning CurveEasy
Integrations
MCP protocolexternal tools and APIs via .rules files
