coding agent without API key
Use an AI coding agent without an API key
Remove the hosted-model dependency from the coding loop while keeping repository tools, command approval, and session continuity.
OpenJet runs the model on your machine, so there is no hosted model account to create, token balance to fund, or provider key to place in an environment file. Install, run setup, and start the agent inside a repository.
Why local wins
- No model-provider credentials. Local inference does not require an OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or OpenRouter key.
- No metered tokens. Usage is bounded by the compute you own rather than an API request allowance.
- No accidental key exposure. There is no hosted model secret to leak through a shell history, log, or repository configuration.
- Still an agent. Removing the API does not remove file editing, repository search, resumable work, or controlled command execution.
Common deployment paths
- Learn agentic coding without opening a paid model account.
- Work on a laptop or workstation with no provider credentials.
- Avoid per-developer API-key management for a local lab.
- Develop inside a network where outbound model APIs are blocked.
Frequently asked questions
- Can an AI coding agent work without an API key?
- Yes. If the model runs locally, the agent can call it over a loopback runtime rather than a hosted API.
- Is local inference completely free?
- OpenJet is open source and does not charge per token, but you still supply the hardware, electricity, storage, and network access needed for the initial model download.
- Do I need an account to use OpenJet?
- The local coding-agent path does not require a model-provider account or API key.
Explore OpenJet
Embed a local model with the Python SDK, run Qwen3.8-27B as a local coding agent, compare local coding-agent alternatives, read the docs, or go back to the homepage.