bestaiagents

25 ranked · 25 total

Updated Nov 4, 2026

Best Free AI Agents in 2026

OpenAI Codex is the best free AI agent for coding because it's included in the free ChatGPT plan. Zapier Agents is the best free agent for business tasks, with 400 activities a month across thousands of apps, and Fathom is the best free meeting agent. If you can self-host, open-source agents like Cline and OpenHands are free apart from model costs.

Ranked by what each agent actually does unattended, pricing clarity and fit for small teams. How we rank.

At a glance

#AgentBest forPriceAutonomy
1OpenAI Codex logoOpenAI CodexHanding off well-scoped tasks to run in parallelFree · from $8/moTask agent
2Zapier Agents logoZapier AgentsTeams already using ZapierFree · from $33.33/moTask agent
3Fathom logoFathomGetting good meeting notes for freeFree · from $20/moTask agent
4Cline logoClineDevelopers who want to pick their own modelOpen sourceTask agent
5OpenHands logoOpenHandsSelf-hosting a Devin-style agentOpen sourceTask agent
6Comet logoCometTrying an AI browser at no costFreeTask agent
7Otter logoOtterLive transcripts during callsFree · from $16.99/moTask agent
8Granola logoGranolaFounders in back-to-back callsFree · from $14/moAssistant
9Jules logoJulesBug fixes and small features you don't want to doFree planTask agent
10OpenClaw logoOpenClawTech-savvy people who want a private assistantOpen sourceTask agent
11MindStudio logoMindStudioSolo builders making custom AI toolsFree · from $20/moTask agent
12CrewAI logoCrewAIMulti-agent prototypesOpen sourceTask agent
13AutoGPT logoAutoGPTExperimenting with autonomous agentsOpen sourceAutonomous
14ElevenLabs AgentsBrands that care about voice qualityFree · from $0.08/minAutonomous
15AiderTerminal users who want git-native editsOpen sourceAssistant
16Smith.ai logoSmith.aiLaw firms and professional servicesFree · from $150/moAutonomous
17Tidio (Lyro) logoTidio (Lyro)Small online storesFree · from $24.17/moAutonomous
18Botpress logoBotpressCustom chatbot logicFree · from $150/moTask agent
19Crisp logoCrispSmall teams that hate per-seat pricingFree · from $45/moAutonomous
20Regie.ai logoRegie.aiReps who mix calling and emailFree · from $49/moTask agent
21Clay logoClayBuilding custom lead listsFree · from $167/moTask agent
22Apollo.io logoApollo.ioFounders who need contact data on a budgetFree planTask agent
23Unify logoUnifyStartups doing signal-based outboundFree · from $20/moTask agent
24Buffer logoBufferSolo founders posting to a few channelsFree · from $5/moAssistant
25Perplexity logoPerplexityFast answers with sourcesFree planTask agent
OpenAI Codex logo
#1Top pickFree option

OpenAI Codex

OpenAI's coding agent for the terminal, IDE and cloud, included in every ChatGPT plan

OpenAI Codex is a coding agent from OpenAI that writes features, fixes bugs and proposes pull requests, either locally through its open-source CLI and IDE extension or in cloud sandboxes. It is included in every ChatGPT plan, including Free for quick tasks. Paid plans raise the usage limits.

Why it's here

  • Available on the free ChatGPT plan
  • Runs locally or in cloud sandboxes
  • CLI is open source (Apache-2.0)

Watch out for

  • Free and Go limits are tight for daily work
  • Cloud tasks need a GitHub-connected repo
  • Usage limits differ by plan and can be hard to predict
Free · from $8/moTask agent
Zapier Agents logo
#2Free option

Zapier Agents

AI agents that act across 9,000+ apps using your Zapier connections

Zapier Agents is a product from Zapier for building AI agents that do work across 9,000+ connected apps. You describe an agent with help from Zapier Copilot, give it company knowledge and let it run tasks or answer questions. It has a free plan with 400 activities a month and paid plans with more.

Why it's here

  • Largest app catalog
  • Free plan to start
  • Builds on existing Zapier connections

Watch out for

  • Activity caps per run on lower plans
  • Agent logic is less transparent than a Zap
  • Team allowances not published
Free · from $33.33/moTask agent
Fathom logo
#3Free option

Fathom

Free AI notetaker that records, transcribes and summarizes video calls

Fathom is an AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls and can send notes to your CRM. Its free plan is free forever. Premium costs $20 a month ($16 billed annually), with Team and Business plans for groups.

Why it's here

  • Strong free plan
  • Fast summaries after calls
  • CRM sync on paid plans

Watch out for

  • Recorder joins the call
  • Advanced AI features on paid tiers
  • Fewer analytics than enterprise tools
Free · from $20/moTask agent
Cline logo
#4Free option

Cline

Open-source coding agent for VS Code that uses any model you bring

Cline is an open-source coding agent that runs inside VS Code and other editors, planning changes, editing files and running commands with your approval at each step. It is free for individual developers; you pay only for the AI model usage, using your own API keys or a provider of your choice. An Enterprise plan adds team controls.

Why it's here

  • Apache-2.0 open source
  • Works with many model providers, including local models
  • Clear plan-then-act flow with approvals

Watch out for

  • Model costs can add up with no cap
  • More setup than a subscription tool
  • Approving each step slows long tasks
Open sourceTask agent
OpenHands logo
#5Free option

OpenHands

Open-source platform for running autonomous coding agents, formerly OpenDevin

OpenHands (formerly OpenDevin) is an open-source platform for AI coding agents that can write code, run commands and browse the web in a sandbox. You can self-host it for free or use the hosted product. A Teams plan adds a managed setup for up to 10 users.

Why it's here

  • MIT licensed and self-hostable
  • Works with many models
  • Runs agents in isolated sandboxes

Watch out for

  • Self-hosting takes DevOps work
  • Hosted Teams plan is expensive for small teams
  • Less polished than commercial IDE agents
Comet logo
#6Free option

Comet

Perplexity's AI browser with an assistant that can act on web pages

Comet is a web browser from Perplexity with a built-in AI assistant that can summarize pages, manage email and carry out tasks across tabs. The browser itself is free to download. Some advanced assistant features are tied to paid Perplexity plans.

Why it's here

  • Free
  • Familiar Chromium-based browser
  • Built-in cited search

Watch out for

  • Means switching your main browser
  • Best features need a paid plan
  • Browser agents carry prompt-injection risk
Otter logo
#7Free option

Otter

AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes and summarizes your calls

Otter is an AI meeting assistant that joins Zoom, Google Meet and Teams calls to record, transcribe and summarize them, with action items and a chat to ask questions about past meetings. It has a free Basic plan. Pro costs $16.99 per user a month.

Why it's here

  • Free plan
  • Live transcription
  • Works with major video platforms

Watch out for

  • Bot joining calls can bother guests
  • Free plan limits
  • Summaries can miss nuance
Free · from $16.99/moTask agent
Granola logo
#8Free option

Granola

Bot-free AI notepad that turns your rough notes into meeting notes

Granola is an AI notepad that transcribes meetings from your computer's audio, without a bot joining the call, and combines the transcript with your own rough notes into clean meeting notes. You can then chat with past meetings. Basic is free with limited history; Business costs $14 per user a month.

Why it's here

  • No bot joins the call
  • Builds on your own notes
  • Clean, simple app

Watch out for

  • Runs on your device, so you must be in the meeting
  • Free plan keeps limited history
  • Fewer CRM integrations than sales-focused tools
Free · from $14/moAssistant
Jules logo
#9Free option

Jules

Google's asynchronous coding agent that works on your GitHub repo and opens PRs

Jules is an asynchronous coding agent from Google that clones your GitHub repository into a cloud VM, plans the work and opens a pull request when done. You hand it tasks and come back later rather than pairing with it live. The base tier allows 15 tasks a day; Google AI Pro and Ultra plans raise the limits.

Why it's here

  • Usable without paying
  • Works in the background
  • Shows a plan before it changes code

Watch out for

  • GitHub only
  • Not interactive like an editor agent
  • Plan names and limits have changed several times
OpenClaw logo
#10Free option

OpenClaw

Open-source personal AI assistant you run on your own computer and chat with

OpenClaw is an open-source personal AI assistant that runs on your own Mac, Windows or Linux machine and that you talk to through chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord. It can manage email, calendars and files, browse the web and run shell commands. It is MIT licensed with no subscription; you choose the model it uses.

Why it's here

  • Runs locally and keeps state on your machine
  • Works from chat apps you already use
  • No subscription

Watch out for

  • Setup takes technical skill
  • Broad system access needs care
  • You manage updates and model costs
MindStudio logo
#11Free option

MindStudio

No-code builder for AI agents and apps, with a free plan

MindStudio is a no-code platform for building AI agents and small AI apps that you can run on demand, on a schedule or from other tools. It gives access to many models in one place. The free plan includes one agent and 1,000 runs a month; Individual costs $20 a month plus usage.

Why it's here

  • Free plan to start
  • Many models in one workspace
  • Quick to publish agents

Watch out for

  • Model usage billed on top
  • Less suited to complex integrations
  • Smaller community than big automation tools
Free · from $20/moTask agent
CrewAI logo
#12Free option

CrewAI

Open-source Python framework for teams of role-based AI agents

CrewAI is an open-source Python framework for building multi-agent systems where agents with defined roles work together on tasks. It is known for being quick to start with. CrewAI also runs a hosted platform with a free Basic plan and custom Enterprise pricing.

Why it's here

  • Simple, readable agent definitions
  • MIT licensed
  • Large community and examples

Watch out for

  • Less fine-grained control than LangGraph
  • Multi-agent runs can be costly in tokens
  • Debugging agent hand-offs is hard
Open sourceTask agent
AutoGPT logo
#13Free option

AutoGPT

Open-source platform for building and running continuous AI agents

AutoGPT is an open-source project for building, deploying and running AI agents that automate multi-step workflows. It began as one of the first autonomous GPT agents and now includes a low-code platform you can self-host. The code is on GitHub, with the classic agent under MIT and the newer platform under its own license.

Why it's here

  • Free and self-hostable
  • Large, long-running community
  • Visual builder for agents

Watch out for

  • Self-hosting takes effort
  • Less reliable than commercial tools
  • Mixed licenses across the repo
Open sourceAutonomous
#14Free option

ElevenLabs Agents

Voice agents built on ElevenLabs' realistic voices

ElevenLabs Agents is ElevenLabs' platform for building conversational voice agents for phone, web and apps. It uses the company's text-to-speech voices, and extra call minutes cost $0.08 each with LLM usage billed separately. A free plan includes 15 minutes of calls, and BAAs are available on enterprise.

Why it's here

  • Very natural voices
  • Free plan to prototype
  • Same account covers TTS, dubbing and agents

Watch out for

  • LLM costs are extra
  • Burst minutes cost double
  • HIPAA BAA only on enterprise
Free · from $0.08/minAutonomous
#15Free option

Aider

Open-source AI pair programmer that edits code in your terminal with git commits

Aider is an open-source AI pair programmer that runs in your terminal and edits code in your local git repository. It works with many LLMs, maps your codebase for context and commits each change so you can review or undo it. It is free to use; you pay only for the model API you connect.

Why it's here

  • Every edit is a git commit you can undo
  • Works with most model providers
  • Lightweight, no editor lock-in

Watch out for

  • Development has slowed in 2026
  • Less autonomous than newer agents
  • No built-in team features
Smith.ai logo
#16Free option

Smith.ai

AI receptionist with live North America-based receptionists as backup

Smith.ai is an answering service that combines an AI receptionist with human receptionists who can take over calls. The AI answers, qualifies and routes calls, and complex calls can be transferred to a live receptionist at any hour. It connects to CRMs and scheduling tools and is popular with law firms and service businesses.

Why it's here

  • Live receptionists available as backup
  • Free AI plan to start
  • Clio, HubSpot and Salesforce integrations
  • Can take payments via LawPay, Square, PayPal

Watch out for

  • Priced per call, which adds up for busy lines
  • Human plans are much pricier than AI-only rivals
  • Extra CRM integrations cost per call
Free · from $150/moAutonomous
Tidio (Lyro) logo
#17Free option

Tidio (Lyro)

Website live chat with Lyro, an AI agent, and a free plan

Tidio is a live chat and helpdesk tool for small businesses, and Lyro is its AI agent that answers customer questions on your site. The free plan includes 50 Lyro conversations in total, and paid Lyro plans start at $32.50 a month. It is a common pick for small online stores.

Why it's here

  • Free plan with 10 seats
  • Low-cost paid tiers
  • AI and human chat in one inbox

Watch out for

  • Lyro is priced separately from the helpdesk
  • Free Lyro conversations don't refresh
  • Limited for complex workflows
Free · from $24.17/moAutonomous
Botpress logo
#18Free option

Botpress

Agent platform for building custom AI chatbots, with a free tier

Botpress is a platform for building AI agents and chatbots for websites, messaging apps and internal tools. The free plan covers 100 conversations a month and three agents, and each conversation includes $0.10 of AI usage. Paid plans add white-label webchat, team roles and analytics.

Why it's here

  • Generous free plan
  • Flexible builder with code when needed
  • Unlimited agents on paid plans

Watch out for

  • Big price jump from Free to Plus
  • Steeper learning curve than plug-and-play bots
  • AI spend auto top-ups not configurable yet
Free · from $150/moTask agent
Crisp logo
#19Free option

Crisp

Shared inbox and website chat with an AI agent, flat per workspace

Crisp is a customer messaging platform with website chat, a shared inbox and an AI agent that can handle conversations end to end. Pricing is per workspace rather than per seat, with a free plan for two seats. AI features use included credits, so they require a paid plan.

Why it's here

  • Flat workspace pricing
  • Free plan for basic chat
  • Knowledge base and workflows on Essentials

Watch out for

  • AI requires a paid plan
  • Unclear which tier has the full AI agent
  • Prices exclude VAT
Free · from $45/moAutonomous
Regie.ai logo
#20Free option

Regie.ai

AI prospecting, research, drafting and a parallel dialer with a free tier

Regie.ai is a sales prospecting platform that combines AI agents, enrichment and a parallel dialer. You describe your ideal customer, it finds matching buyers, surfaces dated buying signals and drafts outreach in your voice. Every plan includes a built-in CRM, and paid plans add a dialer that calls up to five lines at once.

Why it's here

  • Real free plan, no card needed
  • Parallel dialer included from Pro
  • You only pay for enrichment that finds data

Watch out for

  • Rep stays in the loop; less hands-off than a full AI SDR
  • Team plan has a two-seat minimum
  • Credit math takes some getting used to
Free · from $49/moTask agent
Clay logo
#21Free option

Clay

Lead enrichment spreadsheet with Claygent, an AI web research agent

Clay is a data enrichment platform that pulls company and contact data from many providers into one table and lets AI agents research each row. Its agent, Claygent, browses the web to answer custom questions about a lead or account. Teams use it to build lead lists, score accounts and feed personalized data into outreach tools.

Why it's here

  • Waterfall enrichment across many providers
  • Claygent included on every plan, free too
  • Bring your own API keys

Watch out for

  • Steep learning curve
  • Credits burn fast on big lists
  • Does not send outreach itself
Free · from $167/moTask agent
Apollo.io logo
#22Free option

Apollo.io

B2B contact database and sequencer with background AI agents

Apollo.io is a sales platform that combines a B2B contact database, email sequencing, a dialer and AI features. Its AI Assistant can run agents in the background to research accounts and build prospecting workflows. A free plan with no time limit exists, and paid tiers add higher credit limits and AI features.

Why it's here

  • Large database plus sending in one place
  • Usable free plan
  • Integrates with major CRMs

Watch out for

  • Free plan connects Gmail only
  • Credit limits push you to paid tiers
  • AI features gated to higher plans
Unify logo
#23Free option

Unify

Signal-based outbound with AI copywriting, data and a dialer

Unify is an AI prospecting platform that combines B2B data, intent signals, multichannel sequences and a dialer. You can run outbound from a single chat interface, and plays trigger outreach when signals like job changes or hiring appear. A free plan covers up to three seats with limited credits.

Why it's here

  • Free plan with sequencing and dialer
  • Low per-seat price
  • Signals and data built in

Watch out for

  • CRM write-back only on Business
  • Website intent needs the top tier
  • Managed mailboxes cost extra
Free · from $20/moTask agent
Buffer logo
#24Free option

Buffer

Simple social scheduler with an AI Assistant and a free plan

Buffer is a social media scheduling tool with a built-in AI Assistant that helps write, refine and repurpose posts. The free plan covers up to three channels with ten scheduled posts each. Paid plans are priced per channel and add unlimited posts, analytics and team approvals.

Why it's here

  • Generous free plan
  • Cheap per-channel pricing
  • AI Assistant on every plan

Watch out for

  • AI helps you write but does not run accounts
  • Free plan limits AI replies
  • Costs grow with each channel
Free · from $5/moAssistant
Perplexity logo
#25Free option

Perplexity

AI answer engine with cited sources and deep research reports

Perplexity is an AI answer engine that searches the web and responds with cited sources, with research modes that read many pages and write longer reports. It is a quick way to get sourced answers instead of a list of links. There is a free plan, with Pro and Max subscriptions for heavier use.

Why it's here

  • Citations on every answer
  • Fast
  • Useful free plan

Watch out for

  • Source quality varies
  • Plan limits change often
  • Less good at long, structured analysis than dedicated tools

Best Free AI Agents: FAQ

Are there any truly free AI agents?

+

Yes. Fathom's meeting notes, Zapier Agents' free activities, Comet's browser and Codex on ChatGPT Free all cost nothing. Open-source agents are free software but need a model, which may cost money.

What is the best free AI agent for coding?

+

OpenAI Codex on the free ChatGPT plan, or Jules' free tier. Cline and Aider are free open-source options where you pay only for model usage.

What is the best free AI agent for business?

+

Zapier Agents for automating tasks across your apps and Fathom for meeting notes. Otter and Granola also have useful free tiers.

What's the catch with free AI agents?

+

Usage limits are the main one, and free tiers often lack integrations or higher-quality models. Check the data policy too, since some free plans use your data to improve their models.

Can I run an AI agent for free on my own computer?

+

Yes, with open-source agents like OpenClaw, Cline or OpenHands and a local model. You'll need a capable computer, and results are usually weaker than with paid cloud models.