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Last updated: May 23th 2025

How I Code with AI on a budget/free

My Browser Setup: The Free AI Buffet

First things first, I have a browser open loaded with tabs pointing to the free tiers of powerful AI models. Why stick to one when you can get multiple perspectives for free? My typical lineup includes:

  • At least one tab but more like three of Google Gemini AI Studio (Gemini 2.5 Pro/Flash are often free and unlimited here).
    Also, try Google Gemini 2.5 Pro (different than AI Studio, has better image generation and deep research; I always have a couple tabs of this along with a couple tabs of AI Studio).
  • Couple tabs of Poe.com usually set to Claude 4 or o4-mini for its free daily credits on premium models.
  • Several tabs of OpenRouter, set to several models, some free models, some not.
  • At least one tab for ChatGPT (the free version is still useful).
  • At least one tab for Perplexity AI, especially good for research-heavy questions.
  • At least one tab for Deepseek (v3 and r1 are free on their web interface, though watch the context limit).
  • One tab for Grok.com. Good, free and seemingly unlimited for general use and deep research/image editing. I mainly use the deep research feature, similar to perplexity.
  • Phind is another free one, it tries to show you flowcharts/diagram visuals.

    • ⚠️ Important Disclaimer about Grok:

    Grok offers free compute and uncensored image generation, which can be useful when other models' safety systems interfere with legitimate tasks. However, it is run by someone who may be manipulating the company to promote Nazi-adjacent views and misinformation, possibly attempting to sway users in that direction. Reports indicate that Grok has been instructed to lie about historical atrocities, including topics such as genocide in Africa. While the misinformation appears to be mostly on X, if you keep in mind to restrict usage to coding or be cautious knowing it might be programmed with questionable motives, it can occasionally be useful.

    The Core Workflow: Manual Context is King

    AI in web chat's are almost always better at solving problems, and coming up with solutions compared to the agents like Cline, Trae, Copilot.. Not always, but usually.

    So I use my tool often, to generate the context bundle. Then I paste it into one of the many AI web chat's (sometimes more than one, since they sometimes give different answers) and just ask it questions or ask it to code review, to try to figure out why x is happening when y is happening...etc

    After doing this for a while, you really get a feel for which models excel at which types of tasks. I plan to collect more data on this eventually, but for now, hands-on experience is key.

    How AI Code Prep Helps (Example Prompt Structure):

    Can you help me debug/figure out why my app is not working when a, b, and c happens? Here are all the relevant code files:

    Then, AI Code Prep GUI (for Windows/Mac - check the site for Mac instructions) steps in. It recursively scans your project folder (subfolders, sub-subfolders, you name it) and grabs the code, formatting it nicely like this:

    The tool generates output similar to this structure:

    fileName.js:
    <code>
    ... the contents of the file..
    </code>

    nextFile.py:
    <code>
    import example
    ...etc
    </code>

    On Windows, you just right-click somewhere inside your project folder (or on the folder itself) and select "AI Code Prep GUI" from the context menu (look at the screenshots on the site). A GUI window pops up, usually with the right code files pre-selected. It smartly tries to skip things you likely don't need, like node_modules, .git, etc. If its guess isn't perfect, you can easily check or uncheck files.

    This is super useful when your project is huge and blows past an AI's context limit. You can manually curate exactly what the AI needs to see.

    The problem with many coding agents like Cline, Github Copilot, Cursor, Windsurf, etc., is that they often send either WAY too much context or WAY too little. This is why they can seem dumb or ineffective sometimes. Sometimes, you just gotta do things yourself, use a tool like mine to select the files yourself, but it helps auto-select the code files while skipping the stuff you probably don't need (but still have the option to add what you want with the checkboxes) and then dump that curated context into several AIs (especially the free web ones!).

    Sure, there are other context-generating tools, but many are command-line only, or need a public GitHub repo link. What if your code is private? What if you want to keep it local? What if you prefer checkboxes on a GUI? For something like this a GUI makes sense.

    Model Strategy: Picking the Right Brain for the Job

    Since many great models are free to use via web interfaces (like Gemini in AI Studio, Grok, Deepseek), I prioritize these. Poe.com also gives free daily credits for top models like Claude and the new o4 series.

    Gemini 2.5 Pro/Preview (via AI Studio) is great for debugging, great for planning, and also finding it the best at lots of things now. For really thorny issues, I might try the new o4-mini (available via OpenRouter or Poe). It surprisingly fixed a persistent bug for me right away, though I'm still figuring out its best use cases. It's notably cheaper via API than the previous top dogs like Claude 3.5/3.7.

    I usually try Claude 3.7 at some point, maybe via Poe or API (OpenRouter makes this easy), but it's pricier for frequent use. Think of Claude 3.7 as Claude on caffeine – brilliant, sometimes verbose, maybe a bit 'psychotic' like Hunter S. Thompson. Lots of great output, but you might need a calmer model like Claude 3.5 to refine it or do the actual coding.

    My Agent Workflow:

    1. Plan & Brainstorm: Use the smarter/free web models (Gemini 2.5, o4-mini, Claude 3.7, Grok, etc.) to figure out the approach, plan the steps, identify libraries, etc.
    2. Generate Agent Prompt: Ask one of these smart models: "Write a detailed-enough prompt for Cline, my AI coding agent, to complete the following tasks: [describe tasks]". Sometimes, I'll copy this generated prompt and paste it into another free AI good at rewriting (like ChatGPT) to refine it further.
    3. Execute with Cline: Paste the step-by-step task list into Cline, configured to use a stable and efficient model like GPT 4.1 or 4.1 Mini (its insanely great, seems about equal to regular 4.1, cost effective). The 4.1's have been trained to follow instructions well.
    4. Fallback: If GPT 4.1 struggles, switch Cline to use Claude 3.5 via API. It seems to be the next best for reliable execution.

    Essentially: Use expensive/smart models (and the excellent free Gemini 2.5 Pro) to strategize and plan. Validate the plan by pasting it into 2-3 other free models (Deepseek R1, Claude on Poe if context allows) and ask "Is this good? Can you improve it or find flaws?". Then, use a stable workhorse like GPT 4.1 or Claude 3.5 within Cline to do the heavy lifting (coding).

    o4-mini seems particularly adept at untangling complex code logic or figuring out high-level implementation strategies (like choosing frameworks or libraries). I'll often throw my initial idea at Gemini 2.5, o4-mini, GPT 4.1, ChatGPT, maybe o3-mini (try duck.ai - often free), and Phind to get a range of ideas. If the free/cheap options don't crack it, I'll escalate to pricier models via API.

    Alternative Agents & Setups

    Trae.ai (from Bytedance, makers of TikTok) is a free VS Code compatible IDE with free AI usage, including Claude 4, Claude 3.7, Claude 3.5, and GPT 4.1. Their agents aren't as good as Cline but it's free and gives access to the best models. Sometimes, I find its built-in agent isn't as robust as Cline. However, since Trae seems to be a VS Code clone, you can likely install the Cline extension within it!

    So, you could have two setups:

    Try both! Sometimes the native Copilot agent solves things Cline struggles with, and vice-versa. I suspect Cline sometimes sends overly large prompts which might hinder performance on certain tasks compared to the more integrated Copilot agent.

    Roo Code: Cline's Clone

    Roo Code

    Roo Code is a clone of Cline, very similar but with some different features that are worth trying out. Sometimes Cline might work better for your workflow, and sometimes Roo Code will. It's a good idea to try both and see which fits your needs for a given project or coding style.

    Cline for VS Code is free, but remember you pay for the API calls unless you're leveraging the Copilot subscription trick. Using the VS Code LM API setting in Cline with a $10/month Copilot sub is currently the most cost-effective way to get near-unlimited access to powerful models within the agent.

    TL;DR: Quickstart Guide

    Some Thoughts

    AI is an incredible force multiplier, but it’s not a magic wand. The real magic happens when you combine your curiosity, persistence, and willingness to experiment with these powerful tools. Don’t get discouraged by bugs or setbacks—every challenge is a chance to learn something new. Mix and match models, try wild ideas, and don’t be afraid to break things and rebuild. The best coders aren’t the ones who never get stuck—they’re the ones who keep moving forward, using every tool and trick at their disposal. Embrace the chaos, enjoy the process, and let your creativity lead the way!

    Latest Model Updates (2025)

    Claude Sonnet 4 & Opus 4

    Status: Just released and proving to be the best models for everything

    Performance: Fixed some bugs today that were hard for most other models to handle

    Cost: More expensive, but accessible through GitHub Copilot $10/month (rate limited)

    Strategy: Save Claude 4 for tough problems, use GPT 4.1 for regular coding

    GPT 4.5

    Performance: Excellent for bug fixing and complex problem solving

    Token Limits: 250k tokens daily if you allow data for model training

    Cost Hack: Free under the 250k token limit when you enable data sharing in settings

    Use Case: Great for using AI Code Prep tool to analyze entire codebases

    Current Coding Workflow (2025)

    For New Projects:

    1. Planning Phase: Type all details in notepad (languages, libraries, servers, etc.)
    2. Multi-Model Consultation: Paste into multiple models for different "doctor's opinions":
      • Gemini 2.5 Pro (free)
      • GPT 4.1
      • o4-mini
      • Claude 4 on Poe.com (free daily credits)
    3. Refinement: Go back and forth to fine-tune details
    4. Task Generation: Have model write step-by-step task list for Cline AI coding agent
    5. Execution: Copy/paste into Cline (or Roo Code) set to GPT 4.1 for 'act' mode

    For Problem Solving:

    Task List & Test Driven Development (Coming Soon)

    Test Driven Development & Task Lists:

    Coming to this guide soon (these other topics)Have the AIs create a detailed task list for Cline, Roo Code, Trae agent, to execute. You can also instruct Cline or Roo Code to use a markdown file to keep track of everything it does, checking things off as it completes them. This will make it easier to track and ensure nothing gets missed.

    For now, you can experiment by having a model generate a checklist in markdown, and then ask Cline or Roo Code to update the file as tasks are completed.

    Money-Saving Hacks

    Coming Soon: Live Reddit Data & Insights

    Live Reddit Data Scraping & Daily Insights:

    A new feature is coming soon: live scraping of Reddit data and daily updated info about how people are using AI models. This will include detailed usage breakdowns, data visualizations, and new insights into real-world coding workflows and trends.