Trae
FreemiumFree AI-powered IDE by ByteDance with Builder Mode for full-project scaffolding and usage-limited access to premium AI models
What is Trae?
Trae is a free AI-powered IDE built by ByteDance on top of VS Code. Its standout feature is Builder Mode, which generates complete project scaffolding, files, code structure, and dependencies, from a natural language description. Trae's free plan includes usage-limited access to premium AI models, and paid plans start at just $3/mo, keeping it one of the most affordable AI coding tools available. It supports multimodal input (upload screenshots or mockups to generate UI code), VS Code extensions, and MCP Protocol for tool integrations. Available on macOS, Windows, and as a browser-based Cloud IDE.
Trae demo video
Watch Trae's official demo to see Trae in action before reading our full review.
Official video by Trae via YouTube, embedded for reference. ToolChase does not host or claim this video.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Solo developers, students, and rapid prototypers who want a free AI IDE with premium model access without subscription costs
Non-coding tasks like writing, design, or data analysis
Free (limited monthly usage) / Lite $3/mo / Pro $10/mo
Yes
Free tier with usage-limited premium model access
Built by ByteDance, data privacy and 5-year retention concerns
Bottom line: Trae scores 4.2/5, a strong choice for Solo developers, students, and rapid prototypers who want a free AI IDE with premium model access without subscription costs. A solid option worth considering.
Trae Pricing
Free (limited monthly usage, 5,000 autocompletions/mo) / Lite $3/mo / Pro $10/mo ($20 basic usage credit plus bonus usage) / Pro+ $30/mo / Ultra $100/mo. Enterprise via BytePlus.
Key Features
- Builder Mode, full project scaffolding from natural language
- Usage-limited free access to premium models including Claude and DeepSeek
- Multimodal input, upload screenshots for UI code generation
- VS Code fork with extension compatibility
- Cloud IDE, no installation required
- Custom agents and MCP Protocol support
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free tier with usage-limited premium model access
- Builder Mode generates entire projects from descriptions
- Familiar VS Code interface with easy migration
- Multimodal input for design-to-code workflows
Cons
- Built by ByteDance, data privacy and 5-year retention concerns
- No Linux support yet
- Context drops on large codebases
- Free model access has request limits
Best For
Solo developers, students, and rapid prototypers who want a free AI IDE with premium model access without subscription costs
FAQ
What is Trae?
Trae is an AI-powered IDE by ByteDance. It provides code completions, inline chat, and multi-file editing capabilities, similar to Cursor and Windsurf but backed by ByteDance's AI models.
Is Trae free?
Trae has a free plan with limited monthly usage. Paid plans are Lite at $3/mo, Pro at $10/mo, Pro+ at $30/mo, and Ultra at $100/mo.
How does Trae compare to Cursor?
Both are AI-native IDEs based on VS Code. Cursor is more mature with a larger community. Trae is newer with a free tier and a cheaper Pro plan ($10/mo vs Cursor Pro at $20/mo). Try both if you are evaluating AI IDEs.
What AI models does Trae use?
Trae uses ByteDance's own AI models alongside support for models from other providers. The specific model capabilities may evolve as the product matures.
Is Trae safe to use?
Trae is built by ByteDance (TikTok's parent company). Code may be processed on ByteDance servers. For privacy-sensitive projects, consider locally-focused tools or verify Trae's data handling policies.
Score based on product quality, usability, value, features, reliability, integrations & market trust. How we score →
Alternatives to Trae
📋 Good to know
Download Trae from trae.ai for macOS or Windows, or use the Cloud IDE in your browser. Open a project and start using AI chat and autocomplete immediately.
Code context is sent to ByteDance's servers for AI processing. The free plan includes usage-limited access to premium AI models. No on-premise option available.
Trae's free plan has limited monthly usage. Upgrade to Lite ($3/mo) or Pro ($10/mo) for more usage credit, or to Pro+ ($30/mo) or Ultra ($100/mo) for heavy use and more concurrent cloud tasks.
Low, familiar VS Code interface with built-in AI. Builder Mode for project scaffolding requires describing what you want clearly. Same UX as VS Code with extensions.
