Choose OpenCode for a direct, interactive coding loop. Choose OpenHands when controlling where agents run and how their work is operated is part of the requirement. The comparison is broader than two command-line tools: the current OpenHands ecosystem includes Agent Canvas, Agent Server, an SDK, and managed deployment options.
That distinction helps you avoid choosing from an outdated screenshot. OpenHands' current introduction identifies Agent Canvas as the active browser client, the old Local GUI as deprecated, and the CLI as maintained primarily for stability. Start with the current component map before following an installation tutorial.
Compare the workflow you intend to run
| Question | OpenHands | OpenCode |
|---|---|---|
| Where do I interact? | Agent Canvas in a browser, or an application built around the SDK | Terminal workflow, with documented editor and other integrations |
| Where does work execute? | The backend and workspace you select | The environment in which you run the agent and its tools |
| What am I configuring? | Backend, workspace, model access, and automation as needed | Project context, provider, model, agents, and permissions |
| Strong reason to choose | You need to operate remote or repeatable agent work | You want to steer a change closely in your existing coding session |
| Cost categories | Model usage plus selected backend/service and connected tools | Selected model access, machine, and connected tools |
Choose OpenHands for a deliberate execution environment
Agent Canvas separates the browser interface from the backend that runs conversations and tools. The official Canvas overview describes local, Docker, VM, and Cloud paths. It also distinguishes the backend from the workspace containing the files. Those choices matter when a task needs a repeatable environment or must keep running independently of your editor.
For example, suppose several repository jobs need the same dependencies and predictable file access. A configured backend and workspace can become part of the job definition. The benefit is operational consistency; the corresponding work is maintaining that environment and knowing how to inspect a failed run.
The Software Agent SDK is another reason to consider OpenHands if you are building an agent-powered application. Evaluate the interfaces you need to create work, observe it, and retrieve results. Merely wanting an assistant to fix today's bug does not require adopting an SDK.
Choose OpenCode for the interactive loop
OpenCode is an attractive starting point when you want to stay close to the repository: supply context, ask for a plan, inspect edits, and redirect the next step. Its agent configuration and model selection let you customize that experience, while its IDE integration connects the terminal session to selected code.
Try it with the development environment you already use. If builds and tests depend on local services, determine how the agent will invoke them and what it should leave running. The simplest successful setup is usually more useful than an elaborate deployment that adds no benefit to your task.
This is a recommendation about fit, not an exclusive feature boundary. OpenCode can participate in automated workflows, and OpenHands can be used interactively. The question is which project's default workflow and extension points make your required job easier to operate.
Compare model access separately from the host
Both projects document multiple ways to connect models. In OpenHands, the available paths depend on the component and backend; Canvas includes provider keys, its model service, local or compatible endpoints, and supported ACP agents. In OpenCode, select a configured provider and model. A shared brand name on the model picker does not prove identical inference settings or account billing.
Write down three lines for each trial: where the agent runs, which account pays for the model, and which account pays for external tools. Check that changing a model provider does not accidentally change the execution environment you meant to compare. For an overall budget, include idle server time and storage as well as the task's token charge.
A useful first migration test
- Start at the same commit. Use separate workspaces so one agent cannot benefit from the other's patch.
- Specify a real result. Ask for a small fix with a reproducible failing check.
- Verify the environment. Dependencies, credentials, network access, and filesystem permissions must be comparable.
- Inspect the artifact. Review the diff and test output, not just the assistant's completion message.
- Repeat after a restart. Confirm you can reconnect, find the result, and understand the recorded cost.
Stay with OpenCode if direct steering solves your work and a remote backend adds overhead. Adopt OpenHands when its execution and operating model removes a concrete constraint. You can also keep a local interactive agent for investigation and a separately operated environment for repeatable jobs.
For the OpenCode route, start with a small model trial. The Kunavo OpenCode setup shows the provider configuration, and current model rates let you estimate the usage budget. OpenHands users should follow their selected component's provider documentation before treating any compatible API as a validated full-task integration.
FAQ
What is the main difference between OpenHands and OpenCode?
OpenHands offers a browser control surface, agent servers, an SDK, and deployment options for operating agent work. OpenCode is a direct fit for interactive coding through its terminal and related integrations. Both can be extended and automated, so choose by the execution environment and workflow you actually need.
Does OpenHands have to run in the cloud?
No. Current OpenHands documentation describes Agent Canvas connected to local, container, VM, and managed cloud backends. Where the backend runs determines where the agent executes and which files and credentials it can access.
Is OpenHands CLI the same as Agent Canvas?
No. OpenHands currently describes Agent Canvas as its active browser client. The older CLI is feature-complete and maintained primarily for stability, while the legacy Local GUI is deprecated. Follow the documentation for the component you are installing.
Which is cheaper, OpenHands or OpenCode?
Compare model usage plus the environment that runs the task. A managed or self-hosted OpenHands backend can add infrastructure or service charges; a local OpenCode session still has model and machine costs. The task's context, tools, retries, and review effort also affect the comparison.
Official documentation checked September 17, 2026. This comparison describes deployment and workflow choices, not a measured task-success ranking.