Trae
by ByteDance
Starting at
Free (5,000 autocompletions/month); Lite $3/month; Pro $10/month; Pro+ $30/month; Ultra $100/month
ByteDance's AI-native IDE that pairs a VS Code-style editor with agentic coding workflows, custom model support, and a SOLO mode for larger autonomous tasks. Offers a generous free tier with access to premium models.
Last verified: June 2026
Overview
Trae is an AI-native IDE from ByteDance that blends a familiar Visual Studio Code-style coding environment with agentic AI workflows. It supports custom model selection, MCP tooling, and a SOLO mode designed to handle larger, multi-step development tasks autonomously. Trae's main draw is an unusually generous free tier combined with very low paid pricing, putting access to premium models within reach of individual developers.
Key Features
Trae provides agentic coding alongside traditional autocomplete and chat. Its SOLO mode lets developers delegate larger tasks for the agent to plan and execute, while MCP support and custom model integration let users wire in their own tools and preferred models. The free tier includes 5,000 autocompletions per month with access to premium models such as Claude, GPT-4o, and DeepSeek R1. In early 2026 Trae moved to a five-tier, token-based pricing model where usage is metered as Basic plus Bonus token credits rather than fixed fast/slow request caps.
Pricing
Trae's public pricing lists five tiers: Free, Lite ($3/month), Pro ($10/month), Pro+ ($30/month), and Ultra ($100/month). The Pro plan is the best default for most individual developers, unlocking SOLO mode, unlimited autocomplete, priority queueing, and up to 10 concurrent cloud tasks. Actual cost depends heavily on how much context and agentic execution each workflow consumes.
Who Should Use It
Trae is attractive to budget-conscious individual developers and hobbyists who want premium-model access at the lowest possible price. However, its data collection practices have drawn scrutiny, and many Western companies avoid it due to privacy and geopolitical concerns tied to ByteDance. Teams handling sensitive or proprietary code should weigh these risks carefully before adopting it.
Pros
- + Generous free tier with premium models like Claude and GPT
- + Familiar VS Code-based interface
- + SOLO mode for larger autonomous tasks
- + MCP tooling and custom model support
- + Aggressive low pricing on paid tiers
Cons
- - Significant privacy and telemetry concerns tied to ByteDance
- - Token-based metering makes costs harder to predict
- - Many Western companies avoid it on geopolitical grounds
- - No telemetry opt-out
What Users Actually Complain About
Independent security researchers have documented extensive data collection and telemetry, with reports of multi-year data retention and no opt-out. Token-based metering makes monthly costs harder to predict than fixed request caps. Many enterprises block Trae outright due to ByteDance ownership and privacy implications.
Skip it if:
You work with sensitive or proprietary code, or your company restricts Chinese-vendor tooling. Teams needing predictable billing or strong data-privacy guarantees should look elsewhere.
Based on community feedback from Reddit, HN, and G2 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trae?
ByteDance's AI-native IDE that pairs a VS Code-style editor with agentic coding workflows, custom model support, and a SOLO mode for larger autonomous tasks. Offers a generous free tier with access to premium models.
How much does Trae cost?
Trae uses a freemium pricing model with plans starting at Free (5,000 autocompletions/month); Lite $3/month; Pro $10/month; Pro+ $30/month; Ultra $100/month.
What are the main advantages of Trae?
The key advantages of Trae include: Generous free tier with premium models like Claude and GPT; Familiar VS Code-based interface; SOLO mode for larger autonomous tasks; MCP tooling and custom model support; Aggressive low pricing on paid tiers.
What are the drawbacks of Trae?
Some limitations to consider: Significant privacy and telemetry concerns tied to ByteDance; Token-based metering makes costs harder to predict; Many Western companies avoid it on geopolitical grounds; No telemetry opt-out.
What category does Trae belong to?
Trae is a Code Assistant tool developed by ByteDance.
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Try Trae
Starting at Free (5,000 autocompletions/month); Lite $3/month; Pro $10/month; Pro+ $30/month; Ultra $100/month
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