goose
Open-source local agent: desktop app, CLI, and API.
Side by side
goose vs Aider
Both are free, open-source local agents on your own model key. goose adds a desktop app and MCP extensions; Aider is terminal-first.
Checked 15 Oct 2026. Cells quote the linked official page. Where a page is silent, the cell says Unknown.
Aider
Open-source pair programming in the terminal.
Where the recorded cells differ
- MCP. goose: Yes. Aider: Unknown.
Matrix
| Field | goose | Aider |
|---|---|---|
| Published from | Tool $0source No seat price. Model charges separate. | Tool $0source No seat price. Model API charges are separate. |
| Free tier | Yessource Open source under Apache 2.0. | Yessource The tool is open source and no-charge under Apache 2.0. Model use can still cost money. |
| Open source | Yessource Apache-2.0 on GitHub. | Yessource Apache 2.0. Confirmed in the FAQ and the GitHub LICENSE file. |
| Agent edits code | Yessource General-purpose agent with subagents. | Yessource It edits the repo, commits with git, and can lint and test after changes. |
| Inline completion | Unknownsource The page reviewed does not say. | Unknownsource The homepage does not describe editor inline completion. |
| CLI | Yessource Full CLI. | Yessource Terminal is the product. |
| Bring your own key | Yessource API keys from 15+ providers. | Yessource The getting-started commands take provider API keys, and the page says it can use local models. |
| MCP | Yessource 70+ extensions via MCP. | Unknownsource The homepage and FAQ page reviewed do not mention MCP. |
| Cloud agent | Nosource Described as running on your machine; no hosted plan listed. | Nosource Described as a local terminal tool. No hosted cloud-agent plan is listed. |
| Team or enterprise admin | Unknownsource The page reviewed does not say. | Unknownsource No team admin, SSO, or seat plan is described on the pages reviewed. |