# Trae — Free AI IDE by ByteDance with Claude & GPT-4

> Free AI-powered IDE by ByteDance with built-in Claude and GPT-4 access at no cost. VS Code-based with Builder mode for multi-file agentic editing and inline chat. 8,000+ stars.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

1. Download from [trae.ai](https://trae.ai) (macOS, Windows, Linux)
2. Open your project
3. Press `Cmd+I` for inline AI chat or `Cmd+Shift+Y` for Builder mode
4. Start coding with free Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o — no API key needed

---

## Intro

Trae is a free AI-powered IDE by ByteDance that includes built-in access to Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o at no cost with 8,000+ GitHub stars. Built on VS Code, it offers two AI modes — Chat for quick questions and Builder for multi-file agentic edits. Unlike Cursor which charges $20/mo for Pro, Trae provides unlimited AI features for free including inline completions, chat, and multi-file editing. Best for developers who want a full AI IDE experience without subscription costs. Works with: Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o (free, built-in). Setup time: under 3 minutes.

---

## Key Features

### Two AI Modes

**Chat Mode** (`Cmd+I`):
- Ask questions about your code
- Generate snippets inline
- Explain functions
- Quick fixes and refactoring

**Builder Mode** (`Cmd+Shift+Y`):
- Multi-file agentic editing
- Project-aware context
- Accepts/rejects changes per file
- Runs commands autonomously

### Free Model Access
No API keys, no subscription:

| Model | Cost in Trae | Cost in Cursor |
|-------|-------------|----------------|
| Claude Sonnet | Free | $20/mo Pro |
| GPT-4o | Free | $20/mo Pro |
| Inline completions | Free | Free (limited) |

### VS Code Compatibility
- Full VS Code extension support
- Existing keybindings work
- Settings sync from VS Code
- Same extension marketplace

### Builder Mode Workflow

```
1. Describe what you want:
   "Add user authentication with JWT, password hashing, and protected routes"

2. Trae plans the changes across multiple files

3. Review diffs per file:
   ✓ src/auth/middleware.ts — Accept
   ✓ src/routes/auth.ts — Accept
   ✗ src/config.ts — Reject (keep my existing config)

4. Apply accepted changes
```

### Context Providers
Trae understands your project:
- Full codebase indexing
- Git history awareness
- Terminal output context
- Documentation references

### Key Stats
- 8,000+ GitHub stars
- By ByteDance
- Free Claude Sonnet + GPT-4o
- VS Code-based (full compatibility)
- Builder mode for multi-file edits

### FAQ

**Q: What is Trae?**
A: Trae is a free AI IDE by ByteDance with built-in Claude and GPT-4o access, featuring Chat and Builder modes for AI-assisted coding.

**Q: Is Trae really free?**
A: Yes, including AI features. ByteDance subsidizes the model costs.

**Q: How does Trae compare to Cursor?**
A: Both are VS Code-based AI IDEs. Trae is completely free. Cursor has more mature features but charges $20/mo for Pro.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [ByteDance](https://github.com/anthropics). Licensed under proprietary.
>
> [trae](https://trae.ai) — ⭐ 8,000+

Thanks to ByteDance for democratizing AI-powered coding.

---

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## Quick Use

1. Download from [trae.ai](https://trae.ai)
2. Open a project and press `Cmd+I` or `Cmd+Shift+Y`
3. Use Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o for free — no API key required

---

## Intro

Trae is ByteDance's free AI IDE with 8,000+ GitHub stars. Built-in free access to Claude Sonnet and GPT-4o. Based on VS Code, with Chat and Builder AI modes. Ideal for developers who want a full AI IDE experience without paying a monthly fee.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [ByteDance](https://trae.ai).
>
> [trae](https://trae.ai) — ⭐ 8,000+


---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/trae-free-ai-ide-bytedance-claude-gpt-4-fdfd6a94
Author: ByteDance