The best free AI models you can use right now
OpenAI's Sol pricing changes put AI costs back in focus. These six options let you start without a subscription, with different limits on chat, coding and API access.
By Ryan Merket · Published
Access information checked September 29th, 2026.
Why it matters
A monthly AI subscription is optional for many everyday tasks. Free access is available from several major providers, although the model you get, the tools it can use and how long you can keep working vary by service.
OpenAI has been cutting the cost of its workhorse models. As RuntimeWire reported when GPT-6 Sol and Luna launched, Sol arrived with API prices half its predecessor's promotional rates. GPT-6.1 Sol now lists standard rates of $2 per million input tokens and $10 per million output tokens.
Those are paid API prices. Readers who want to spend nothing have a separate set of choices, including GPT-6 Luna through OpenAI's desktop app, Claude's free plan and Gemini's developer free tier.
The selections below cover models and model families available through free services. They are practical starting points, selected for access and useful features; this guide does not rank their performance in a common benchmark test.
The free options at a glance
| Model or family | Where to use it | A useful starting task | What free access means |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-6 Luna | ChatGPT desktop app | A small coding task | Free-plan access at Standard speed, subject to rollout and usage limits |
| Claude Sonnet | Claude | Editing a draft or building an Artifact | Free chat access within usage limits; Claude Code requires a paid plan |
| Gemini 3.7 Flash | Google AI Studio | Testing prompts or a small API prototype | Free-tier input and output within quotas; paid features have separate charges |
| DeepSeek | DeepSeek Chat | Working through a technical question | Free consumer chat; API billing is separate |
| Qwen | Qwen Studio | Trying another model's answer to the same prompt | Free consumer service; available model choices can change |
| Mistral models | Mistral's web app | Chat, search or an introductory coding task | Limited access through Mistral's Free plan |
GPT-6 Luna: start here for a free OpenAI coding option
OpenAI's current plan documentation lists GPT-6 Luna at Standard speed in the desktop app for Free users, subject to rollout. That makes it a straightforward place to try a focused task such as fixing a small script or explaining an unfamiliar function.
The access route matters: the documentation identifies the desktop app specifically. Free desktop usage also does not grant free API calls. GPT-6.1 Sol's API documentation lists its free tier as unsupported.
Claude Sonnet: try it for writing and Artifacts
Anthropic's plan comparison includes Sonnet and Haiku access on the $0 plan. Free users can chat, search the web, create Artifacts and create or edit files using code execution.
That gives readers a way to try a writing revision or a small interactive project before subscribing. Usage depends on the length and complexity of the conversation, the chosen model and the features used. Anthropic says there is no fixed message count; limits reset on a rolling five-hour session window.
Claude Code is listed on paid plans. Access to Sonnet in free chat should not be read as free access to every Claude product.
Gemini 3.7 Flash: a free tier for developers
Google lists Gemini 3.7 Flash input and output as free of charge on its standard developer free tier. Readers can try it in Google AI Studio, while developers can use the free tier to experiment within their project's quotas.
It is a useful starting point for testing a prompt or prototyping an integration. Check the project's available quota before building a workflow around it. Google lists Search and Maps grounding as unavailable on this model's free tier and says free-tier data is used to improve its products.
DeepSeek: another free chat option for technical questions
DeepSeek offers its consumer chat service separately from its API platform. Its official app announcement describes the app as free, without ads or in-app purchases.
The company's current homepage highlights DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash. Check the model or mode shown inside the service when starting a conversation, particularly when comparing results with another provider. Free consumer chat and paid developer access have separate terms.
Qwen: a free place to compare answers
Alibaba's Qwen Studio describes itself as free to use and powered by the Qwen model series. Readers can use it as another place to test a writing prompt, ask a question or compare an answer they received elsewhere.
The service's model choices can change. Record the selected model when making a comparison, and check the interface for any feature-specific limits. Free access to the consumer service does not establish free access to every Qwen API endpoint.
Mistral: free access to chat and introductory coding
Mistral's Free plan provides limited access to its latest models through Vibe, including chat, search, creation and Vibe for code in the terminal. The company also lists access to Mistral Studio.
Start with a small task to see whether the available model and allowance suit your work. Mistral's pricing page recommends its Medium family for most tasks and coding, while paid plans increase usage and feature limits. Check the model shown in the product before treating a result as a test of a specific release.
Check the access route before comparing prices
Free chat, a free API allowance and downloadable model weights each come with different costs and limits. Running an open-weight model yourself still requires hardware or rented compute. A subscription may include usage that ends when you reach an allowance.
For API prices, context windows and RuntimeWire's own benchmark results, browse the RuntimeWire model catalog. Its provider pricing helps compare developer costs; a $0 listing on one endpoint does not guarantee unlimited free access elsewhere.
Try the same small task in two services, note the model each one used and see which answer helps you finish. That is a practical first step before adding another monthly subscription.