Trae

ByteDance's free AI-powered IDE

Free code-editorvscode-forkchina-market

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7.6 /10 Expert Score

Features

Pricing

Ecosystem

Performance

About

Trae is ByteDance's free AI-powered IDE built on the VS Code platform, designed specifically for the Chinese developer market. It integrates deeply with Doubao and other domestic Chinese LLMs, providing AI code completion, chat, and multi-file editing at zero cost. Built-in models mean no API key configuration or usage fees—a significant advantage in a market where many international AI tools are inaccessible or require complex workarounds. Trae offers AI-powered code completion, chat with Chinese-first support, code explanation in Chinese, multi-file editing, bug detection, and code translation between languages. As a VS Code fork, it maintains compatibility with most VS Code extensions, giving Chinese developers access to the rich plugin ecosystem while enjoying native AI integration. The Chinese-language code explanation feature is particularly valuable for junior developers and students learning programming. Trae is the best choice for Chinese developers who want a completely free AI IDE with native Chinese language support and direct access to domestic models. Its limitations are clear: China-only focus means limited global appeal, the ecosystem is newer and less mature than Cursor, and privacy-sensitive developers should consider ByteDance's data handling practices. For developers outside China, CodeGeeX or Cursor offer better international support.

Key Features

AI code completion
AI chat
Code explanation (Chinese)
Multi-file editing
Bug detection
Code translation

Deals, Discounts & How to Save

Fully free with built-in domestic LLM access

Maximize free tiers before subscribing—most AI editors have generous free plans. Students should always apply for education discounts (often 50%+ off). If you use multiple IDEs, choose an editor with a permissive free tier to avoid paying twice.