Free AI model picks that actually run today

Five free AI options cover local chat, hosted APIs, and code models without a paid plan.

Running AI does not have to start with a credit card. This June 28, 2026 list tracks verified free tiers, open-weight models, and local tools so you can choose from options like 1M-token contexts, $100 trial credits, or zero-cost local inference.

1. Google AI Studio

Google AI Studio is the easiest free starting point if you want hosted Gemini access without setting up your own stack. The list calls out Gemini 2.5 Flash and Gemini 2.0 Flash as part of the generous free tier, which makes it useful for rapid prototypes, demos, and prompt testing.

The big advantage is speed to first request. You can move from idea to working API calls in minutes, then keep using the same account as your project grows.

• Free access to Gemini models
• Generous rate limits for prototyping
• Good fit for chat, extraction, and simple agents

2. OpenRouter

OpenRouter is the broadest free model switchboard in the list. It aggregates more than 500 models, and the free filter helps you find no-cost options from multiple providers without jumping between separate accounts.

This is the best choice when you want to compare outputs across models before committing to one vendor. It also helps when a single provider is rate-limited or temporarily unavailable.

• 500+ models in one place
• Free filter for no-cost options
• Useful for side-by-side model evaluation

3. Ollama

Ollama gives you local inference with no API key and no per-call meter running in the background. The repository describes it as the easiest way to run local LLMs, and it supports macOS, Linux, and Windows.

That makes it a strong pick for privacy-sensitive work, offline use, and development on your own machine. If you want to keep prompts and outputs on-device, this is the cleanest path on the list.

• One-command model download and run
• Local API server included
• Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows

4. Qwen 3.6-35B-A3B

Qwen 3.6-35B-A3B is the code model to watch if you care about efficiency. The list notes that it is an MoE variant with only 3B active parameters, which keeps it practical for consumer hardware while still aiming at strong reasoning and long-context coding.

For developers, that mix matters more than raw size. You get a model tuned for coding tasks, an Apache 2.0 license, and a footprint that is easier to justify on a home workstation than a giant dense model.

5. GitHub Models

GitHub Models is the most convenient option if you already live in GitHub. The free tier gives users access to GPT-4o, Llama 3.3, Mistral, and more, with a rate-limited playground and API for quick experimentation.

Its strength is workflow fit. You can test prompts, compare model behavior, and stay inside the same account you use for code review, issues, and repos.

• Free tier for GitHub users
• Playground plus API access
• Good for prompt testing in developer workflows

How to decide

If you want the fastest hosted start, pick Google AI Studio. If you need a wide comparison pool, OpenRouter is the better lab bench. If privacy and offline use matter most, Ollama is the clear local choice.

For code-heavy work, Qwen 3.6-35B-A3B gives you a strong open-weight option with an efficient MoE setup, while GitHub Models is the easiest fit for teams already building inside GitHub.