AI WORKFLOWS · PRACTICAL GUIDE
OpenCode Hosting: Models, Persistence, and Costs
OpenCode hosting gives the coding agent somewhere to run. You still need to choose its model connection, protect the workspace, and decide how long the environment should persist.
OpenCode is the agent. The model is a separate choice.
OpenCode is an open-source coding agent that can connect to different model providers. It is not a single model or an unlimited bundle of AI subscriptions. Its provider documentation explains connecting a provider and selecting models. Provider access and usage charges depend on the connection you choose.
That distinction matters when comparing hosting offers. Ask what is included: the computer, the installed software, model usage, or all three with stated limits. An advertised “free tool” can still make paid model requests.
What should persist between sessions?
List the things you want to find when you return: your project directory, uncommitted changes, installed packages, test output, and the agent’s task history. Ask separately what survives a browser disconnect, a computer restart, cancellation, or deletion. These are different events. A disk that persists while a subscription is active is not a backup.
Before importing important work, create a small project and change a file. Disconnect and reconnect. Restart the environment if supported. Confirm what remains, then export a copy. Repeat this check after any restore procedure you intend to rely on.
Do you need a GPU?
When the model is hosted by an API provider, size the computer for the work happening on that computer: dependencies, builds, tests, browsers, and files. Running the model locally is a different workload with its own memory and compute requirements. Do not assume a small Linux plan can run a large model just because it can run the OpenCode client.
Browser access needs authentication and permissions
OpenCode has a web interface. Review its access controls before exposing a server. Keep credentials out of public repositories and shared images, and use the agent’s permission settings to decide which actions need review. A remote UI should not turn every link visitor into an operator of your computer.
Compare the whole monthly cost
- Computer: running time, memory, disk, and retained storage.
- AI: input, output, reasoning, retries, and any included allowance.
- Operations: backups, transfer, monitoring, updates, and your maintenance time.
Ask what happens at the allowance limit. Does work pause, use prepaid credits, or bill automatically? For a first test, use a small budget with automatic recharge off and confirm that switching models does not bypass it.
Is OpenCode included in Spare Computer?
It is in testing, not an available public paid bundle. Spare Computer’s owner-only SC Assistant can currently use Cloudflare-hosted DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 and GPT-OSS models. That successful assistant test is separate from validating OpenCode execution on a Linux machine. Public beta applicants will see final supported tools and AI limits before paying.
Start with our overnight agent checklist or compare managed agent hosting with a VPS.