Trae
Trae in 2026 is ByteDance's AI coding IDE with a free tier and paid plans from $3 to $100/month. See what Builder Mode and SOLO add.
About Trae
What is Trae (2026 update)
Trae is an AI native code editor built by ByteDance, designed to let developers write, generate, and refactor code using natural language alongside a traditional IDE interface. It bundles chat based coding assistance, autocomplete, and an autonomous agent mode into one desktop and web application, competing directly with tools like Cursor and Windsurf.
What is new in 2026
Trae rolled out Builder Mode in 2026, a feature that breaks a natural language request into a sequence of executable tasks and shows a preview with a confirmation step before each one runs, so you can review changes before they land in your codebase. On March 31, 2026, ByteDance launched a standalone SOLO version of Trae in both desktop and web form, offering two modes called Code and MTC (More Than Coding) for handling broader project work beyond straight coding. Trae also moved to a new token based usage system on February 24, 2026, replacing simple fixed request counts with a Basic Usage and Bonus Usage balance that scales with how much AI work you actually run.
Key features
- Builder Mode that plans multi-step coding tasks with previews and confirmations at each step
- TraeCode SOLO agent mode available starting on the Lite plan and above
- Access to top models including GPT-4.1, Claude, Gemini 2.5 Pro, and DeepSeek without needing your own API keys
- Multimodal input, so you can upload a screenshot or mockup image to clarify a coding request
- Full project context analysis for more accurate code generation across a codebase
- Support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect external tools and APIs, plus custom agent configuration
- Concurrent cloud tasks that scale by plan, from 2 on Free and Lite up to 20 on Ultra
Pricing in 2026
Trae runs a free plan plus four paid tiers priced in USD, based on a token style usage balance rather than a flat per-seat fee.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 5,000 autocompletions/month, 2 concurrent cloud tasks, standard queue priority |
| Lite | $3/month | $5 equivalent basic usage, unlimited autocomplete, 2 concurrent cloud tasks, SOLO mode included |
| Pro | $10/month | $20 equivalent basic usage, unlimited autocomplete, 10 concurrent cloud tasks, fast queue priority, 7-day free trial |
| Pro+ | $30/month | About $70 equivalent basic usage (3.5x Pro), 15 concurrent cloud tasks, fast queue priority |
| Ultra | $100/month | About $400 equivalent basic usage (20x Pro), 20 concurrent cloud tasks, early access to new models |
Who should use it
Trae fits individual developers and small teams who want a Cursor-like AI coding experience at a lower monthly cost, especially anyone who mainly needs unlimited autocomplete plus an agent that can handle multi-file tasks with SOLO or Builder Mode. It is a reasonable pick if you are cost sensitive and willing to try a ByteDance-built tool, since the entry paid tier starts at $3 a month instead of the $20 many competitors charge. It is less suited to teams that require strict data residency guarantees outside of ByteDance’s infrastructure or need deep enterprise compliance certifications, which you should verify directly with Trae before committing a team to it.
Limitations and alternatives
Because Trae is developed by ByteDance, some organizations may have data privacy or governance concerns similar to those raised about other ByteDance products, so check the official site’s privacy documentation if this matters for your team. The token based usage model also means heavy users can burn through a plan’s included usage faster than expected, and overage costs should be checked directly on the pricing page before relying on Pro+ or Ultra for constant daily use. Alternatives worth comparing include Cursor, which costs more at $20 a month but has a longer track record with enterprise teams, Windsurf, which offers a similar agentic coding experience, and GitHub Copilot, which integrates directly into VS Code and JetBrains IDEs many teams already use.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trae free to use?
Yes, Trae has a free plan with 5,000 autocompletions per month and 2 concurrent cloud tasks. Paid plans start at $3/month for unlimited autocomplete and SOLO mode.
What is Builder Mode in Trae?
Builder Mode is a 2026 feature that breaks a natural language coding request into a sequence of executable tasks, showing a preview and requiring confirmation before each step runs.
Who makes Trae?
Trae is developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, and positions itself as a lower cost alternative to AI coding tools like Cursor.
How does Trae pricing work in 2026?
Trae switched to a token based usage system on February 24, 2026, where each paid plan comes with a Basic Usage balance in dollar terms (from $5 on Lite to $400 on Ultra) instead of a fixed request count.
Information last verified: September 2026.
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