The rise of AI in coding comes with a hefty price tag. Anthropic's Claude Code, a terminal-based AI tool that can autonomously write, debug, and deploy code, has fascinated developers globally. However, its subscription costs, which vary from $20 to $200 per month based on usage, have triggered a backlash among the very software engineers it is designed to assist. Meanwhile, Goose emerges as a free alternative, providing similar functionalities without the financial burden. As the demand for AI coding solutions grows, the debate over affordability intensifies, making it essential for developers to explore all available options.