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Best AGENTS.md Alternatives (2026)

AGENTS.md is a open-source documentation tool (standard). Simple open format for guiding coding agents. We found 12 alternatives worth considering.

Quick verdict

Why look for AGENTS.md alternatives?

  • Feature gaps — while AGENTS.md is free, paid alternatives may offer more polish or support.
  • Workflow fit — every team is different; the best tool depends on your stack and preferences.

Top 12 Alternatives to AGENTS.md

CodeGuide logo
CodeGuidepaid

Creates detailed documentation for AI coding projects

Both in DocumentationShared: documentation
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Goose logo
Gooseopen-source

Local on-machine AI agent that allows any LLM and MCP servers as extensions

Shared: agents
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RA.Aid logo
RA.Aidopen-source

Standalone coding agent built on LangGraph's agent-based task execution

Shared: agents
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Gemini CLI logo
Gemini CLIopen-source

Open-source AI agent from Google bringing Gemini to your terminal

Shared: agents
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Qwen Code logo
Qwen Codeopen-source

Alibaba's coding agent that lives in the digital world

Shared: agents
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opencode logo
opencodeopen-source

AI coding agent built for the terminal

Shared: agents
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Crush logo
Crushopen-source

Glamorous AI coding agent for your terminal that generates CLIs

Shared: agents
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langchain-code logo
langchain-codeopen-source

LangChain-based coding agent for AI-assisted development

Shared: agents
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Superdesign.dev logo
Superdesign.devopen-source

Open source design agent for fast UI iterations

Shared: agents
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vibe-kanban logo
vibe-kanbanopen-source

Kanban board to manage and orchestrate AI coding agents

Shared: agents
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Ralph logo
Ralphopen-source

Terminal-first agent loop persisting state via git

Shared: agents
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Devika logo
Devikaopen-source

Open-source AI agent breaking tasks into steps

Shared: agents
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Alternatives by type

Web-Based alternatives

CodeGuide logo
CodeGuide
Superdesign.dev logo
Superdesign.dev
vibe-kanban logo
vibe-kanban

Terminal alternatives

Goose logo
Goose
RA.Aid logo
RA.Aid
Gemini CLI logo
Gemini CLI
Qwen Code logo
Qwen Code
opencode logo
opencode
Crush logo
Crush
langchain-code logo
langchain-code
Ralph logo
Ralph

Desktop alternatives

Devika logo
Devika

Frequently asked questions

What are the best alternatives to AGENTS.md?
The top alternatives to AGENTS.md include CodeGuide, Goose, RA.Aid. All are documentation tools that support standard workflows.
Is there a free alternative to AGENTS.md?
Yes. Goose is open source and free to use. Local on-machine AI agent that allows any LLM and MCP servers as extensions
Is CodeGuide better than AGENTS.md?
CodeGuide and AGENTS.md serve similar purposes as documentation tools. CodeGuide: Creates detailed documentation for AI coding projects AGENTS.md: Simple open format for guiding coding agents The best choice depends on your workflow and requirements.
How many alternatives to AGENTS.md are there?
We track 12 alternatives to AGENTS.md across categories including Documentation, CLI Tool, Workflow Tool.

Related alternatives pages

Alternatives to CodeGuide

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