ARCANAArcana's free tier is not a trial. It is a permanent tier with real functionality, bounded by quotas that reset daily.
Most "free tiers" in developer tools are really trials in disguise. They give you a few days of access, then hit you with a paywall. Arcana's free tier is different. It is a permanent offering with real functionality. You can use it indefinitely, for actual work, not just evaluation.
The free tier exists because Arcana's architecture makes it possible. The proxy system handles quota tracking and rate limiting. The local-first design means most of the heavy lifting happens on your machine. The cloud component is minimal: authentication, quota management, and model routing.
What Is Included
- Full TUI. The terminal interface, themes, voice input, all of it. No feature gating.
- Free-tier models. Curated models available without API keys. These are smaller, faster models suitable for most tasks.
- Session management. Create, switch, and resume sessions. Session history is local.
- Quota tracking. Real-time visibility into your remaining quota.
- Proxy access. Route requests through Arcana's proxy without configuring provider keys.
How Quotas Work
Free-tier usage is measured in turns (individual exchanges between you and the agent). The quota resets daily. You can see your current usage with:
arcana statsThe stats display shows usage information. When you approach the limit, Arcana warns you before you hit it.
Session Limits
Free-tier sessions have a turn budget. Once a session reaches its budget, you can start a new session but cannot continue the old one. This encourages smaller, focused sessions rather than marathon conversations.
BYOK for More
If the free tier is not enough, bring your own API keys. The free tier and BYOK coexist: use free models for simple tasks and your own keys for heavy work. The agent can switch between providers transparently.
Free-Tier Model Discovery
Arcana automatically discovers which models are available on the free tier. Use the model picker to browse available options. These commands work on all platforms:
# List available models
arcana modelsThe models are updated as providers adjust their offerings. Arcana's model registry tracks availability and adjusts the list automatically.
When to Upgrade
The free tier is enough for many workflows: quick code reviews, small refactors, documentation updates, and learning how Arcana works. You know it is time to upgrade when:
- You hit quota limits regularly. If you are waiting for quota resets daily, the free tier is constraining your productivity.
- You need larger models. Free-tier models are capable but smaller. For complex reasoning, long-context analysis, or nuanced code generation, larger models via BYOK make a noticeable difference.
- You want provider diversity. Free-tier access covers a curated set of models. BYOK unlocks the full provider catalog, including specialized models for specific tasks.
- You are using Arcana in production. If Arcana is part of your team's workflow, the reliability and quota of BYOK is worth the cost.
The transition is seamless. Add your API keys and Arcana starts using them immediately. Your sessions, themes, skills, and configuration are all preserved. The only thing that changes is which models are available and how quotas are tracked.