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Zen balance available but OpenCode says "Free usage exceeded, subscribe to Go" #45324
Description
Description
I added $10 in credits to my OpenCode Zen account.
My Zen dashboard currently shows an available balance of $9.99, so there are sufficient paid credits available.
However, OpenCode stops processing requests and displays:
Free usage exceeded, subscribe to Go [retrying in ...]
This is confusing because I already have paid Zen credits available.
Current behavior
Add $10 of credit to OpenCode Zen.
Zen dashboard confirms an available balance of $9.99.
Use OpenCode with a Zen free model such as Big Pickle.
After reaching the free usage limit, OpenCode displays:
Free usage exceeded, subscribe to Go
The existing Zen balance is not offered as an alternative and the error implies that purchasing a Go subscription is required.
Expected behavior
When a user has an available Zen balance, OpenCode should either:
allow the user to continue through the paid Zen endpoint/balance;
offer to switch from the free model to its paid Zen equivalent when available; or
clearly explain that the free-model quota is separate from the Zen prepaid balance and that the user must select a paid Zen model.
The current message makes it appear that the $9.99 Zen balance cannot be used and that subscribing to Go is the only way to continue.
Additional information
The Zen dashboard clearly shows:
Current balance: $9.99
I can provide the screenshot showing the available balance and the OpenCode error.
This appears related to previous reports involving free-model quotas and Zen/Go provider routing.
Plugins
No response
OpenCode version
No response
Steps to reproduce
- pay
- try to use, but can't
Screenshot and/or share link
No response
Operating System
windows 11
Terminal
windows terminal
Activity
Mirrowel commentedon Aug 26, 2026
Why do you think adding 10$ to zen makes free model quota bigger. They are free.
Free quota is limited. If you want to use the model paid - use it's paid alternative.
github-actions commentedon Aug 26, 2026
This issue might be a duplicate of existing issues. Please check:
If your issue is the same, please consider adding a thumbs-up reaction to the existing issues rather than filing a new one, so the team can better track the impact.
neriousy commentedon Oct 19, 2026
This is expected behavior. Free models (Big Pickle and the models whose names end in "Free") have their own free usage limit and never use your Zen balance, so adding credits doesn't lift that limit. To use your balance, pick one of the paid OpenCode Zen models. If you have OpenCode Go, select models from the OpenCode Go provider to use your plan. The pricing table shows which models are free and which are paid, and the free models section has more details.