Free
Free
Butterfish is open source under the MIT license; you supply your own OpenAI or compatible API key.
- Access
- Butterfish is open source under the MIT license; you supply your own OpenAI or compatible API key.
Finding the possibilities
Butterfish
● Identity checkedCode · Vendor site 2026-10-04
Butterfish Shell is an open-source CLI that adds AI prompting to bash and zsh on macOS and Linux. Commands starting with a capital letter send shell history and context to OpenAI-compatible APIs for explanations, command suggestions, and lightweight agent-style task execution.
- Category
- Code
- Free access
- Butterfish is open source under the MIT license; you supply your own OpenAI or compatible API key.
- API access
- Uses OpenAI or compatible APIs via an API key stored locally after first run.
Is Butterfish right for you?
A good fit for
Developers and operators who live in the terminal and want contextual AI help without copying logs into a separate chat window.
Before you choose
Butterfish requires your own API credentials and usage is billed by your model provider, not Butterfish.
AI superpowers in your shell
Butterfish embeds ChatGPT-style assistance directly in terminal sessions so developers ask why commands failed or request new commands in context.
What it can do
Features & capabilities
Unknown is different from unavailable. Each fact carries its own evidence.
| Capability | Value | Evidence | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell integration | Capital-letter commands in bash or zsh trigger AI prompts with access to recent shell history. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
| Agent mode | Prefix commands like !Run let Butterfish act as an agent to execute and debug shell tasks. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
| Installation | Homebrew and go install paths are documented for macOS and Linux setups. | Facts sourced | 2026-10-04 |
Understand the total cost
Butterfish pricing & plans
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Frequently asked questions
What is Butterfish used for?
Butterfish Shell is an open-source CLI that adds AI prompting to bash and zsh on macOS and Linux. Commands starting with a capital letter send shell history and context to OpenAI-compatible APIs for explanations, command suggestions, and lightweight agent-style task execution.
Does Butterfish have a free plan?
Butterfish is open source under the MIT license; you supply your own OpenAI or compatible API key.. This record lists ongoing free access; check the plan limits before starting.
How much does Butterfish cost?
No paid monthly price is listed; this record treats the product as free to start. See the plan cards for entitlements, billing commitments and seat minimums.
Can I use Butterfish through an API?
Uses OpenAI or compatible APIs via an API key stored locally after first run.. API access and subscription access may have different terms; consult the linked sources.
What should I check before choosing it?
Butterfish requires your own API credentials and usage is billed by your model provider, not Butterfish.
Price history
No retained pricing changes yet. A current price alone does not establish a historical trend.
How this profile is supported
Identity and profile
Reviewed vendor source
Read original source ↗Facts apply to the named version and check date. Send a sourced correction if something changed.