StarCoder
huggingface.co
Open-access large language model for code from BigCode/Hugging Face.
Quick Information
- Category:
- Coding
- Pricing:
- Free
- Platforms:
- Self-hosted, Hugging Face Hub
- Free Plan:
- Yes
- API Available:
- Yes
- Last Verified:
- September 2026
What Is StarCoder?
StarCoder is an open-access large language model for code from BigCode (a collaboration between Hugging Face, ServiceNow, and NVIDIA), trained on permissively-licensed GitHub data spanning 80+ programming languages, Git commits, GitHub issues, and Jupyter notebooks. The current generation, StarCoder2, comes in 3B, 7B, and 15B parameter sizes trained on 3.3-4.3 trillion tokens — StarCoder2-3B outperforms other similarly-sized code LLMs on most benchmarks and even outperforms the earlier StarCoderBase-15B. All models are released under the Open RAIL-M license with royalty-free access and use.
Its foundation as a genuinely open scientific collaboration (BigCode) building on Software Heritage's source code archive (The Stack v2, spanning 619 programming languages) combined with carefully-curated additional sources (GitHub pull requests, Kaggle notebooks, code documentation) represents a real commitment to responsible, transparent AI development for code — distinct from proprietary code models where training data and methodology remain undisclosed.
It's aimed at developers and researchers wanting a genuinely open-access, royalty-free code LLM for self-hosting or fine-tuning, with StarCoder2-3B's ability to outperform larger models on most benchmarks providing real efficiency for resource-constrained deployments — the Open RAIL-M license's royalty-free terms make it a genuine option for building commercial code tools without licensing fees. See our Coding & Development tools directory for related tools like Code Llama and DeepSeek Coder.
What Can You Use StarCoder For?
Self-hosted code generation
Generates code using an open, royalty-free model that can be self-hosted.
Fine-tuning for custom code tasks
Fine-tunes the open-access model for specific code generation needs.
Research on code LLMs
Supports research into responsible, transparent code LLM development.
StarCoder Features
- Multiple parameter sizes — Offers 3B, 7B, and 15B parameter models for different resource constraints.
- Open RAIL-M license — Provides royalty-free access and use for commercial and research purposes.
- 80+ language support — Trained on permissively-licensed data spanning over 80 programming languages.
Who Is StarCoder For?
- Developers — Uses a royalty-free, open-access code LLM for self-hosted or fine-tuned deployments.
- Researchers — Uses StarCoder’s transparent training methodology for responsible AI research.
StarCoder Pros & Limitations
What We Like
- Genuinely open and royalty-free under the Open RAIL-M license
- StarCoder2-3B outperforms larger similarly-priced code LLMs on most benchmarks
- Backed by a real scientific collaboration (BigCode) with transparent training data sourcing
Limitations
- Requires self-hosting infrastructure, unlike managed commercial coding assistants
- Smaller model sizes may underperform the largest proprietary models on the most complex coding tasks
- No official managed service or support tier, relying on community and documentation
StarCoder Pricing
| Plan | Price | Main Features |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Free | Royalty-free access under Open RAIL-M, 3B/7B/15B parameter sizes |
Pricing was last verified September 2026. Check the official website for the latest pricing.
AI Listing Jungle Ranking
- Global Rank:
- #730
- Overall Score:
- 15.1/100
- Monthly Users:
- –
- Rank Change:
- ▼ 7
This ranking reflects AI Listing Jungle's own independent scoring methodology and is not an endorsement by StarCoder or its company. How Our Rankings Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Is StarCoder free?
Yes, it’s fully open-access and royalty-free under the Open RAIL-M license.
What parameter sizes are available?
3B, 7B, and 15B, trained on 3.3-4.3 trillion tokens.
Who develops StarCoder?
The BigCode collaboration, involving Hugging Face, ServiceNow, and NVIDIA.
How many languages does it support?
Over 80 programming languages.
Our Take
StarCoder's foundation as a genuine open scientific collaboration, building on transparently-sourced training data, represents a real commitment to responsible AI development distinct from undisclosed proprietary training methods.
StarCoder2-3B's ability to outperform larger models on most benchmarks provides genuine efficiency for resource-constrained self-hosted deployments.
StarCoder Alternatives
StarCoder Comparisons
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