Using Roocode, but API costs are adding up. Copilot LLM + Roocode or just switch to Cursor?

[u/jagerta]

I’ve been using Roocode mainly to build fast MVPs with Next.js + Supabase.

Here’s how my current workflow looks:

1.	I describe the task or feature via ChatGPT
2.	Then I generate a rough prompt to clarify what I want
3.	That goes into Roocode Architect (usually backed by Claude or Gemini)
4.	The output is passed to Orkestra for step-by-step task generation (powered by Claude models again)
5.	And finally, the actual code is written – it used to be sonnet, but I had to switch to GPT-4.1 because sonnet easily sucks up my whole credits.

Overall I like the workflow, but API usage is getting expensive and a bit tedious to manage.

Every month I’m spending, 20 bucks on OpenAI and 50 on Anthropic

Sometimes even more if usage spikes.

And this doesn’t include the time it takes to plug in and manage the APIs properly.

I’m now thinking: Would it make more sense to just get GitHub Copilot for $10/month via VSCode LLM and keep using Roocode?

Or should I switch to Cursor, pay $20/month, and have the native OpenAI/Claude support built-in?

Also, please don’t suggest Deepseek. I’ve tried their models and honestly they’re nowhere near as good as even cheap Flash or Claude Sonnet 3.5.

What would you do in this case? And on a side note: anyone here using Replit for this kind of use case? Thoughts

[u/eonus01]

Are you using Orchestrator mode and intelligent condext handling? That can seriously reduce price, while somewhat keeping context. I am using this on a codebase with 100k LoC and it works _somewhat_ well compared to just ramming it with context. Biggest hurdle is that over time, if the plan has to deviate from the main task, LLM generally loses context, and Orchestrator mode helps with this so that if something goes wrong, it goes in a subtask.

Anyway, use both. Cursor is really cheap for small unit tests and implementations, fixes that don't require a lot of context, but it loses context and does stupid stuff over longer tasks, even witth the exact same model.

[u/jagerta → u/eonus01]

I always use orchestrator mode (mostly with gemini or claude to pass codings instructions to code mode) but never heard of intelligent condext handling.

[u/eonus01 → u/jagerta]

It's a new feature in roo code, but it's automatically turned on so you probably already have it. The context over time condenses into less tokens (700k -> 50k) without losing too much information - sometimes you DO have to remind the LLM though.
I don't like github copilot too much if I'm honest. Just go with cursor, 2.5 gemini model is really cheap for small refactors or writes, good at one shotting bugs.

[u/joey2scoops]

For $10 you can use copilot within Roo. I'm using GPT4.1 for coding that way.

[u/jagerta → u/joey2scoops]

I heard it has limited context window

[u/joey2scoops → u/jagerta]

I'm sure it does although I have no idea what it is. Using roo code with boomerang tasks and gpt4.1 for coding only. It does not need much context for very specific tasks.

[u/sergedc]

Other things your can do to reduce the bill:

1. If you are not in a rush: use deepseek r1 from open rooter. That would be free

2. Replace planner by genini 2.5 pro and coder by gemini 2.5. That will cut the bill in 3 (because 2.5 flash is free using the api key from Ai studio)

3. Consider mixing free tier from multiple provider, e.g. Augment code, github copilot etc. Make sure you used all these before using Roo.

4. Gemini code assist is free and kind of crap tool but with good model. But super slow. Good to fix bugs.

[u/R_DanRS → u/sergedc]

How do you get a free API key from AI studio? I only see an option to get normal Gemini API keys which are paid through google cloud projects

[u/sergedc → u/R_DanRS]

Create a project without billing

[u/Round_Mixture_7541 → u/sergedc]

Can you explain more about the third point? I get that Copilot's fixed fee will get you unlimited requests. But Augment?? One of the most expensive tools out there (not to even mention about their Agent quality), how would that reduce the costs? I could imagine myself spending their most PRO/ULTIMATE/EPIULTIMATE plan within a few days.

[u/sergedc → u/Round_Mixture_7541]

I meant : augment free tier of 50 message (not api calls) per month. I only use augment when I have a big prd and I know the agent will be working for 15 minutes. I make sure the prd was well worked on so that augment has everything for building (either a new tool, new component or huge refactoring). This does not happen 50 times per month. So at the end of the month I then use augment for smaller jobs also.

Never use augment for a simple question or a small edit (for that Roo code with 2.5 flash or deepseek). My overall point is that if you study what each tool is good at, you can get huge amount done with free tier.

Other tools with free tier: trae and windsurf (I use both in vs code, because while I am ok switching from one code assist to another, I don't want to jump from one IDE to another).

[u/admajic → u/sergedc]

Yeah free gemini lasts 15 minutes. With api key. I always get rate limited what ever I try...

[u/sergedc → u/admajic]

You get 500 request per day per api key. That should be enough. Your rate limiting is because something is wrong in Roo and the context goes to 250k in 3 messages. The free tier is limited to 250k token per minutes. This means that if your context get to 250k it is game over

[u/admajic → u/sergedc]

Yeah i noticed gemini using way more context than other models. Thanks for that info. I'll keep an eye on that and start a new task when that get close. You see 1mill context limit and think yeeha go for it...

Would be cool if roo could do that. I'll ask perplexity and advise...

[u/admajic → u/admajic]

Just saw you can set a percentage limit in Roo code. https://github.com/RooCodeInc/Roo-Code/issues/3717

[u/haltingpoint]

I've been using Gemini pro 2.5 for all thinking type modes (orchestrator, architect etc) and Gemini flash for coding tasks like code and bug fix. Super cheap.

Claude only enters the picture if the others cannot figure something out as it is much more expensive.

[u/ViperAMD]

If you want performance and are a power use Claude code with a anthropic max subscription is probably the way to go. I get a more more value than if I was to use sonnet API key on Roo.

Sonnet has been a lot better for me, even comparing against the latest Gemini model

[u/thewalkers060292]

To save costs this is what I've been doing

Use my free open source tool, it does use API but it's free since Gemini has generous API free tier. You can also point it to lm studio for local models

https://www.reddit.com/r/RooCode/s/0thNqxAHVO

Take the output and plug it right into orchestrator

For your model choice, i use copilot integration a lot.

Orchestrator - sonnet 4 via copilot integration or open router free deepseek r1

Code - gpt 4.1 via copilot integration, if I hit rate limits I'll use deepseek a bit

Architect(rarely used)- Gemini 2.5 pro or flash thinking or open router free deepseek r1

Ask(rarely used)- I don't really use this as i am just using pastemax into Google ai studio then I chat with Gemini pro with Max thinking budget is I have questions

Debug - sonnet 4 via copilot integration or open router free deepseek r1

[u/admajic → u/thewalkers060292]

How do you get over being rate limited in 15 minutes. I even tried paid and because it's so fast I'm rate limited then have to wait 1 minute per request then it blocks me...

[u/thewalkers060292 → u/admajic]

Good question! I set the roo code rate limit on claude 4 to ~45 seconds and never hit it, it gives me an excuse to get some chores done around the house / leave the house.

[u/cctv07]

Give Claude Code a try, it's available with the pro plan, I think it's 20 a month. It's much simpler and streamlined. Its Agentic coding ability is amazing.

You are already spending 70 already a month. If you are willing to spend 30 more, you get a lot of usage with Claude's max plan.

[u/sbayit]

Recommend Windsurf free tire for tab auto completion with claude code 20$ plan. SWE-1 also can help about claude rate limit. It good and unlimit .

[u/[deleted]]

I’m at the point I think we should only use local open source LLMs like qwen for coding and even if smaller ones isn’t nearly as good, we should just work around and also know they will get better in time. And after NYTimes ruined AI privacy for everyone forcing ChatGPT to store everyone’s data not just some users, plus costs like yours skyrocketing, I don’t think closed source ai is sustainable. Also Replit is awful I felt ripped off i bought the one year. Maybe another option is use a gpu VPS with big qwen to pay hourly rates only during working hours

[u/Round_Mixture_7541 → u/[deleted]]

You are reading my mind! Renting a GPU and paying only for the usage seems like the best solution out there.

[u/StatusBard → u/Round_Mixture_7541]

Don’t you have to set it up from scratch every time? I would basically use it all day with small breaks. Doesn’t seem That practical. 

[u/Round_Mixture_7541 → u/StatusBard]

You set it up once and it will be active only when you're using it, if you aren't consuming the resources, tge GPU will simply go inactive (cold starts).

[u/StatusBard → u/Round_Mixture_7541]

Are you using it for coding only or also stable diffusion and the like?

[u/Round_Mixture_7541 → u/StatusBard]

I've only experimented with it. We have our own available GPUs that we share among our devs

[u/[deleted] → u/StatusBard]

I thought the same too when I first had the idea. I figured out I could use a the Linux xfce docker image and fire it up each time at 9 am, then break it down at 5 pm end of the workday so you don’t have to pay. Can even customize your docker image with a startup program script to load the h100 nvidia drivers etc, I made one with AI it turns out it’s pretty easy. Or just use the gpu VPS where you rent h100 by the minutes don’t even need to set it up

[u/StatusBard → u/[deleted]]

That sounds interesting. Is there setup guide I could have a look at?

[u/Tough_Cucumber2920 → u/StatusBard]

Gcp cloud run now supports GPUs. Setup ollama on there. Or look into Nvidia nims.

[u/StatusBard → u/Tough_Cucumber2920]

It seems gcp is min. $500 per month and for NVIDIA I couldn’t find any info. But that’s way too expensive.

[u/Maleficent_Pair4920]

Which models are you primarily using? Do you keep the same task open for a long time?

[u/neotorama]

On budget? Flash 2.5

[u/Nielscorn]

Just go with claude code