# Free Trial Setup Guide

Get started with Roo Code in minutes using free AI provider trials! No credit card required for initial setup.

## Quick Start Options

### Option 1: OpenRouter (Recommended - Easiest Setup)

OpenRouter offers **$1 in free credits** upon signup - enough for hundreds of interactions!

1. **Sign up** at [openrouter.ai](https://openrouter.ai/auth/signup)
2. **Get your API key** from [openrouter.ai/keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys)
3. **Configure in Roo Code**:
    - Open VS Code Command Palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`)
    - Type "Roo Code: Open Settings"
    - Select "OpenRouter" as your provider
    - Paste your API key
    - Choose a model (we recommend `anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet` for best results)

### Option 2: Google Gemini (Most Generous Free Tier)

Google offers **free usage** of Gemini 1.5 Flash with generous rate limits.

1. **Get API key** at [aistudio.google.com](https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey)
    - Sign in with your Google account
    - Click "Get API Key"
    - Create a new API key
2. **Configure in Roo Code**:
    - Open VS Code Command Palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`)
    - Type "Roo Code: Open Settings"
    - Select "Google Gemini" as your provider
    - Paste your API key
    - Select `gemini-1.5-flash` (free tier)

### Option 3: Groq (Fastest Responses)

Groq provides **free tier access** with extremely fast inference speeds.

1. **Sign up** at [console.groq.com](https://console.groq.com/signup)
2. **Create API key** at [console.groq.com/keys](https://console.groq.com/keys)
3. **Configure in Roo Code**:
    - Open VS Code Command Palette (`Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P`)
    - Type "Roo Code: Open Settings"
    - Select "Groq" as your provider
    - Paste your API key
    - Choose `llama-3.3-70b-versatile` for best performance

## Provider Comparison

| Provider          | Free Credits           | Best For              | Setup Difficulty |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- | --------------------- | ---------------- |
| **OpenRouter**    | $1 free credits        | Trying premium models | Easiest          |
| **Google Gemini** | Generous free tier     | Extended usage        | Easy             |
| **Groq**          | Free tier              | Fast responses        | Easy             |
| **Anthropic**     | $5 free (with phone)   | Claude models         | Moderate         |
| **OpenAI**        | $5 free (new accounts) | GPT models            | Moderate         |

## Configuration Tips

### Setting Up Your First Model

1. After adding your API key, Roo Code will show available models
2. For best results, we recommend:
    - **Code generation**: Claude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4
    - **Quick tasks**: Gemini 1.5 Flash or Llama 3.3
    - **Budget-conscious**: Gemini Flash (free) or Claude Haiku

### Switching Between Providers

You can easily switch providers or use multiple providers:

1. Open Roo Code settings
2. Click "Add Provider" to configure additional providers
3. Use the provider dropdown in the chat interface to switch

## Troubleshooting

### "Invalid API Key" Error

- Double-check you've copied the entire key
- Ensure no extra spaces before/after the key
- Verify the key is active in your provider's dashboard

### "Rate Limit Exceeded"

- Free tiers have usage limits
- Wait a few minutes and try again
- Consider upgrading or switching providers

### "Model Not Available"

- Some models require paid accounts
- Switch to a free-tier model in settings

## Next Steps

Once configured, try these to get started:

1. **Test your setup**: Type "Hello, can you see this?" in Roo Code
2. **Try Code mode**: Ask Roo to create a simple HTML file
3. **Explore Architect mode**: Plan your next project
4. **Use Debug mode**: Fix an existing code issue

## Need Help?

- **Documentation**: [docs.roocode.com](https://docs.roocode.com)
- **Discord Community**: [discord.gg/roocode](https://discord.gg/roocode)
- **Video Tutorials**: [YouTube Channel](https://youtube.com/@roocodeyt)

---

**Pro Tip**: Start with OpenRouter for the easiest setup experience. You can always add more providers later!