kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Codacy
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Codacy is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI agents that plan and code
- Model selection
- MCP support
- Extension marketplace
- Integrated terminal and debugger
- Web version
- Codacy Guardrails
- AI PR review
- SAST and SCA
- Coverage tracking
- MCP server
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Codacy |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Code quality, security and AI guardrails in one platform |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $21/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | Codacy |
| Based in | United States | Portugal |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Codacy is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Developer
Free
- IDE plugin
- Scan-as-you-type
- Auto-fix AI code locally
Team
$21/mo
- Per developer
- Up to 30 contributors, 100 private repos
- GitHub, Bitbucket and GitLab
- Cloud quality and security scans
Business
Custom
- Everything in Team
- Enterprise security and reporting
- Available via AWS Marketplace
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Visual Studio Code
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
- Heavier than lightweight editors
- AI features may need separate model access
- Extensions vary in quality
Codacy
- Checks AI code as it is written
- Broad language coverage
- Free plan for individuals
- Analyzer results can overlap
- Business plan needs sales contact
Which one should you choose?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
Watch out: heavier than lightweight editors.
Choose Codacy if you want:
- Checks AI code as it is written
- Broad language coverage
- Free plan for individuals
Watch out: analyzer results can overlap.
Visual Studio Code vs Codacy FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Codacy?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Codacy: Code quality, security and AI guardrails in one platform. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Codacy cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Codacy is freemium.
Do Visual Studio Code and Codacy have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Codacy: Yes.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Codacy?
Codacy is made by Codacy, based in Portugal.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Codacy?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Codacy if you value checks ai code as it is written and broad language coverage.