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Head-to-head · Code Refactoring Tools

ast-grep vs CodeRush

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score ast-grep #2 in Code Refactoring Tools 8.7/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit ast-grep
CodeRush #3 in Code Refactoring Tools 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit CodeRush

ast-grep leads on 0 checks, CodeRush on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreast-grep · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly CodeRush
  • Most featuresCodeRush · 2 of 3

ast-grep scores higher on our rubric for code refactoring tools: 8.7 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

ast-grep is the better fit for developers needing free structural refactoring. CodeRush is the better fit for C# and Visual Basic developers.

  • ast-grep fits best

    Developers needing free structural refactoring

  • CodeRush fits best

    C# and Visual Basic developers

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Side by side

Feature ast-grep 8.7/10 Visit ↗ CodeRush 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.5
Ranking #2 in Code Refactoring Tools #3 in Code Refactoring Tools
Best for Developers needing free structural refactoring C# and Visual Basic developers
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Open source $249.99/user/yr
Free plan Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
Support Community, Docs Tickets, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ast-grep 0/3 · CodeRush 2/3
Batch refactoring Not checked yet ✓ (best)
AI assistance Not checked yet ✓ (best)
AST-based analysis Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported languages Not checked yet C#, Visual Basic, XAML, Blazor, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, Razor
Refactoring scope Not checked yet Project
Deployment Not checked yet Desktop
Our review
Pros
  • AST-based search and rewriting support large-scale codemods
  • Custom YAML lint rules and language-server fixes
  • Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Free plan includes all CodeRush features and commercial use
  • Structural, cascading, project, folder, and multi-file refactoring
  • Adds code generation, cleanup, navigation, debugging, testing, and AiGen
Cons
  • Local installation requires teams to manage their own deployment
  • AST pattern matching differs from plain-text search workflows
  • Editor integrations focus on VS Code, Neovim, and Emacs
  • Windows-only desktop coverage
  • Technical support requires a paid subscription
  • Focused on Visual Studio and .NET-related development workflows
Our verdict

ast-grep is an open-source command-line tool for developers who need structural code search, linting, rewriting, and refactoring. Instead of matching only plain text, it works with abstract syntax tree patterns, making it suitable for…

Read the review →

CodeRush is a Visual Studio extension for developers working with .NET and related web technologies. It supports structural refactorings for C#, Visual Basic, XAML, and Blazor, alongside assistance for JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and…

Read the review →
  1. ast-grepCode Refactoring Tools 8.7Open source
  2. CodeRushCode Refactoring Tools 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ast-grep — where it wins

    • AST-based search and rewriting support large-scale codemods
    • Custom YAML lint rules and language-server fixes
    • Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux

    Where it doesn't

    • Local installation requires teams to manage their own deployment
    • AST pattern matching differs from plain-text search workflows
    • Editor integrations focus on VS Code, Neovim, and Emacs

  • CodeRush — where it wins

    • Free plan includes all CodeRush features and commercial use
    • Structural, cascading, project, folder, and multi-file refactoring
    • Adds code generation, cleanup, navigation, debugging, testing, and AiGen

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only desktop coverage
    • Technical support requires a paid subscription
    • Focused on Visual Studio and .NET-related development workflows

More comparisons

All code refactoring tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update