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Head-to-head · Code Refactoring Tools

CodeRush vs ast-grep

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score CodeRush #3 in Code Refactoring Tools 7.9/10 Free plan · paid from $249.99/mo (annual) Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit CodeRush
ast-grep #4 in Code Refactoring Tools 7.7/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit ast-grep

CodeRush leads on 3 checks, ast-grep on 0, and 0 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 scoreCodeRush · 7.9/10
  • Free planonly CodeRush
  • Most featuresCodeRush · 2 of 3

CodeRush scores higher on our rubric for code refactoring tools: 7.9 against 7.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

CodeRush offers free plan; ast-grep doesn't publish it. CodeRush offers batch refactoring; ast-grep doesn't publish it. CodeRush offers ai assistance; ast-grep doesn't publish it.

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

  • CodeRush fits best

    C# and Visual Basic developers

  • ast-grep fits best

    Developers needing free structural refactoring

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature CodeRush 7.9/10 Visit ↗ ast-grep 7.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.9 7.7
Ranking #3 in Code Refactoring Tools #4 in Code Refactoring Tools
Best for C# and Visual Basic developers Developers needing free structural refactoring
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ (best) Not published
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Windows Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Tickets, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features CodeRush 2/3 · ast-grep 0/3
Batch refactoring ✓ (best) Not published
AI assistance ✓ (best) Not published
AST-based analysis Not published Not published
Specs
Supported languages C#, Visual Basic, XAML, Blazor, JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, Razor Not published
Refactoring scope Project Not published
Deployment Desktop Not published
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • AST-based search and rewriting support large-scale codemods
  • Custom YAML lint rules and language-server fixes
  • Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
Cons
  • Windows-only desktop coverage
  • Technical support requires a paid subscription
  • Focused on Visual Studio and .NET-related development workflows
  • 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
Our verdict

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 →

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 →
  1. CodeRushCode Refactoring Tools 7.9Free plan · paid from $249.99/mo (annual)
  2. ast-grepCode Refactoring Tools 7.7Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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
  • 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
  • CodeRush7.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $249.99/mo (annual)

    A broad Visual Studio refactoring toolkit with a free plan and Windows-only coverage.

    Visit CodeRushFull verdict →
  • ast-grep7.7/10 · Open source

    A free, open-source choice for structural searches, codemods, and custom linting.

    Visit ast-grepFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update