Head-to-head · Code Refactoring Tools
CodeRush vs 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
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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 |
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| Cons |
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| 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 → |
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 →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





