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ast-grep

Free#9 of 42 in Code Search ToolsCode Refactoring Tools

ast-grep: A strong open-source choice for structural search, codemods, and custom linting. Ranked #9 of 42 in Code Search Tools by our editors (8.4/10); pricing: Open source; best for developers building structural codemods.

8.4/10Editor score
Visit ast-grep
ast-grep8.4 Visit ast-grep

At a glance

  • Editor score
    8.4 / 10
  • Pricing
    Open source
  • Best for
    Developers building structural codemods
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Deployment
    Self_hosted
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
ast-grep screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • AST patterns support structural search beyond plain-text matching
    • Codemods, lint rules, and rewrites cover several code-maintenance workflows
    • Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, and three major editors

  • Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted installation requires local setup and maintenance
    • Built-in language support varies by the languages in your codebase
    • Structural workflows may be more than needed for simple text search

Our verdict on ast-grep

ast-grep is an open-source command-line tool for developers who need structural code search, linting, rewriting, or codemod work. Instead of matching only plain text, it works with abstract syntax tree patterns and supports regular-expression matching within AST nodes. Its scope covers codebase search, code navigation, code outlines for symbols, imports, and exports, and programmatic AST manipulation through JavaScript and Python APIs. Developers working on Windows, macOS, or Linux can install it locally, with editor integrations for Visual Studio Code, Neovim, and Emacs.

The strongest fit is for teams building repeatable code transformations or custom static-analysis workflows. Code rewriting and interactive codemods support one-off changes as well as larger migrations, while custom YAML lint rules let developers define project-specific checks. The language server adds diagnostic and fix actions, and the online playground provides another way to work with the tool. Multi-language parsing through tree-sitter broadens its use across repositories, although the practical fit depends on whether the relevant languages are among its built-in language support.

ast-grep is distributed as open-source software and installed locally, making it a self-hosted option rather than a paid hosted service with separate tiers. That model suits developers who want direct control over their code-search and rewriting workflow, but it places setup and ongoing maintenance with the user. Choose ast-grep when structural matching, codemods, lint rules, or editor-based fixes are central requirements. For a developer who only needs straightforward text search, its AST-oriented approach may introduce more capability than necessary.

Your product? Our editors can test ast-grep in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

ast-grep pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on ast-grep.github.io

ast-grep fact sheet

Free planNot verified
Paid fromFree
Indexing scopeCodebase
DeploymentSelf_hosted
Supported languagesNot verified
Regex searchYes
Code navigationYes
IDE extensionsYes
DeploymentSelf-hosted
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
SupportCommunity, Docs
Built forSolo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations3 integrations: Visual Studio Code, Neovim, Emacs
PricingOpen source
Websiteast-grep.github.io
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

ast-grep integrations

ast-grep lists 3 integrations on its own site.

  • Visual Studio Code
  • Neovim
  • Emacs

Alternatives to ast-grep

See all ast-grep alternatives →

Also Ranked In

ast-grep is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — ast-grep 8.4/10

ast-grep is listed in our Code Search Tools directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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