Shortlist by what you need
Start here if you know why you are leaving Tabby.
Want the closest match?
Refact.aiMost similar to Tabby in what it does, its category and its price.
Visit (opens Refact.ai in a new tab)Need a free plan?
OpenHandsHas a free plan, rated 5.0 out of 5.
Visit (opens OpenHands in a new tab)Want to pay less than Tabby?
JetBrains JunieFrom $10/mo, against from $19/mo for Tabby.
Visit (opens JetBrains Junie in a new tab)Want the best rated?
GitHub CopilotRated 4.6 out of 5 in our review, against 4.3 for Tabby.
Visit (opens GitHub Copilot in a new tab)
At a glance
Green means better than Tabby, red means worse. Prices are starting prices per month.
| Tool | Our rating | Starts at | Free plan | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 TabbyBaseline | 4.3 | $19/mo | Yes | An open-source, self-hostable alternative to Copilot's autocomplete | |
| Refact.ai | 4.3Same | $10/mo$9 less | Yes | Self-hostable end to end, so code never has to leave your network | vs Tabby |
 n8n | 4.4+0.1 | Free | Yes | Source-available and self-hostable, favored by developers | vs Tabby |
| OpenHands | 5.0+0.7 | $20/mo$1 more | Yes | An open-source, research-rooted alternative to closed autonomous agents | vs Tabby |
 Tabnine | 4.2−0.1 | $12/mo$7 less | Yes | Offering AI code completion since 2013, before GPT-era models existed | vs Tabby |
| JetBrains Junie | 4.3Same | $10/mo$9 less | Yes | JetBrains' autonomous agent, separate from its inline AI Assistant | vs Tabby |
| GitHub Copilot | 4.6+0.3 | $10/mo$9 less | Yes | The 2021 launch that started this entire category | vs Tabby |
 Visual Studio Code | 3.9−0.4 | Free | Yes | "The open source AI code editor" - hand off tasks to AI agents that autonomously plan, edit code, run commands, and iterate, across dozens of models. | vs Tabby |
 Aide | 4.1−0.2 | Free | Yes | A fully open-source VS Code fork, not just an extension | vs Tabby |
The alternatives in detail
In order of how closely each one matches Tabby.
Refact.ai
4.3$10/mo
vs Tabby$9 lessSame
Self-hostable end to end, so code never has to leave your network.
- Full self-hosting including the underlying model, not just the client
- Standard IDE code completion and chat
- Built for strict data-residency and security requirements
Genuinely complete self-hosting, including the model itself
Self-hosting the full stack requires real infrastructure investment
n8n
4.4Free
vs Tabby+0.1
Source-available and self-hostable, favored by developers.
- Source-available under a fair-code license, self-hostable
- Function nodes for inline JavaScript or Python code
- Node-based visual workflow builder
Self-hosting avoids per-task pricing anxiety at scale
Fair-code license is more restrictive than fully permissive open source
OpenHands
5.0$20/mo
vs Tabby$1 more+0.7
An open-source, research-rooted alternative to closed autonomous agents.
- Open-source autonomous coding agent architecture
- Sandboxed execution environment for safe, reproducible runs
- Originally released as OpenDevin before rebranding
Fully open architecture supports inspection, modification, and self-hosting
Self-hosting requires real infrastructure setup and maintenance
Tabnine
4.2$12/mo
vs Tabby$7 less−0.1
Offering AI code completion since 2013, before GPT-era models existed.
- AI code completion offered since 2013, predating GPT-era models
- Early and continued private, on-premises deployment options
- Evolved through multiple model generations over a decade
Longest operating history of any AI code completion tool in this category
Brand can feel less associated with the newest agentic capabilities
JetBrains Junie
4.3$10/mo
vs Tabby$9 lessSame
JetBrains' autonomous agent, separate from its inline AI Assistant.
- Autonomous, multi-step task execution
- Runs tests to verify its own changes
- Built into JetBrains' existing IDE suite
Genuine autonomous, multi-file task handling within a familiar IDE
Overlaps with JetBrains' own AI Assistant, worth comparing both directly
GitHub Copilot
4.6$10/mo
vs Tabby$9 less+0.3
The 2021 launch that started this entire category.
- Original AI coding autocomplete, launched in 2021
- Chat-based assistance and multi-file agent mode
- Multiple underlying model options beyond OpenAI
Earliest mover in this category with the largest existing user base
Free tier's completion and chat limits are restrictive for daily professional use
Visual Studio Code
3.9Free
vs Tabby−0.4
"The open source AI code editor" - hand off tasks to AI agents that autonomously plan, edit code, run commands, and iterate, across dozens of models.
- Multi-agent development - agents autonomously plan, edit, and run commands
- AI-powered inline suggestions and intelligent completions
- Model flexibility - Copilot, Claude, OpenAI, and dozens of others
Free with just a GitHub login - no paywall to access core agent features
Advanced reasoning models may carry separate usage costs depending on provider
Aide
4.1Free
vs Tabby−0.2
A fully open-source VS Code fork, not just an extension.
- Full VS Code fork, not an extension
- Fully open-source codebase
- Proactive agents that iterate on linter errors automatically
Genuinely open source, unlike most competing AI-native editors
Smaller team and community than venture-scale competitors
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is Tabby free?
Tabby has a free plan, and paid plans start from $19/mo.
What is the best free alternative to Tabby?
OpenHands is the highest-rated alternative here with a free plan (5.0 out of 5). Other free options: GitHub Copilot, n8n, Refact.ai.
What is the cheapest alternative to Tabby?
Among paid plans, Refact.ai has the lowest starting price (from $10/mo). If you need it free, start with OpenHands.
How did you pick these alternatives?
We match tools on what they do, their category and their price, using the details in our directory. Ratings come from our reviews and reader reviews.