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AI Coding

Amp

Sourcegraph's agentic AI coding tool, run from a VS Code extension or a terminal-first CLI, with an unusually generous free tier and pay-as-you-go paid usage instead of a flat subscription.

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What it does

Amp is Sourcegraph’s agentic coding assistant, built to run either as a terminal-first CLI or a VS Code extension, and designed for developers who want full agent capability without committing to a fixed subscription. It replaced Cody as Sourcegraph’s product for individual developers and small teams after Cody was repositioned as a sales-negotiated enterprise offering, and it differentiates itself with a genuinely free tier, very large context windows for multi-file work, and pay-as-you-go billing tied directly to underlying model costs.

Ideal users

  • Developers who prefer a CLI-first or terminal-native workflow
  • Users who want to try a full agentic coding tool for free before paying anything
  • Teams working across editors who want one consistent agent tool
  • Developers tackling large multi-file refactors who need very large context windows

Who should avoid it

  • You want flat, predictable monthly pricing rather than usage-based billing
  • You want Sourcegraph's original enterprise code-search product — that's now Cody, sold separately as an enterprise offering
  • You want a polished, mature GUI-first experience rather than a CLI-centric one

Key features

  • Full agentic coding assistant for multi-step task automation, not just completion
  • Free tier with the full smart agent and no hard token caps
  • Smart Mode, a pay-as-you-go paid tier with zero data sharing
  • Oracle Mode for full-depth reasoning and priority routing on Smart Mode
  • 200K-token context window for large, multi-file refactors
  • Ships as both a VS Code extension and a standalone CLI
  • Sourcegraph code-graph-derived context awareness

Pros

  • Genuinely usable free tier with no hard caps — unusual in this category
  • No subscription lock-in — Smart Mode bills at underlying model API cost with no markup
  • Large context window well suited to big refactors
  • Works across multiple editors rather than being tied to one
  • Zero data-sharing guarantee on the paid tier

Cons

  • Usage-based pricing makes monthly cost unpredictable for heavy users
  • CLI-first approach has a steeper learning curve than GUI-native competitors
  • Newer, less mature brand identity than Cursor or Copilot, having recently spun out of Cody
  • Team and enterprise packaging is less clearly documented than competitors

Pricing

Free — Pay-as-you-go, no fixed subscription; Smart Mode bills at underlying model API cost with no markup

There is no flat monthly paid tier — Free covers the full agent with no hard token caps, and Smart Mode is metered usage billing rather than a subscription, so actual cost depends entirely on usage volume.

Typical workflows

  • Developers install the CLI or VS Code extension and use Amp for everyday multi-file changes and refactors directly from the terminal or editor, switching to Smart Mode when they need zero-data-sharing guarantees or heavier reasoning.
  • Because it works across VS Code-based editors, some developers use Amp as an agent layer on top of an editor they've already chosen for other reasons.

Integrations

  • VS Code and VS Code-based forks
  • JetBrains IDEs (2025.1+)
  • Neovim
  • Zed
  • Standalone CLI

Privacy & security notes

The free tier's data-handling terms should be checked against current policy before use with sensitive code. Smart Mode's stated headline feature is zero data sharing — code, prompts, and agent threads are not used for training or surfaced to Sourcegraph's analytics.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Sourcegraph Cody?

Cody's free, individual, and Pro plans were discontinued in mid-2025; Cody now exists only as an enterprise product focused on large-codebase search and context for big organizations. Sourcegraph directed individual and team users to Amp instead.

Is Amp really free?

Yes, for the core agent experience with no hard token caps, though the paid Smart Mode tier adds a no-data-sharing guarantee plus priority access.

Does Amp train on my code?

Not on Smart Mode, per Sourcegraph's stated policy; free-tier data handling should be double-checked against current terms before relying on it for sensitive code.

Which editor do I need?

None specifically — Amp works as a CLI or a VS Code-compatible extension, so it layers onto whatever VS Code-based editor you already use.

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