Tabnine vs Sourcegraph Cody: AI Coding Assistants
Tabnine focuses on private, local AI completions. Cody combines AI with Sourcegraph's code search. Tabnine for privacy; Cody for codebase understanding.
Last updated: 2026-03
In This Comparison
3-10x faster development speed when using AI coding assistants
Source: McKinsey 2025
35-45% increase in employee productivity when AI tools are introduced
Source: Accenture 2025
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Sourcegraph Cody | Tabnine |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Good (cloud + search) | Excellent (local option) |
| Pricing | $9/mo | $12/mo |
| Code Search | Sourcegraph code search | Basic |
| Best For | Large codebase work | Privacy-conscious teams |
| Local Models | No | Yes, runs locally |
Sourcegraph Cody
- Privacy
- Good (cloud + search)
- Pricing
- $9/mo
- Code Search
- Sourcegraph code search
- Best For
- Large codebase work
- Local Models
- No
Tabnine
- Privacy
- Excellent (local option)
- Pricing
- $12/mo
- Code Search
- Basic
- Best For
- Privacy-conscious teams
- Local Models
- Yes, runs locally
Winner by Category
Best for Privacy
TabnineLocal model option keeps code entirely on-device
Best for Intelligence
Sourcegraph CodyDeep codebase search and understanding
Best Value
Sourcegraph CodyLower price with more features
Our Recommendation
Choose Tabnine when code privacy and local processing are non-negotiable. Pick Cody for deeper codebase understanding and search capabilities.
“The best tool depends on what you are building and how you work. There is no universal winner. Pick the one that fits your workflow and budget, then ship something.”
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Sourcegraph Cody
Need AI with deep codebase search across repos
Choose Tabnine
Require local-only AI processing for compliance
Overview
Tabnine and Sourcegraph Cody serve different priorities. Tabnine focuses on code completion with strong privacy controls, including the option to run models locally. Cody combines AI assistance with Sourcegraph's code intelligence platform, excelling at understanding and searching across large codebases. Your choice depends on whether privacy or codebase understanding is more important.
Enterprise Considerations
For enterprises with strict data policies, Tabnine's local model deployment is a compelling feature. Code never leaves your infrastructure. Cody's enterprise tier connects to self-hosted Sourcegraph for code search while using cloud AI models. The right choice depends on your organisation's specific compliance requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Cody run locally?
Cody's chat uses cloud AI models. With a self-hosted Sourcegraph instance, code search stays local, but AI processing happens in the cloud.
Which has better completions?
Tabnine's cloud model and Cody's completions are comparable in quality. Tabnine's local model is less capable but keeps data private.
Which supports more IDEs?
Both support VS Code and JetBrains. Check their documentation for your specific IDE.
Master Both Tools at buildDay Melbourne
Join our hands-on workshop and learn to build with the modern AI development stack. Go from idea to deployed app in a single day.