Free and open first
Best Code Generators in 2026
Code generators can help turn schemas into code or create project scaffolding. Compare supported languages, schema-to-code generation and project scaffolding to match the kind of output you need. CLI availability and IDE plugins show workflow options to consider, while custom templates indicate another listed point of comparison. quicktype, JHipster and Nx are among the entries shown. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the capabilities, then weigh where you want to generate code and which languages and generation tasks your work calls for.
- 33 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Fern
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3Fern combines API documentation publishing with client library generation and offers a defined Free plan.
- 2
SQLDelight
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5SQLDelight combines Kotlin code generation with compile-time database checks and several IDE and library integrations.
- 3
Swagger Codegen
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3Swagger Codegen can turn API specifications into client libraries, server stubs, and documentation, with both GitHub and SwaggerHub availability. Review untrusted definitions before generating code.
- 4
Symfony MakerBundle
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2MakerBundle provides a focused set of code-generation commands for Symfony projects, with a path to custom makers when defaults do not fit.
- 5
Angular CLI
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1Angular CLI provides project setup, development, build, test, and deployment tools through the ng command. It is a fit for Angular work that can use a local Node.js environment.
- 6
APIMatic
Free plan APIExtensionLinux+2APIMatic combines specification validation with generation for SDKs, portals, and AI coding context.
- 7
Backstage
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Backstage brings a software catalog, documentation, templates, search, and integrations into a customizable developer portal.
- 8
Copier
Free plan APILinuxMac+1Choose Copier if you want a free, open-source way to generate projects from local or Git-hosted templates, with CLI and Python API options.
- 9
Hackathon Starter
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2Choose Hackathon Starter if you want a free Node.js starting point with reusable app scaffolding and feature examples.
- 10
JHipster
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2JHipster brings project generation, a wide range of frontend and backend options, and deployment support into one free platform.
- 11
Hygen
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsHygen provides a project-local, template-driven way to generate files and modify existing ones.
- 12
Nx
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2Nx combines monorepo task orchestration with local caching and optional Nx Cloud features. Hobby is free, while Team starts at $29/month before additional listed usage and connection charges.
- 13
OpenAPI Generator
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2OpenAPI Generator covers client, server-stub, and documentation generation, with options to customize output and integrate with common build workflows.
- 14
quicktype
Free plan APILinuxMac+2quicktype can generate models and related data-handling code from several structured inputs. The browser app and CLI are free, but command-line and Node.js use requires Node.js 20 or newer.
- 15
Speakeasy
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Speakeasy brings MCP governance, workflow assistants, and API tooling into one platform. Teams evaluating the Enterprise plan will need to request pricing.
- 16
gqlgen
Free plan Self-hostedgqlgen offers a schema-first, code-generating approach for Go GraphQL servers, with support for common operations and federation.
- 17
Micronaut Launch
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Micronaut Launch provides flexible Micronaut scaffolding through its web interface and API, with broad language, build, test, and project-type choices.
- 18
Spring Initializr
Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4Spring Initializr offers a flexible way to generate JVM projects, with API access, documented clients, and options for custom services.
- 19
sqlc
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1Pick sqlc if you want a free CLI that generates type-safe code from SQL and supports query or schema checks.
- 20
jOOQ
Free plan Self-hostedjOOQ combines schema-based code generation with a Java SQL DSL and supports multiple database editions.
- 21
oapi-codegen
Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedoapi-codegen covers several Go server backends and client generation, with customization for generated output. Its OpenAPI 2.0 exclusion and version requirements are key limits to check.
- 22
ts-proto
Free plan APILinuxMac+1Choose ts-proto if your project needs TypeScript code generated from .proto files, including service clients for its supported frameworks.
- 23
TypeSpec
Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2TypeSpec combines API modeling with generation of several common schema and specification formats.
- 24
Stainless
Free plan LinuxMacWebStainless brings SDK generation, API documentation, and code-mode MCP servers together around OpenAPI.
- 25
NestJS CLI
Free planNestJS CLI covers project setup, code generation, building, and deployment-related commands for Nest applications.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
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