Side by side
Code Assistant vs Forge
Both stand on ai coding assistants. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2
Code Assistant combines autonomous code work with editor, terminal, MCP, browser, and document workflows. Its free license and broad provider support make it suitable for users comfortable configuring their own model access.
Visit Code Assistant Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+1
Forge combines everyday coding assistance with structured language-model testing and verifiable reports. Choose it when local operation, VS Code integration, or model assessment is central to your workflow.
Visit ForgeThe facts
| Code Assistant | Forge | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Extension, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Pro: $19 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | forge-nc.dev |
| On ai coding assistants | #39 of 103 | #35 of 103 |
Code Assistant: what it does well
- Free plan and MIT license
- Supports Zed and Visual Studio Code
- Connects to many model providers
- Includes terminal and MCP modes
- Preserves encoding and line endings
What to know first
- Requires a configured provider and API key
- Browser login needs human handoff
- Available capabilities depend on chosen provider
Forge: what it does well
- VS Code extension offers completion and chat
- Includes coding agent and terminal access
- Runs adversarial tests across eight categories
- Reports use Ed25519 signatures and SHA-512 chaining
- Community tier has unlimited tokens
What to know first
- Paid tiers require initial internet license activation
- Full offline use requires a locally installed model
- Supported IDE listed as VS Code
Alternatives to Code Assistant Alternatives to Forge The whole list