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Cybersecurity · head to head

Arnica vs Codacy

Arnica logo

Arnica

Cybersecurity

AI-native application security platform detecting and fixing vulnerabilities across the SDLC

From
Free
Rated
-
Codacy logo

Codacy

Software Development

Automated code review platform for code quality and security scanning.

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arnica per-identity pricing ($25-$50/person/year) requires tracking active developers; Codacy team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.
  • They diverge on capability: Arnica covers AI SAST, Codacy covers Automated code review.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arnica and Codacy actually diverge.

Attributes where Arnica and Codacy differ
AttributeArnicaCodacy
Pricing modelPer-identity subscription with annual discountfreemium
PlatformsWeb, GitHub, IDEweb, api
CategoryCybersecuritySoftware Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arnica

  • AI SAST
  • Software Composition Analysis
  • Secrets detection
  • IaC scanning
  • Container scanning
  • SBOM generation
  • Agentic rules
  • Pipelineless integration

Only in Codacy

  • Automated code review
  • Security scanning
  • IDE plugin
  • Merge gates
  • Coverage reports
  • Jira and Slack integration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arnica

  • Detecting AI-generated vulnerabilities in Copilot and Cursor suggestionsnot Codacy
  • Finding hardcoded secrets before they reach productionnot Codacy
  • Mapping container vulnerabilities back to source codenot Codacy
  • Generating SBOM for supply chain compliance requirementsnot Codacy
  • Scanning infrastructure-as-code for misconfiguration risksnot Codacy

Codacy

  • Automating pull request code reviewnot Arnica
  • Enforcing shared coding standards across teamsnot Arnica
  • Scanning for secrets and vulnerable dependenciesnot Arnica
  • Tracking test coverage over timenot Arnica
  • Blocking merges that fail quality gatesnot Arnica

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arnica

  • Per-identity pricing ($25-$50/person/year) requires tracking active developers
  • Overage identity tracking via 90-day PR activity can be unpredictable
  • Free plan limited to weekly updates, requiring upgrade for real-time scanning
  • Advanced add-ons (Image Scanning, AI SAST, Agentic Rules Enforcer) pricing not published
  • On-premises deployment limited to Enterprise tier

Codacy

  • Team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.
  • Advanced security features like DAST and container scanning are Business-tier only.
  • Business plan pricing is not published and requires contacting sales.
  • Annual plans require 30 days' notice to modify or cancel before renewal.

Pricing, plan by plan

Arnica

Free
  • FreeFree
    • No credit card required
    • 14-day trial available
    • Weekly risk identification updates
  • Core Business$360/year
    • Monthly billing option at $30/identity/month
    • Annual billing at $25/identity/month (17% discount)
    • Real-time risk scanning and notifications
  • Core Enterprise$720/year
    • Monthly billing option at $60/identity/month
    • Annual billing at $50/identity/month (17% discount)
    • All Core Business features

Codacy

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • IDE plugin with real-time feedback
    • Security and quality scans
    • 38 languages supported
  • Team$18/month
    • Up to 30 developers
    • Up to 100 private repos, unlimited lines of code
    • AI Reviewer
  • Business$undefined/month
    • Unlimited private projects
    • Priority scan queue
    • DAST and container scanning

Which should you pick?

Choose Arnica if

  • You need ai sast.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, GitHub, IDE.
  • You also want software composition analysis.

Choose Codacy if

  • You need automated code review.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want security scanning.

Questions people ask

Is Arnica or Codacy better?
Neither clearly leads. Arnica starts at Free and Codacy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arnica or Codacy?
Arnica starts at Free and Codacy at Free.
Does Arnica or Codacy run on more platforms?
Arnica runs on Web, GitHub, IDE. Codacy runs on web, api.
Can I use Arnica for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arnica best used for?
Arnica is most often used for detecting ai-generated vulnerabilities in copilot and cursor suggestions, finding hardcoded secrets before they reach production, mapping container vulnerabilities back to source code, generating sbom for supply chain compliance requirements. Of those, detecting ai-generated vulnerabilities in copilot and cursor suggestions and finding hardcoded secrets before they reach production are not what Codacy is typically brought in for.
What can Arnica do that Codacy cannot?
Arnica covers AI SAST, Software Composition Analysis, Secrets detection, IaC scanning. Codacy covers Automated code review, Security scanning, IDE plugin, Merge gates.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Arnica: How are identities defined in Arnica pricing?

Identities are any users and other contributing entities that contributed code and/or had PR activity during the last 90 days. This ensures billing matches active developers.

Source
Codacy: What does Codacy cost?

The Developer plan is free forever; Team starts at $18/dev/month billed yearly (or $21 monthly); Business is custom-priced for enterprise requirements.

Source
Arnica: What is the annual discount?

Annual prepayment offers approximately 17% savings versus monthly billing. Core Business annual is $300/identity versus $360 for monthly.

Source
Codacy: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the Developer plan is free forever for individuals, including IDE feedback, scan-as-you-type, and security and quality scans across 38 languages.

Source
Arnica: Can I cancel or downgrade Arnica anytime?

Yes. Subscriptions can be cancelled or downgraded at any time. Overage identities receive automatic protection with true-up invoicing.

Source
Codacy: Can I try Codacy before paying?

Codacy offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access and no credit card required.

Source
Codacy: What does it integrate with?

Codacy integrates with GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab for cloud-hosted scans, plus Jira and Slack for team notifications.

Source
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