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Software · head to head

Codacy vs SonarQube Cloud

Codacy logo

Codacy

Software

Automated code review platform for code quality and security scanning.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SonarQube Cloud logo

SonarQube Cloud

Software

Cloud-based static code analysis for detecting bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Codacy team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.; SonarQube Cloud free tier limited to 50k lines of code for private projects.
  • They diverge on capability: Codacy covers Automated code review, SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Codacy and SonarQube Cloud actually diverge.

Attributes where Codacy and SonarQube Cloud differ
AttributeCodacySonarQube Cloud

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (web, api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Codacy

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

Only in SonarQube Cloud

  • Static code analysis
  • Secrets detection
  • Pull request decoration
  • AI-driven code fixes
  • Compliance reporting
  • SCM integration

What people use each for

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

Codacy

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

SonarQube Cloud

  • Enforcing code quality gates on pull requestsnot Codacy
  • Detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositoriesnot Codacy
  • Scanning for exposed secrets before mergenot Codacy
  • Meeting compliance standards like PCI DSSnot Codacy
  • Tracking code quality trends across teamsnot Codacy

Where each one falls short

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

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.

SonarQube Cloud

  • Free tier limited to 50k lines of code for private projects.
  • Base Team pricing only covers up to 100,000 lines of code before extra charges apply.
  • Enterprise-grade compliance features require a custom-quoted Enterprise plan.
  • Primarily analysis-focused; lacks the runtime and cloud-workload protection of full CNAPP platforms.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

SonarQube Cloud

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Private project up to 50k lines of code
    • Public/open-source projects free
  • Team$34/month
    • Up to 100,000 lines of code
    • 30+ languages
    • Bug and vulnerability detection
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Advanced security reports
    • Audit logs
    • SSO/SCIM

Which should you pick?

Choose Codacy if

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

Choose SonarQube Cloud if

  • You need static code analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want secrets detection.
SonarQube Cloud review

Questions people ask

Is Codacy or SonarQube Cloud better?
Neither clearly leads. Codacy starts at Free and SonarQube Cloud at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Codacy or SonarQube Cloud?
Codacy starts at Free and SonarQube Cloud at Free.
Does Codacy or SonarQube Cloud run on more platforms?
Both run on web, api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Codacy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Codacy best used for?
Codacy is most often used for automating pull request code review, enforcing shared coding standards across teams, scanning for secrets and vulnerable dependencies, tracking test coverage over time. Of those, automating pull request code review and enforcing shared coding standards across teams are not what SonarQube Cloud is typically brought in for.
What can Codacy do that SonarQube Cloud cannot?
Codacy covers Automated code review, Security scanning, IDE plugin, Merge gates. SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis, Secrets detection, Pull request decoration, AI-driven code fixes.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
SonarQube Cloud: What does SonarQube Cloud cost?

The Team plan starts at $34/month for up to 100,000 lines of code, while Enterprise pricing is custom and quoted annually with additional compliance and SSO features.

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
SonarQube Cloud: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

Yes, the free tier lets you explore SonarQube Cloud on a private project up to a maximum of 50,000 lines of code; public projects are free.

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
SonarQube Cloud: How is usage metered?

Billing is based on lines of code in the largest branch of a project; how often analysis runs does not affect the price.

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
SonarQube Cloud: Can I change or cancel my plan?

There is no commitment on the Team plan, and customers can downgrade to the free tier at any time.

Source
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