Software Development · head to head
SonarQube Cloud vs Codacy
SonarQube Cloud
Software Development
Cloud-based static code analysis for detecting bugs, vulnerabilities, and code smells.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Codacy
Software Development
Automated code review platform for code quality and security scanning.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: SonarQube Cloud free tier limited to 50k lines of code for private projects.; Codacy team plan is capped at 30 developers before Business pricing is required.
- They diverge on capability: SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis, Codacy covers Automated code review.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SonarQube Cloud and Codacy actually diverge.
| Attribute | SonarQube Cloud | Codacy |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Software Development | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (web, api), 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 SonarQube Cloud
- Static code analysis
- Secrets detection
- Pull request decoration
- AI-driven code fixes
- Compliance reporting
- SCM 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.
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
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
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
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
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
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 SonarQube Cloud if
- You need static code analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api.
- You also want secrets detection.
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 SonarQube Cloud or Codacy better?
- Neither clearly leads. SonarQube Cloud 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, SonarQube Cloud or Codacy?
- SonarQube Cloud starts at Free and Codacy at Free.
- Does SonarQube Cloud or Codacy run on more platforms?
- Both run on web, api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use SonarQube Cloud for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is SonarQube Cloud best used for?
- SonarQube Cloud is most often used for enforcing code quality gates on pull requests, detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositories, scanning for exposed secrets before merge, meeting compliance standards like pci dss. Of those, enforcing code quality gates on pull requests and detecting security vulnerabilities in cloud-hosted repositories are not what Codacy is typically brought in for.
- What can SonarQube Cloud do that Codacy cannot?
- SonarQube Cloud covers Static code analysis, Secrets detection, Pull request decoration, AI-driven code fixes. Codacy covers Automated code review, Security scanning, IDE plugin, Merge gates.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceCodacy: 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.
SourceSonarQube 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.
SourceCodacy: 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.
SourceSonarQube 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.
SourceCodacy: Can I try Codacy before paying?
Codacy offers a 14-day free trial with full platform access and no credit card required.
SourceSonarQube 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.
SourceCodacy: What does it integrate with?
Codacy integrates with GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab for cloud-hosted scans, plus Jira and Slack for team notifications.
SourceRelated pages
More on SonarQube Cloud
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