10 Best ChatGPT Alternatives for Coding in 2025

Editoral Squad at Stepsize
Editoral Squad at Stepsize
29
Jun
2025
|
min read
Looking for the best ChatGPT alternatives for coding in 2025? We’ve reviewed 10 top AI tools that help developers write, refactor, and ship code faster—with more context, fewer bugs, and zero burnout.

Whether you’re debugging a stubborn block of code, exploring a new framework, or just trying to ship faster—AI coding assistants are changing how developers work.

But ChatGPT isn’t your only option.

From pair programmers trained on codebases to tools that auto-complete, explain, and optimize your code, this list highlights the 10 best AI coding tools that go beyond ChatGPT.

We’ll help you find one that matches your coding style, tech stack, and development workflow.

TL;DR: Best ChatGPT Alternatives at a Glance

Tool Best for AI features
ClickUp Connecting coding to broader project goals AI Notetaker, Docs, code snippets in tasks, workflow automation
GitHub Copilot Real-time pair programming in editors Code suggestions, completions, tests, doc generation
Codeium Free AI coding assistant with IDE support Code autocomplete, chat, multi-language support
Tabnine Fast local code generation On-device models, team-trained AI, completions
Replit Ghostwriter In-browser AI coding + hosting Code chat, autocompletion, deployment help
Amazon CodeWhisperer AWS-aligned coding help Security scanning, code recommendations
Cody by Sourcegraph AI trained on your codebase Context-aware code answers, search
AskCodi AI for documentation and SQL generation Code, test, doc, and query generation
Mutable AI dev environments for team collaboration AI agents, shared terminals, real-time coding
Cursor ChatGPT in VS Code, but smarter Inline chat, autocomplete, context-aware suggestions

Why Use AI for Coding?

AI tools don’t just save time—they help developers write better code, learn faster, and stay in flow. The right tool acts like a second brain, guiding you through bugs, boilerplate, and best practices.

  • Autocompletes functions and logic as you type
  • Explains unfamiliar code snippets instantly
  • Refactors messy logic with one prompt
  • Generates test cases, documentation, and API usage
  • Adapts to your coding style and project context

Whether you're a junior dev or a seasoned engineer, AI tools help reduce grunt work and unlock higher-level thinking.

1. ClickUp

ClickUp isn’t a traditional code editor, but it’s the ultimate command center for developers who want AI-powered documentation, project planning, and meeting capture in one place. With ClickUp Brain, you get AI tools that support the entire coding lifecycle—from sprint planning to bug tracking to code reviews.

It’s a great ChatGPT alternative for coders who want to connect their work to real team workflows, automate the boring stuff, and ship better code with full visibility.

Capture technical discussions with ClickUp AI Notetaker

ClickUp AI Notetaker joins Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams meetings, records discussions, and delivers summaries with action items, decisions, and next steps. You can link notes directly to tasks or Docs—perfect for standups or dev syncs.

Use case: A dev team discusses architecture changes on a call; ClickUp AI captures the meeting and links next steps to their active sprint board.

Create documentation with AI-powered Docs

ClickUp Docs lets you draft technical specs, SOPs, and wikis—then use AI to summarize, expand, or polish your writing. You can embed tasks, code blocks, and real-time comments.

Use case: An engineer documents an internal API, and AI helps clean up the language and create a changelog section for future updates.

Turn feedback into dev tasks

From bug reports to feature requests, ClickUp AI can help summarize customer feedback or stakeholder notes into clear action items—assigned, tracked, and visible in your workspace.

Use case: A PM drops 20 support tickets into a ClickUp Doc, and AI generates 5 Jira-ready user stories from the recurring themes.

Automate workflows with ClickUp Brain

Use ClickUp Brain to generate project timelines, break down epics into subtasks, and draft sprint updates based on your workspace activity. It’s a natural fit for Agile and product teams.

Use case: A tech lead asks ClickUp Brain to summarize last sprint’s velocity and generate the status update for Friday’s email.

Organize code-related workflows in one place

With ClickUp’s task hierarchies, custom fields, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, you can link PRs, track bugs, and manage releases—without switching tabs.

Use case: A developer links a ClickUp task to a GitHub pull request, updates the status, and views everything inside their ClickUp Dashboard.

🚀 Why ClickUp Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Developers who want docs, tasks, and code context connected
  • Teams doing async standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives
  • Product-focused engineers tired of disconnected tools
  • Organizations who want AI to assist across workflows—not just in IDEs

Try ClickUp for free today!

2. GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is the most well-known AI coding assistant—and for good reason. Trained on billions of lines of public code, it works inside your favorite IDEs like VS Code, JetBrains, and Neovim to suggest code completions, functions, and even full modules as you type.

It’s ideal for developers who want fast, context-aware help right inside their editor.

Autocomplete code in real time

Copilot suggests entire lines or blocks of code as you write, based on comments, variable names, and file context. It can fill in functions, write boilerplate, and reduce repetitive typing.

Use case: A frontend developer types a comment describing a form validator, and Copilot autocompletes the full function in seconds.

Generate tests, docs, and functions from prompts

You can ask Copilot to generate unit tests, docstrings, or helper functions just by writing natural language comments above your code.

Use case: A backend engineer writes a comment saying “generate a test for edge cases,” and Copilot creates Jest test cases automatically.

Works across languages and frameworks

Copilot supports JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, Go, Ruby, and more. It adapts to the language and framework you’re working in, offering relevant, syntactically correct suggestions.

Use case: A full-stack dev working on a Node.js app switches to writing a Python script, and Copilot handles both seamlessly.

Improves over time with team usage

Copilot can learn from your coding style over time and even suggest consistent patterns across your team when used with Copilot for Business.

Use case: A team using Copilot across projects starts seeing more tailored suggestions aligned with their repo patterns and conventions.

Integrates natively with GitHub

It’s built into the GitHub ecosystem, so it fits naturally into version control workflows and integrates with features like Codespaces and PR reviews.

Use case: A dev in GitHub Codespaces writes deployment scripts with Copilot support enabled, all in the browser.

Why GitHub Copilot Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Developers working inside VS Code or JetBrains who want inline suggestions
  • Teams writing in multiple languages across stacks
  • Engineers automating boilerplate and improving velocity
  • GitHub-native teams who want an integrated AI pair programmer

3. Codeium

Codeium is a fast, free AI coding assistant that brings autocomplete, code generation, and chat-based support to over 70 languages. With extensions for popular IDEs and a lightweight feel, it’s a favorite among developers who want open-ended AI help without the cost of GitHub Copilot.

It’s ideal for individuals or teams looking for a responsive, privacy-conscious tool that doesn’t compromise on speed.

Autocomplete and suggest code in your IDE

Codeium provides lightning-fast code suggestions as you type, supporting common and complex functions based on the context of your project.

Use case: A developer writing C++ receives instant suggestions for syntax and class structure while building a new module.

Chat with an AI coding assistant

Beyond autocomplete, Codeium includes a chat window where you can ask for refactors, code explanations, or generate logic from scratch—similar to a ChatGPT experience inside your IDE.

Use case: A junior developer asks Codeium to explain a regular expression used in a legacy script and gets a clear breakdown with examples.

Supports over 70 languages

Whether you’re working in JavaScript, Rust, Python, or COBOL, Codeium adapts to the syntax and offers meaningful suggestions across modern and legacy stacks.

Use case: A developer switches from working on a React frontend to a SQL query, and Codeium handles both contexts without issue.

Lightweight, fast, and easy to install

Codeium installs quickly as a plugin and works without slowing down your environment. It’s ideal for developers who value performance alongside smart assistance.

Use case: A remote developer on limited hardware uses Codeium in JetBrains IDE without any lag or resource drain.

Privacy-focused with on-device inference options

Codeium emphasizes privacy and offers local inference models for enterprise environments, reducing data sent to the cloud.

Use case: A fintech company uses Codeium’s local deployment to assist devs while keeping sensitive code out of external servers.

Why Codeium Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Developers who want fast autocomplete without cost
  • Teams using a wide mix of languages and frameworks
  • Privacy-conscious organizations needing local model support
  • Engineers looking for an open, ChatGPT-like IDE assistant

4. Tabnine

Tabnine is an AI-powered code completion assistant designed to help developers write code faster and with fewer errors. It integrates with popular IDEs like VS Code, IntelliJ, and Eclipse, offering both public and private AI models.

It’s especially useful for engineering teams that want AI code suggestions trained on their own codebase—without sending sensitive data to external servers.

Predict and complete code with AI

Tabnine offers real-time code completions based on your current file, function, and coding patterns. It supports a wide range of languages including Python, JavaScript, and Java.

Use case: A backend developer writing a Flask API receives context-aware suggestions to complete route handlers and error checks.

Train custom models on your own codebase

Tabnine lets you fine-tune AI models on your proprietary code. This enables more relevant and accurate suggestions while keeping your intellectual property secure.

Use case: An enterprise team trains Tabnine on their internal microservices library, and devs start getting tailored suggestions that match company standards.

Works locally for full control and privacy

For teams in regulated industries, Tabnine can be deployed entirely on-premise, ensuring no code ever leaves the environment.

Use case: A healthcare company installs Tabnine on local servers to assist developers without breaching patient data regulations.

Collaborate with AI across teams

Tabnine learns from your team’s code patterns and helps ensure consistency across contributors—useful for reducing code review cycles and improving handoffs.

Use case: A team lead uses Tabnine to onboard a new hire, who quickly gets up to speed by writing code that matches team conventions.

Integrate with major IDEs and editors

From JetBrains IDEs to VS Code and Vim, Tabnine integrates smoothly with most developer environments and doesn’t require additional setup or sign-in.

Use case: A full-stack developer switches between VS Code and WebStorm and gets the same AI experience in both tools.

Why Tabnine Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Teams that want private, on-premise AI coding help
  • Developers needing context-aware, high-speed autocompletions
  • Organizations training models on internal code for better accuracy
  • Engineers working across multiple IDEs and stacks

5. Amazon CodeWhisperer

Amazon CodeWhisperer is an AI coding companion developed by AWS that generates real-time code suggestions based on your comments and programming patterns. It’s built to integrate deeply with AWS tools and services, making it a strong choice for cloud-native developers.

It supports multiple languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript, and offers built-in security scanning—great for writing production-ready code quickly and safely.

Generate code from natural language prompts

CodeWhisperer lets you describe what you want in plain English, and it writes functional code snippets to match. This is especially useful when working with AWS SDKs or boilerplate-heavy tasks.

Use case: A developer types “upload file to S3 bucket,” and CodeWhisperer generates the full function using AWS SDK for Python.

Identify security vulnerabilities in your code

The tool runs security scans on your codebase and flags risky patterns or dependencies—helping you catch issues early and write safer code.

Use case: A DevOps engineer writing IAM policies gets real-time feedback on misconfigurations before deploying to production.

Integrate with AWS Toolkit and major IDEs

CodeWhisperer works inside IDEs like VS Code, JetBrains, and AWS Cloud9. It integrates with the AWS Toolkit, making it easier to access cloud services directly while coding.

Use case: A backend developer uses CodeWhisperer in VS Code to write Lambda functions and deploy them without leaving the IDE.

Automatically complete repetitive coding tasks

Whether it’s loops, function scaffolding, or handling API calls, CodeWhisperer helps complete lines or entire blocks of code, boosting developer speed.

Use case: A frontend engineer receives suggestions to complete a React component form with input validation in seconds.

Choose between reference-based or open generation

You can opt to use CodeWhisperer in reference-tracking mode—helping you avoid IP risks by reviewing where code suggestions came from.

Use case: An enterprise team enables reference tracking to ensure compliance when building commercial applications.

Why Amazon CodeWhisperer Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Developers building on AWS or working with AWS SDKs
  • Engineers who want built-in security scanning during development
  • Teams needing code suggestions directly in familiar IDEs
  • Organizations balancing AI help with IP visibility and control

6. Replit Ghostwriter

Replit Ghostwriter is an AI pair programmer built into the Replit coding platform. It’s designed for fast prototyping, full-stack development, and real-time collaboration—especially for solo developers, startups, and learners.

Because it’s tightly integrated with Replit’s online IDE, Ghostwriter handles everything from code generation and explanations to debugging—right in your browser.

Generate full programs from simple prompts

Ghostwriter lets you describe a project idea or function in natural language, and it builds out working code instantly. It’s great for spinning up MVPs, scripts, and prototypes without writing every line manually.

Use case: A solo founder asks Ghostwriter to “build a simple Flask app that accepts form submissions,” and the full app structure is generated in seconds.

Explain code and fix errors on the fly

You can highlight any part of your code and ask Ghostwriter to explain it in plain English or debug issues. It offers context-aware fixes and suggestions as you write.

Use case: A student pastes a Python function into Replit and asks Ghostwriter to explain recursion and correct a logic bug.

Collaborate and code in real time

Because Replit is browser-based, Ghostwriter supports real-time collaboration with team members or mentors. You can share sessions, review edits, and troubleshoot together.

Use case: Two developers pair program on a machine learning model while Ghostwriter handles code completions and docstring generation.

Build and deploy from one interface

Replit allows you to write, test, and deploy applications all in one place—and Ghostwriter helps at each step, from scaffolding code to recommending deployment strategies.

Use case: A developer builds a Node.js app, gets deployment instructions from Ghostwriter, and pushes the app live—all without leaving the tab.

Support for over 50 languages and frameworks

Ghostwriter offers AI assistance across a wide variety of languages including JavaScript, Python, Java, and Rust, plus frameworks like Flask, React, and Django.

Use case: A coding bootcamp learner switches between Python and JavaScript exercises, with Ghostwriter providing context-aware help throughout.

Why Replit Ghostwriter Is a Good AI Coding Tool

  • Solo developers building fast with minimal setup
  • Learners and students needing real-time code explanations
  • Teams collaborating on full-stack apps in the browser
    Developers wanting an all-in-one IDE with AI baked in

7. Cody by Sourcegraph

Cody is Sourcegraph’s AI coding assistant built to support developers across large-scale codebases. Designed to help you search, generate, refactor, and document code, Cody is tightly integrated with your existing repositories—giving it more context than generic coding assistants.

It’s particularly useful for engineering teams working in complex monorepos, legacy code, or enterprise environments.

Search and navigate your codebase with AI

Cody lets you ask natural language questions like “Where is this function used?” or “What does this class inherit from?” and returns context-aware answers by scanning your actual code, not just guessing.

Use case: A developer unfamiliar with a service uses Cody to trace dependencies across three files and understand its data flow without manual digging.

Generate and refactor code with context

Unlike generic AI tools, Cody understands your repo’s context and imports, so it can generate functions, refactor code blocks, or add comments that align with your actual code style and structure.

Use case: A backend engineer asks Cody to rewrite a data transformation function using a more efficient approach, and it returns a ready-to-commit version.

Stay in your IDE and workflow

Cody integrates natively into VS Code and JetBrains, so you don’t need to switch tools to ask questions or generate code. The AI works alongside you without interrupting your flow.

Use case: While debugging, a developer highlights a buggy function and asks Cody to explain the issue—receiving an instant breakdown without leaving VS Code.

Answer documentation and onboarding questions

New to a repo? Cody helps answer questions about architecture, APIs, or naming conventions—reducing the need to ping teammates for tribal knowledge.

Use case: A new hire uses Cody to understand how the internal logging library works instead of scheduling time with a senior engineer.

Maintain knowledge across large teams

Because it builds on Sourcegraph’s code intelligence platform, Cody is ideal for large orgs where code changes daily and documentation lags behind.

Use case: A tech lead uses Cody to confirm deprecated utilities across multiple services before planning a cleanup sprint.

Why Cody Is a Good ChatGPT Alternative for Coding

  • Engineering teams working with large or complex codebases
  • Developers onboarding into unfamiliar repos
  • Orgs needing AI that understands real code context, not just LLM guesses
  • Teams already using Sourcegraph for code intelligence

8. AskCodi

AskCodi is an AI-powered coding assistant built for developers and teams working with multiple languages and frameworks. It helps streamline development by offering code generation, SQL query assistance, documentation, and testing support—all in a clean, distraction-free interface.

It’s especially helpful for full-stack developers, technical writers, or anyone juggling repetitive tasks in day-to-day development.

Generate code snippets in multiple languages

AskCodi supports popular languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and C#, allowing developers to quickly generate functions, boilerplate code, or snippets tailored to the selected language.

Use case: A frontend dev uses AskCodi to quickly scaffold a React component that handles form validation with minimal manual setup.

Write and optimize SQL queries

You can describe the data you need in plain English, and AskCodi turns it into fully structured SQL. It’s great for analysts or engineers who don’t write queries daily but still need accurate output.

Use case: A product manager types “show active users by region in the last 30 days” and receives a ready-to-run SQL query for their dashboard.

Auto-generate test cases

AskCodi can suggest unit and integration tests for your existing functions. This saves time and improves coverage, especially for legacy codebases.

Use case: A developer inputs an authentication function, and AskCodi generates Jest tests to cover valid and invalid login scenarios.

Document code instantly

The tool can generate detailed docstrings or inline comments based on function names, inputs, and outputs—helping maintain clarity across fast-moving teams.

Use case: A team preparing for handoff uses AskCodi to auto-document a set of utility functions before sharing them with a partner team.

Minimize context switching with the Codi Studio

AskCodi Studio combines all its AI features into a single workspace where you can toggle between code generation, query writing, and testing.

Use case: A solo founder building a web app uses Codi Studio to generate backend routes, write tests, and explain SQL queries—all in one place.

Why AskCodi Is a Good ChatGPT Alternative for Coding

  • Developers who need support across multiple languages and tasks
  • Teams looking to save time on documentation, testing, and queries
  • Analysts and PMs who want plain-English to SQL support
  • Users who prefer a purpose-built coding assistant over general AI

9. Mutable

Mutable is an AI code assistant designed to work in your terminal and local development environment. It focuses on privacy, speed, and command-line productivity—making it a solid choice for engineers who prefer minimal UI and maximal control.

Unlike browser-based tools, Mutable keeps everything local, offering fast, context-aware code generation and refactoring right inside your terminal.

Write and refactor code with natural language

Mutable interprets your plain-English prompts to generate or edit code. You can refactor functions, rename variables, or optimize logic directly from the CLI.

Use case: A backend engineer highlights a function in Vim and asks Mutable to “make this async and improve performance,” getting an instant, cleaner version.

Stay private and offline

Mutable runs locally, without sending code to external servers. This is ideal for security-conscious teams or devs working with proprietary data.

Use case: A fintech developer uses Mutable to assist with payment logic updates without violating internal data security policies.

Automate repetitive tasks from the terminal

You can chain instructions and automate small coding chores like adding docstrings, fixing typos, or applying regex-based changes—without leaving your shell.

Use case: A DevOps engineer batch-edits log output functions across multiple files using a single Mutable command.

Integrate seamlessly with your tools

Mutable plays well with Git, your text editor, and your shell environment. There’s no need to switch between apps or break your flow.

Use case: A developer commits changes via Git, realizes they need better comments, and uses Mutable to auto-generate them before pushing.

Use AI like a CLI companion

With Mutable, your assistant feels like part of your dev stack—not a separate chatbot. It responds fast, respects your setup, and behaves predictably.

Use case: A Linux power user builds a Bash script while using Mutable to debug and comment the logic in real time.

Why Mutable Is a Good ChatGPT Alternative for Coding

  • Terminal-first developers who want AI help without leaving the CLI
  • Teams that need local-only AI for security and compliance
  • Engineers who want AI to feel like part of their workflow—not a separate app
  • Coders who value fast, focused, no-frills AI interaction

10. Cursor

Cursor is a code editor with built-in AI designed to replace VS Code for developers who want deeper AI integration. It’s built on top of VS Code’s open-source architecture, but adds intelligent autocomplete, code edits, and in-editor chat that understands your full codebase.

Cursor stands out for its native feel and the ability to ask code-specific questions with full project context.

Get inline suggestions with full-project context

Cursor doesn’t just autocomplete—it understands your file tree, variable names, and coding conventions, providing suggestions that actually fit.

Use case: A TypeScript dev works on a multi-module repo and gets real-time, accurate autocompletes that follow project structure.

Edit code with natural language inside the editor

You can highlight code and type instructions like “make this more readable” or “optimize for speed,” and Cursor rewrites it in place.

Use case: A junior developer improves the readability of a GraphQL resolver with a single prompt in Cursor’s sidebar.

Chat with your codebase

Cursor lets you ask questions like “Where is this function used?” or “What does this module do?” and provides intelligent, context-aware responses.

Use case: A new engineer joins a legacy repo and uses Cursor to quickly understand unfamiliar functions without hunting through files.

Works offline and respects your privacy

Cursor runs locally, with options for secure models that don’t send code to external servers—ideal for sensitive environments.

Use case: A security engineer chooses the offline model to analyze config files in a HIPAA-compliant setting.

Replace VS Code without losing extensions

Since Cursor is based on VS Code, you can use your favorite extensions while upgrading your editing experience with AI.

Use case: A developer brings over their preferred linting tools and Git integrations while using Cursor’s AI features for coding help.

Why Cursor Is a Good ChatGPT Alternative for Coding

  • Devs who want AI tightly embedded into their code editor
  • Teams seeking AI help that understands the entire codebase
  • Users replacing VS Code but keeping their extension workflows
  • Engineers onboarding to large projects or legacy code

Conclusion: Pick the Right AI Coding Assistant for Your Workflow

The right AI coding assistant isn’t just about faster code—it’s about reducing context-switching, eliminating repetitive work, and helping you think through tough problems with less friction.

From IDE-integrated tools like Cursor and Mutable to workflow-connected platforms like ClickUp, today’s AI tools do more than autocomplete—they collaborate.

Whether you're debugging an edge case, planning a sprint, or exploring new tech stacks, there's an AI solution here that can match your coding style and development environment.

✨ Choose the tool that fits your stack, keep your focus on what matters, and let AI take care of the rest.

Never trawl through Slack, Jira or GitHub for updates again.

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