Augment Code - Claude code alternative

Augment Code is an AI coding assistant designed for professional software engineers working with large, complex codebases. The platform uses a proprietary context engine that prioritizes specific files, references third-party documentation, and accepts screenshots and wireframes for additional context. It ranks number one on the SWE-Bench Verified benchmark with 65.4 percent accuracy. Solo developers benefit from deep codebase indexing that understands architectural patterns across hundreds of thousands of files, enabling work on legacy systems without manual context gathering.

Strengths

• Context engine processes 200,000+ tokens and indexes codebases containing 400,000 to 500,000 files in real-time, maintaining persistent understanding of architectural patterns.
• Autonomous agent capabilities tackle tasks independently, breaking complex problems into trackable steps without losing context.
• Claude Sonnet 4.5 and GPT-5 models available through model picker, with Sonnet 4 improving regression suite pass rates by 34.5 percent and tool-call rates by 220 percent over Sonnet 3.7.
• SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 42001 certified with customer-managed encryption keys, never training on customer code without explicit permission.
• Works across Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), Vim, and Neovim, plus command-line interface (Auggie CLI) for terminal workflows.
• Multimodal input support accepts screenshots and Figma files for UI implementation and debugging.

Weaknesses

• Credit-based pricing launched October 20, 2025, replacing message-based model. Some users experienced price increases of more than ten times under the new model.
• Initial repository indexing requires time, especially for large legacy monorepos.
• Cross-editor compatibility trades some IDE-native polish for broader reach compared to forked IDE solutions.
• Enterprise features and complex pricing structure not always publicly documented.

Best for

Enterprises managing codebases exceeding 400,000 files with strict compliance requirements and globally distributed development teams. Teams needing autonomous workflow execution across multiple repositories.

Pricing plans

• Indie — $20/month — 40,000 credits, unlimited Next Edits and Completions, SOC 2 Type II, auto top-up at $15 per 24,000 credits.
• Standard — $50/month — 130,000 credits, includes all Indie features, auto top-up available.
• Pro — $100/month — 450,000 credits, includes all Standard features.
• Enterprise — Custom pricing — Bespoke credit limits, SSO/OIDC/SCIM support, customer-managed encryption keys, ISO42001 compliance, dedicated support, volume discounts.

Note: Trial users receive 30,000 credits upon signup with valid payment method. Simple tasks cost fewer credits while complex refactors spanning multiple files consume more.

Tech details

• Type: Cloud-based AI coding assistant with IDE plugins
• IDEs: Visual Studio Code, JetBrains (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, CLion), Vim, Neovim, command-line interface
• Key features: Autonomous agents, Next Edit step-by-step guidance, code completions, chat interface, instructions mode. Supports over 100 native and MCP tools. Memory feature persists context across conversations.
• Privacy / hosting: Cloud-based with SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 42001 certification. Never trains on customer code without permission. Code never retained by third-party providers. Customer-managed encryption keys available. Data isolation through authentication, authorization, and service tokens. Flexible deployment options including cloud, hybrid, and on-premises configurations.
• Models / context window: Claude Sonnet 4.5 (default) and GPT-5. 200,000 token standard capacity with 1 million token experimental support. Context engine maintains persistent, searchable indexes understanding architectural patterns across 400,000-500,000 files.

When to choose this over Claude code

• Augment's comprehensive repository intelligence enables confident changes across large, complex systems with real-time indexing that tracks relationships between microservices and architectural patterns.
• Autonomous agent capabilities handle end-to-end workflows independently, registering with management hubs and scaling horizontally, reducing manual task initiation.
• Works as standard IDE plugins across VS Code, JetBrains, and Vim rather than requiring IDE switching or forked editors, preserving existing tooling and Microsoft ecosystem compatibility.

When Claude code may be a better fit

• Claude's deep file-level mastery provides thorough understanding of specific components within well-defined scopes, ideal for focused, single-service work.
• Claude Code offers comprehensive certification coverage with detailed audit capabilities and transparent pricing tiers across all plans.
• Teams preferring sustained, complex analysis within specific boundaries using large context windows for deep multi-file analysis with guided workflows.

Conclusion

Augment Code addresses the challenge of cognitive load in modern software development by understanding architectural patterns rather than just loading text into memory. The platform combines Claude Sonnet 4.5 reasoning with full-codebase indexing for context-aware suggestions. While two pricing changes within six months suggest initial miscalculation, the platform serves teams managing sprawling, multi-language systems across services with formal compliance requirements.

Sources

• Official site: https://www.augmentcode.com/
• Docs: https://docs.augmentcode.com/
• Pricing: https://www.augmentcode.com/pricing

FAQ

What makes Augment Code different from other AI coding assistants?

Augment operates on a different philosophy than most AI assistants, focusing not on typing speed but on reducing cognitive load through comprehensive codebase mapping. The context engine processes 200,000+ tokens through real-time indexing maintaining persistent, searchable indexes that understand architectural patterns.

How does the credit-based pricing work?

Credits measure usage based on actual processing costs including prompts, token usage, security, and context engine operations. Simple tasks like bug fixes use fewer credits while complex refactors spanning multiple files cost more. Users receive dashboards in IDE and web interface to track credit consumption.

Is my code secure with Augment Code?

Augment maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 42001 certification and never trains on customer code without explicit permission. The platform guarantees code and data separation through authentication, authorization, and service tokens. Customer-managed encryption keys provide additional control over data access.

Which IDEs does Augment Code support?

Augment Code works across Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and CLion, plus Vim and Neovim. The Auggie CLI brings full agent capabilities to terminal workflows.

How large can codebases be for Augment to handle?

The context engine indexes codebases containing 400,000 to 500,000 files in real-time. It supports 200,000 token standard capacity with experimental 1 million token support.

What AI models power Augment Code?

Claude Sonnet 4.5 serves as the default model with GPT-5 available through the model picker. Sonnet 4 delivers 34.5 percent improvement in regression suite pass rates and 220 percent improvement in tool-call rates compared to Sonnet 3.7.