Overview

Code Search suits engineering organizations that need to search and change code across many repositories while keeping the service on their own infrastructure. Its strongest case is the combination of fast cross-repository search, code navigation, and automated bulk changes; smaller teams looking only for local search may not need that breadth.

The project uses the Apache License 2.0. Its self-hosted design keeps code and data on the customer’s servers, and the application does not send telemetry or usage data to its maker. That gives organizations control over where code resides, but they take on deploying and operating the service.

See our Code Search Tools directory for more options.

Key features

Search and navigation

Zoekt powers searches across all repositories in under a second, and regex search supports more targeted queries than plain text alone. SCIP adds go-to-definition, find-references, and symbol search, making Code Search useful for tracing code relationships as well as locating matches. These tools are most valuable when a team works across a large codebase; the stated product focus is organizations with hundreds or thousands of repositories.

Multi-repository changes

Code Search can find and replace across repositories, then create branches and merge requests automatically. Its CLI supports batch operations, which can make coordinated changes more practical than handling repositories one by one. Automated branch and merge-request creation helps package the work for review, though teams still need to assess the changes before merging.

AI assistant access

A built-in MCP server connects assistants such as Claude and Cursor to code search, browsing, and navigation. This is a useful route for teams that want those assistants to access repository-wide code context through the platform.

Code hosts and deployment

Supported hosts include GitHub, GitHub Enterprise Server, GitLab, self-hosted GitLab, Gitea, and Bitbucket Cloud and Server. Installation options include Docker, source builds, Kubernetes, and Helm, while horizontal scaling is included in Community. The range of hosts and deployment methods suits varied self-hosted setups, but the product is a better fit for organizations prepared to manage that infrastructure than for people seeking a hosted, hands-off tool.

Pricing

Community — 0.00 USD per free

Community is a free plan with unlimited users, full-text code search, cross-repository find and replace, CLI and MCP server, SCIP code intelligence, and support for GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, and Bitbucket. It also includes horizontal scaling and Docker and Kubernetes deployment. This is a substantial core offering for teams able to operate their own installation; it does not include the Enterprise access controls, audit logging, or priority support.

Enterprise — custom pricing

Enterprise includes everything in Community plus OIDC single sign-on, role-based repository permissions using glob patterns, audit logging, Ed25519 license management, priority support, and custom user limits and SLA. Its permissions and audit records of searches, file access, and replace operations address organizational oversight needs. Teams that require SSO, repository-level access controls, or priority support will need to request pricing; no Enterprise price is stated.

Community support is available through GitHub Issues. There is no published trial term or renewal detail to weigh against the free plan.

Platforms

Code Search supports API, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows, and is self-hosted. Its installation choices include Docker, source builds, Kubernetes, and Helm, giving operators several ways to fit deployment to their environment.

Who it's for

Code Search is best suited to organizations managing hundreds or thousands of repositories that need fast search, symbol navigation, or repeatable cross-repository edits and want to self-host. Community makes the core functions accessible without a per-user charge, while Enterprise is the relevant option for teams with formal access-control and audit requirements. It is less compelling for individuals or small teams that only need local code search and do not benefit from operating a shared platform.

Pros and cons

Pros: Search spans repositories in under a second, with regex and SCIP navigation for finding both text and related symbols.
Pros: Batch replacement can create branches and merge requests automatically, reducing the work of coordinating changes across repositories.
Pros: The free Community plan includes unlimited users and core search, navigation, and replacement features.
Pros: Self-hosting keeps code and data on customer servers, and the application sends no telemetry or usage data to the maker.
Cons: The self-hosted model requires teams to deploy and operate the service rather than rely on a hosted product.
Cons: SSO, repository permissions, audit logging, and priority support require Enterprise, whose price is custom.

Alternatives

ast-grep is a free alternative with API, extension, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows support; consider it if those platforms suit your needs.

sqry is a free, open-source MIT-licensed tool that runs locally on Linux, macOS, and Windows; choose it if local operation is the priority.

Shebe offers free local code search under Apache-2.0, with API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and Windows support; it is an option when that scope is sufficient.

Sourcebot is a freemium, self-hosted web and API option with a free Basic plan for code search and a free trial; consider it if you want to compare another self-hosted search offering.

searchcode has a free plan during beta for public GitHub repositories; it may suit work limited to that scope.

Hound is another free option with API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, and web support.

LeIndex is another free option with API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows support.

Understand has a freemium model and a 100120.00 USD per year annual subscription with a minimum term of 12 months; consider it if that paid offering fits your needs.

Verdict

Choose Code Search if your organization needs repository-wide search and coordinated code changes on infrastructure it controls: Community combines fast search, code intelligence, and bulk replacement without a user cap. Look elsewhere if you need a hosted service or if Enterprise-only controls are essential and custom pricing is not a fit.

	Code Search	Zoekt
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	—
Indexing scope	codebase	codebase
Deployment	self_hosted	self_hosted
Regex search	Yes	Yes
Code navigation	Yes	Yes

Code Search vs Zoekt

Code Search

Zoekt