However, our scores and “Verdicts” are based on real testing and community data, not sponsorship.
- Rebranding Update: “CodiumAI” is now officially Qodo. Review updated to reflect the new ecosystem.
- Pricing Verification: Confirmed Free Tier is still capped at 75 credits/mo (High Burn Rate risk).
- New Models: Added support for DeepSeek-R1 and Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
If you’re a developer in 2025 looking for an honest Qodo AI review (formerly CodiumAI), you’ve likely hit a wall with standard tools. GitHub Copilot is fantastic for speed, but it often generates buggy code that breaks production. You’re locked into Microsoft’s ecosystem, and for many, sending sensitive code to an external server is a non-starter.
Enter Qodo. It has exploded on Google Trends not because it’s another chatbot, but because it positions itself as a “Quality-First” Integrity Platform. It doesn’t just write code; it tests it, reviews it, and tries to break it before you merge.
But with a strict 75-credit limit on the free plan, is it actually usable for an SMB or freelancer? Our investigation into the new Agentic workflows and local privacy features reveals the truth.
What is Qodo? (The “Integrity” Shift)
Most AI tools (like Copilot) are designed for Creation. They want to help you type faster.
Most AI tools (like Copilot) are designed for Creation. They want to help you type faster.
Qodo (formerly Codium) is designed for Integrity. Its core modules (Qodo Gen and Qodo Cover) actively analyze your code to generate test suites, find edge cases, and simulate bugs before you run the code.
It supports modern models like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and DeepSeek-R1, while still offering robust support for Local LLMs (Ollama) for privacy-conscious teams.
Qodo AI Review Pricing: The “Credit” Trap
Before you install, you must understand their “Credit System.” Unlike the flat-fee model of Copilot, Qodo uses a usage-based limiter on the free tier.
| Plan Tier | Key Limits & Features |
|---|---|
| Developer (Free) | Monthly Limit: 75 Credits (Strict Hard Cap) Models: Access to standard models. Best For: Hobbyists & Local LLM users. |
| Teams ($30/user) | Monthly Limit: 2,500 Credits Features: Admin Dashboard, SSO, Priority Support. Privacy: Zero data retention policy. |
| Enterprise | Custom limits, VPC deployment, and Self-Hosted options. |
Warning for SMBs: The 75-credit limit is extremely low. Using a premium model like Claude 3.5 Opus can consume 5 credits per prompt. You could burn your entire monthly allowance in one afternoon of debugging.
Showdown: Qodo vs. GitHub Copilot
Why are teams switching? It comes down to Privacy and Testing.
| Feature | Qodo AI | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Core Philosophy | Integrity (Testing & Review) | Speed (Autocomplete) |
| Model Choice | Agnostic (DeepSeek, Claude, GPT-4) | Locked (OpenAI only) |
| Local Privacy | Yes (Full Ollama Support) | No (Cloud only) |
| Test Generation | Agentic (Analysis & Edge Cases) | Basic scaffolding |
🕵️ Analyst’s Note: The “Ollama” Superpower
For Enterprise and Security-focused SMBs, Qodo’s “Killer Feature” isn’t its cloud AI—it’s the Local LLM Integration.
You can connect Qodo to Ollama running locally (e.g., Llama 3 or DeepSeek-R1-Distill) on your own laptop.
The Benefit: Your proprietary code never leaves your machine. You get a powerful AI assistant with zero data leakage risk and zero cloud credit costs. This is the only way to use the “Free Plan” effectively without hitting the 75-credit wall.
Qodo AI Review: Pros & Cons (User Feedback)
✅ PROS (Why It Wins)
- Testing Mindset: It forces you to write better code by generating tests first (TDD approach).
- Privacy King: Best-in-class Local LLM (Ollama) support for secure environments.
- Model Flexibility: You aren’t stuck with GPT-4; you can use Claude 3.5 Sonnet or DeepSeek.
❌ CONS (The Dealbreakers)
- Credit Anxiety: The 75-credit limit on the Free tier is painfully restrictive for cloud models.
- Complexity: The UI is denser than Copilot; it has a steeper learning curve for beginners.
- Setup Required: Connecting to Local LLMs requires technical setup (not plug-and-play).
🏁 Qodo AI Review: The SMB Verdict
8.9/10“The Best Choice for Privacy-Focused & Senior Developers.”
👍 Best For:
- Teams with strict Privacy/Compliance
- Senior Devs (Test-Driven Development)
- Local LLM Enthusiasts
🚫 Not For:
- Absolute beginners (Try Copilot)
- Users wanting unlimited free cloud chat
Strategic Advice: If you know how to run Ollama, Qodo is the most powerful free tool on the market. If you rely on Cloud, be ready to pay $30/mo.
FAQ: Common SMB Questions
Is Qodo better than GitHub Copilot?
For testing and code integrity, yes. Qodo finds bugs that Copilot misses. However, Copilot is still faster for simple “tab-to-complete” writing.
Is the Free Plan enough?
Only if you use Local LLMs (Ollama) or bring your own API key. For cloud usage, the 75-credit limit is too low for daily work.
Does Qodo steal my code?
No. Qodo has a strict zero-retention policy for paid plans. If you use Local LLMs, your code never even leaves your computer.
About the Author
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, MyAIVerdict.com
I am a tech educator and developer passionate about simplifying complex AI tools for small businesses. I approach every software review with a teacher’s mindset: strict grading, clear explanations, and zero fluff.
Disclosure: This review adheres to MyAIVerdict’s strict editorial integrity policy. No payment was accepted for this rating.