Tabby - Replit alternative

Tabby is a self-hosted AI coding assistant offering an open-source alternative to cloud-based development platforms. The platform runs on your own infrastructure, including your personal computer, using models written in Rust for optimal performance. Solo developers prefer it for complete code ownership, zero telemetry, and the ability to work offline without external dependencies.

Strengths

• Self-contained architecture requires no external database management system or cloud services
• Complete privacy control eliminates telemetry and data mining through self-hosting capabilities
• Supports consumer-grade GPUs making it accessible for individual developers without enterprise hardware
• Compatible with major coding LLMs including CodeLlama, StarCoder, and CodeGen without custom implementation
• OpenAPI interface enables easy integration with existing development infrastructure and cloud IDEs
• Provides code completion, inline chat, and query answering capabilities with cutting-edge AI features

Weaknesses

• Requires infrastructure setup and maintenance compared to fully-managed cloud platforms
• Code suggestions may produce working but junior-level implementations that require manual review
• Initial configuration demands technical knowledge of server deployment and model management
• Performance depends on local hardware specifications and available GPU resources

Best for

Developers prioritizing data privacy, teams requiring on-premises deployment, and engineers comfortable managing self-hosted infrastructure who need AI assistance without cloud dependencies.

Pricing plans

• Open Source — Free — Self-hosted deployment up to 50 users
• Team — Custom pricing (billed annually) — Over 50 users with advanced features
• Tabby Cloud — Usage-based pricing — $20 free monthly credits, automatic billing over $10, tab completion always free with no usage limits

Tech details

• Type: Self-hosted AI coding assistant with local-first architecture
• IDEs: VS Code, VSCodium, IntelliJ Platform IDEs (IDEA, PyCharm, GoLand, Android Studio), Vim, NeoVim
• Key features: Multi-line code completion, inline chat, answer engine, repository context awareness, GitLab merge request indexing, documentation integration via REST APIs
• Privacy / hosting: Fully self-hosted with no cloud service requirements, on-premises deployment, local-first data storage
• Models / context window: CodeLlama, StarCoder, CodeGen, Codestral, CodeGemma, CodeQwen, Qwen2-1.5B-Instruct — context window sizes vary by model selection

When to choose this over Replit

• You need complete control over code data and cannot use cloud-based development platforms
• Your team requires on-premises AI assistance without external API dependencies
• You want to avoid recurring SaaS costs and prefer infrastructure you own and operate

When Replit may be a better fit

• You prefer zero-configuration setup with immediate browser-based access to development environments
• Your workflow requires seamless team collaboration with real-time multiplayer coding capabilities
• You need integrated deployment and hosting without managing separate infrastructure components

Conclusion

Tabby delivers a self-hosted AI coding assistant as a Replit alternative for developers requiring data sovereignty. The platform runs entirely on your infrastructure, including personal computers, with Rust-based performance optimization. While setup complexity exceeds managed services, teams gain complete privacy control and independence from external providers.

Sources

• Official site: https://www.tabbyml.com/
• Docs: https://tabby.tabbyml.com/docs/welcome/
• Pricing: https://www.tabbyml.com/pricing

FAQ

What makes Tabby different from cloud-based coding assistants?

Tabby operates as a self-contained system requiring no database management system, cloud services, or external dependencies, eliminating telemetry and data mining concerns. You maintain complete ownership of your code and AI interactions.

Can I run Tabby on standard developer hardware?

Yes. Tabby supports consumer-grade GPUs, making it accessible without enterprise-level hardware investments. The platform also offers CPU-based inference options for machines without dedicated graphics cards.

Which programming languages and IDEs does Tabby support?

Tabby integrates with VS Code, VSCodium, all IntelliJ Platform IDEs (including IDEA, PyCharm, GoLand, and Android Studio), plus Vim and NeoVim. Language support depends on your selected model configuration.

How does Tabby's pricing compare to monthly subscription services?

The open-source version is free for up to 50 users with self-hosting, while Tabby Cloud offers usage-based pricing with $20 in free monthly credits and permanently free tab completion. Team and enterprise plans use custom annual billing structures.

What AI models can I use with Tabby?

Tabby supports major coding LLMs including CodeLlama, StarCoder, and CodeGen, allowing you to use and combine your preferred models. Recent additions include Codestral, CodeGemma, CodeQwen, and various Qwen models for chat functionality.

Does Tabby work offline without internet connectivity?

Yes. As a self-contained system running on your own infrastructure, Tabby functions completely offline once models are downloaded and deployed. This makes it ideal for secure environments or locations with unreliable internet access.