Amp vs OpenHands
Features, pricing and Editor Score side by side — to help you pick the right coding & development tool in 2026.
Quick verdict
On our Editor Score, Amp and OpenHands land almost level. Pick Amp if you want sourcegraph code intelligence giving frontier models repository-wide reference data; choose OpenHands for open-source coding agents. On pricing, both ship a free or freemium tier, so you can try each before paying.
Amp vs OpenHands at a Glance
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Free tier | ||
| Best for | sourcegraph code intelligence giving frontier models repository-wide reference data | open-source coding agents |
Amp
Amp is an agentic coding tool from Sourcegraph that runs in the terminal and in editor extensions, using Sourcegraph's code intelligence to give frontier models deep repository context. It plans multi-step work, edits across files, runs tests and iterates, on pay-as-you-go credits with no markup on provider pricing.
- Sourcegraph's code intelligence is genuinely hard to replicate and shows on multi-file refactors
- Charging provider cost with no markup removes any incentive to ration your usage or downgrade your model
- A free tier with no hard token cap allows real evaluation rather than a crippled trial
- Threads make agent sessions reviewable and teachable, which most tools leave invisible
- Pay-as-you-go spend is unpredictable and harder to get approved than a flat subscription
- The free tier is ad-supported and does not carry the paid tier's zero-data-sharing guarantee
- No compliance certifications or on-premise deployment are advertised
OpenHands
OpenHands is an open-source platform for agentic software development: AI agents that work in your repositories through conversations and scheduled automations, with your choice of model, available locally, as a cloud service, through an SDK and with an enterprise control plane.
- Open source and inspectable
- Choice of model, avoids lock-in
- Automations beyond chat
- Scales from laptop to enterprise
- Agents still need careful review
- Model costs can climb on big tasks
- Requires task and permission discipline
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Amp if…
- you want sourcegraph code intelligence giving frontier models repository-wide reference data
- a free or freemium plan is important
Choose OpenHands if…
- you want open-source coding agents
- a free or freemium plan is important
Amp vs OpenHands: The Verdict
Your use case decides this one: Amp leans into sourcegraph code intelligence giving frontier models repository-wide reference data, while OpenHands is built for open-source coding agents. Weigh features and pricing for your workflow. Both have a free or freemium tier, so spin up each and keep the one that clicks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amp better than OpenHands?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your budget and which features matter most. The side-by-side breakdown above shows where each one wins.
What is the difference between Amp and OpenHands?
Amp (freemium) is best for sourcegraph code intelligence giving frontier models repository-wide reference data, while OpenHands (freemium) is best for open-source coding agents. See the full feature and pricing comparison above.
Is Amp or OpenHands cheaper?
Both have paid plans — pricing depends on your usage tier. Open each tool's review for current prices, and watch for free trials.
Which is better for beginners, Amp or OpenHands?
Amp is usually the easier starting point thanks to a lower barrier to entry. Beginners should favour a free tier and a simple interface over raw power.
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About the Authors
AI Tools Comparison Analyst
Olivia runs side-by-side comparisons and benchmarks, digging into pricing, features, and real-world performance so readers can choose between competing AI tools with confidence.
Senior AI Tools Reviewer
Daniel reviews AI tools the slow way — by actually using them on real projects. His reviews cover what works, what breaks, and who each tool is genuinely a good fit for.
Keep exploring
Last updated October 2026. Comparisons are ranked by our Editor Score (features, value and pricing, blended with verified user reviews where a tool has them) — see our methodology.