Comparison

ast-grep vs Black

On the evidence we track, Black leads this comparison with a composite score of 73/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

ast-grep full profile →Black full profile →

Machine formatsJSON Markdown GraphQLor send Accept: application/json

ast-grep60

★Black73

Attribute comparison across 2 tools
Attribute	ast-grep	BlackLeader
Vioscale score	60 / 100low · 45%	73 / 100high · 78%
Pricing
Free tierpricing.free_tier	✓	✓
Modelpricing.model	commercial	open_source
Price levelpricing.price_level	free	free
Transparentpricing.transparent	-	✓
Integrations
Countintegrations.count	-	8
Security
Disclosure policysecurity.disclosure_policy	-	✓
Scorecardsecurity.scorecard	-	7.7
Vulnerabilitiessecurity.vulnerabilities	Count: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40ast-grep%2Fnapi&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0	Count: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=black&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 1 · Max severity: HIGH
Adoption
Dependent reposadoption.dependent_repos	177	105,588
Github starsadoption.github_stars	15,649	41,816
Package downloads weeklyadoption.package_downloads_weekly	-	39,005,228
Activity
Commits last 30dactivity.commits_last_30d	49	29
Release
Cadence daysrelease.cadence_days	14	31
Historyrelease.history	20 items	20 items
License
Spdxlicense.spdx	MIT	MIT
Language
Primarylanguage.primary	Rust	Python

Score

Vioscale score

ast-grep60 / 100low · 45%

Black73 / 100high · 78%

Pricing

Free tier

ast-grep✓

Black✓

Model

ast-grepcommercial

Blackopen_source

Price level

ast-grepfree

Blackfree

Transparent

ast-grep–

Black✓

Integrations

Count

ast-grep–

Black8

Security

Disclosure policy

ast-grep–

Black✓

Scorecard

ast-grep–

Black7.7

Vulnerabilities

ast-grepCount: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40ast-grep%2Fnapi&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0

BlackCount: 2 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=black&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 1 · Max severity: HIGH

Adoption

Dependent repos

ast-grep177

Black105,588

Github stars

ast-grep15,649

Black41,816

Package downloads weekly

ast-grep–

Black39,005,228

Activity

Commits last 30d

ast-grep49

Black29

Release

Cadence days

ast-grep14

Black31

History

ast-grep20 items

Black20 items

License

Spdx

ast-grepMIT

BlackMIT

Language

Primary

ast-grepRust

BlackPython

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for code quality tools. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Capability comparison for Code Quality Tools
Capability	ast-grep	Black
Core
Function	Static analyzer	Formatter
Language scope	Multi-language	Single-language
Implementation language	Rust	Python
Capability
Autofix	✓	✓
Config
Config model	Rule packs	Zero-config
Extensibility
Custom rules	✓	✗
Deployment
Deployment	CLI-local	Both
Delivery
Editor integration	✓	✓
CI / VCS gating	-	✓
Insight
Code metrics	-	✗
Performance
Incremental / monorepo aware	-	✗
Licensing
Open-source	OSS	OSS
Commercial
Pricing model	Free	Free

Core

Function

ast-grepStatic analyzer

BlackFormatter

Language scope

ast-grepMulti-language

BlackSingle-language

Implementation language

ast-grepRust

BlackPython

Capability

Autofix

ast-grep✓

Black✓

Config

Config model

ast-grepRule packs

BlackZero-config

Extensibility

Custom rules

ast-grep✓

Black✗

Deployment

ast-grepCLI-local

BlackBoth

Delivery

Editor integration

ast-grep✓

Black✓

CI / VCS gating

ast-grep-

Black✓

Insight

Code metrics

ast-grep-

Black✗

Performance

Incremental / monorepo aware

ast-grep-

Black✗

Licensing

Open-source

ast-grepOSS

BlackOSS

Commercial

Pricing model

ast-grepFree

BlackFree

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

ast-grep

A structural code search and rewriting tool that uses AST analysis to locate and modify code patterns across thousands of files, with support for linting and programmatic access via Node.js bindings.

Independently observed

Black

Leader

An opinionated Python code formatter that automatically reformats code according to a standardized style. It produces minimal diffs for cleaner code review and reduces developer cognitive load by removing formatting decisions, allowing focus on code logic.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

ast-grep

Open sourceFree tier

as of 2026-08-14verify ↗

Black

Leader

Open sourceFree tier

Free and open source (MIT licensed)

as of 2026-08-14verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platform and deployment support comparison
Supports	ast-grep	Black
CLIPlatforms	✓	✓
Self-hostedDeployment	✓	✓

Platforms

CLI

ast-grep✓

Black✓

Deployment

Self-hosted

ast-grep✓

Black✓

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

ast-grep

Not documented yet.

Black

Leader

8 total

Neovim
conform.nvim
ALE
SublimeText
Pre-commit
Jupyter Notebooks
blacken-docs
blackdoc

Independently observed

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.