Decision Support · Side-by-side
Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.
Change tools
For everyday users who are developers working with modern codebases, Bloop is the clear winner—it's free to start, works on your desktop, and helps you understand and refactor code instantly. Swimm is a specialized enterprise tool for modernizing ancient mainframe systems (COBOL, JCL) and is completely irrelevant for anyone not dealing with legacy mainframe code. The single biggest difference: Bloop is for everyday coding, Swimm is for industrial archaeology.
Bloop
Swimm
Scores at a glance
Choose Bloop if
Choose Swimm if
Key differences
Facts side by side
| Bloop | Swimm | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| API access |
Common questions
Yes, if your code is in a modern language like Python, JavaScript, or Go. Bloop lets you search in plain English and works locally. Swimm is only for COBOL and mainframe code.
No. Neither tool has a mobile app. Both require a desktop computer (Bloop) or an on-premise server (Swimm).
Bloop's local features are free. Swimm requires contacting sales for pricing—it is enterprise-only and likely expensive.
Bloop is beginner-friendly if you know how to install software and connect a GitHub account. Swimm is not for beginners—it requires mainframe expertise.
No. Swimm only supports COBOL, JCL, and Assembler. For React or Python, use Bloop.
No. Neither Bloop nor Swimm offers an API according to the available facts.
Bloop wins for everyday developers with modern code; Swimm is a niche enterprise tool for mainframe archaeology.
If you're a regular developer working with modern code, start with Bloop—it's free, easy to install, and lets you search your code in plain English. Swimm is only worth considering if your company is stuck with a mainframe and has a big budget. For almost everyone, Bloop is the practical choice.
