SpecStory vs Swimm: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between SpecStory and Swimm comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
SpecStory
Capture AI chats and development context to ship smarter, faster, and with perfect alignment.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Captures and centralizes all AI chat and development decisions.
- • Provides searchable history and context for individual and team development.
Swimm
Accelerate modernization by automatically reverse engineering applications and extracting business rules from legacy code.
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • Automatically reverse engineers legacy mainframe code using AI-powered static analysis.
- • Extracts business logic, maps system architecture, and documents dependencies for modernization.
| At a Glance |  SpecStory |  Swimm |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Documentation | Documentation |
Rating | —/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | SpecStory | Swimm |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | — | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | DocumentationAI Coding | DocumentationCode Review |
How SpecStory and Swimm Compare
SpecStory
Capture AI chats and development context to ship smarter, faster, and with perfect alignment.
Free tier available
Swimm
Accelerate modernization by automatically reverse engineering applications and extracting business rules from legacy code.
Paid · 86/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
SpecStory has a free tier. Swimm is paid only.
Go with: SpecStory
Want the highest-rated option?
Swimm scores 86/100. SpecStory is unrated.
Go with: Swimm
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Swimm
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
SpecStory is freemium. Swimm is paid. SpecStory lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are documentation tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Swimm
- Higher score: 86/100 vs unrated
- Our pick for this comparison
SpecStory
- Has a free tier
The Bottom Line
Swimm (86/100) is our pick. SpecStory has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SpecStory or Swimm better?
Swimm scores 86/100 in our evaluation. SpecStory is freemium and Swimm is paid.
What are SpecStory and Swimm used for?
SpecStory: Capture AI chats and development context to ship smarter, faster, and with perfect alignment.. Swimm: Accelerate modernization by automatically reverse engineering applications and extracting business rules from legacy code..
What does SpecStory cost vs Swimm?
SpecStory is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Swimm is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.