Augment Code vs Firebase Studio in 2026

Firebase Studio is retiring, so it is no longer a competing option for new users. Google disabled signups and new workspaces on June 22, 2026. Existing workspaces remain available until March 22, 2027, when remaining workspace data is permanently deleted. Augment Code is an option to evaluate for ongoing work on a source repository. It does not replace Studio's hosted workspace by itself. Official sunset timeline.

We reviewed official documentation on October 23, 2026. The comparison describes documented capabilities and costs, not measured coding quality or productivity.

Different responsibilities

Firebase Studio combines an online development environment and Gemini assistance. Existing projects can still be developed and deployed during the transition. Its immediate purpose for an owner is to preserve source and move development before the shutdown.

Augment's documentation describes Cosmos automations, the Auggie command-line agent, and clients for Visual Studio Code and JetBrains. Its context tools help agents work with a codebase. The reader still needs a repository, an appropriate runtime, and a deployment process. Repository context is not evidence that a model will understand every dependency or make correct changes without review.

If you already maintain an application with tests and source control, this workflow can fit the way your team reviews changes. If you expect a browser tool to create and host a new application without local setup, compare Google's documented migration destinations first. Google recommends Google AI Studio for browser prototyping and Antigravity for local agent development.

Current costs require a new calculation

Augment's pricing page currently lists Standard at $20 per month with $20 of included usage and Business at $100 with $100 of included usage. Both are flat plans for up to 50 seats, rather than a promise of unlimited work per seat. The page lists top-ups and usage across models, Context Engine, and compute. Enterprise terms are custom.

Those details replace older per-seat or message-count comparisons. Before choosing a plan, check how your selected clients and models consume included usage, what happens at the limit, and whether extra spending is enabled.

Firebase Studio's historical workspace allowances do not establish availability for a new account. Connected Firebase and Google Cloud charges also remain separate from development-tool access.

Move an existing Studio app

1. Download the source or export it to GitHub using Google's instructions. Keep an independent copy before changing tools.
2. Record the runtime, package manager, build and test commands, environment variables, and Firebase project. Store secrets outside source control.
3. Restore the project in the new environment, then connect the Augment client you plan to use. Start with a bounded change that your tests can verify.
4. Review the diff, run the project checks, and verify the deployment. Confirm authentication and database operations against the intended backend.

The standard Studio zip does not include agent chat history. Export that history separately if it matters to your work. Follow Google's migration guide for export and App Hosting details.

The Firebase backend is a separate decision. Cloud Firestore, Authentication, and App Hosting continue after Studio closes, so changing your coding assistant does not require moving application data. Choose Augment for the repository workflow you can verify, not a claim that it automatically migrates hosting or guarantees better code.