Span vs. DX:
The AI-native alternative
Engineering teams need clear visibility into their development process, but legacy platforms require perfect data hygiene and months of setup. See why forward-thinking companies are switching to Span.
3 – 4x
Faster time to value
3 – 4x
Faster time to value
95%
AI code detection accuracy
$45
Per contributor / month
Why Span
Built for how engineering actually works
Built for how engineering actually works
Unlike traditional platforms that demand pristine data hygiene and rigid processes, Span uses advanced AI to make sense of your existing workflows and deliver insights from day one.
Unlike traditional platforms that demand pristine data hygiene and rigid processes, Span uses advanced AI to make sense of your existing workflows and deliver insights from day one.
AI-native intelligence
Span’s AI inference engine automatically categorizes work, identifies patterns, and surfaces insights without requiring perfect Jira hygiene or standardized processes.
Insights for every role
Code-level detection gives you a directional measure of AI vs. human-authored code across tools.
Comprehensive SDLC visibility
Tailored insights for ICs, engineering managers, and executives alike — coaching signals, impact visibility, and strategic intelligence from one unified platform.
Universal AI code detection
A co-build approach lets you customize metrics, dashboards, and workflows to match your specific needs. No rigid templates or inflexible reporting.
Flexible platform
Complete visibility across your entire software development lifecycle — from builds and pull requests to code reviews, deploys, and incidents.
Built-in developer surveys
Pair quantitative metrics with qualitative context through built-in surveys and actionable workflows that drive real improvement.
AI-native intelligence
Span’s AI inference engine automatically categorizes work, identifies patterns, and surfaces insights without requiring perfect Jira hygiene or standardized processes.
Comprehensive SDLC visibility
Tailored insights for ICs, engineering managers, and executives alike — coaching signals, impact visibility, and strategic intelligence from one unified platform.
Flexible platform
Complete visibility across your entire software development lifecycle — from builds and pull requests to code reviews, deploys, and incidents.
Insights for every role
Code-level detection gives you a directional measure of AI vs. human-authored code across tools.
Universal AI code detection
A co-build approach lets you customize metrics, dashboards, and workflows to match your specific needs. No rigid templates or inflexible reporting.
Built-in developer surveys
Pair quantitative metrics with qualitative context through built-in surveys and actionable workflows that drive real improvement.
AI-native intelligence
Span’s AI inference engine automatically categorizes work, identifies patterns, and surfaces insights without requiring perfect Jira hygiene or standardized processes.
Flexible platform
Complete visibility across your entire software development lifecycle — from builds and pull requests to code reviews, deploys, and incidents.
Universal AI code detection
A co-build approach lets you customize metrics, dashboards, and workflows to match your specific needs. No rigid templates or inflexible reporting.
Comprehensive SDLC visibility
Tailored insights for ICs, engineering managers, and executives alike — coaching signals, impact visibility, and strategic intelligence from one unified platform.
Insights for every role
Code-level detection gives you a directional measure of AI vs. human-authored code across tools.
Built-in developer surveys
Pair quantitative metrics with qualitative context through built-in surveys and actionable workflows that drive real improvement.
Detailed Comparison
How Span stacks up against DX
How Span stacks up against DX
Span’s AI inference engine automatically categorizes work, identifies patterns, and surfaces insights without requiring perfect Jira hygiene or standardized processes.
Span’s AI inference engine automatically categorizes work, identifies patterns, and surfaces insights without requiring perfect Jira hygiene or standardized processes.
Features
AI-native cost capitalization
AI-native cost capitalization
Brag sheets & performance summaries
Brag sheets & performance summaries
Workstreams & investment mix
Workstreams & investment mix
No data hygiene required
No data hygiene required
Roles & permissions
Roles & permissions
Synthetic metrics & AI quality
Synthetic metrics & AI quality
Time to value
Time to value
Pricing
Pricing
Accurate software cap and R&D credits without Jira hygiene or issue-to-PR linking
Accurate software cap and R&D credits without Jira hygiene or issue-to-PR linking
Auto-generated brag sheets and status updates — review prep in seconds
Auto-generated brag sheets and status updates — review prep in seconds
See where engineering time actually goes — no tagging required
See where engineering time actually goes — no tagging required
Your team links 40% of PRs to issues? That’s fine. Span works out of the box
Your team links 40% of PRs to issues? That’s fine. Span works out of the box
Built for everyone — ICs, EMs, directors, and VPs all get the right view
Built for everyone — ICs, EMs, directors, and VPs all get the right view
Weighted PRs that reflect real impact, plus AI vs. human defect rate tracking
Weighted PRs that reflect real impact, plus AI vs. human defect rate tracking
Plug in, get insights in weeks. Zero setup
Plug in, get insights in weeks. Zero setup
$45/contributor/month — transparent, predictable, no negotiation
$45/contributor/month — transparent, predictable, no negotiation
getdx
Established cost cap product, but accuracy depends on clean PM tool data and Work Classification
Established cost cap product, but accuracy depends on clean PM tool data and Work Classification
Hope your managers keep good notes. No equivalent feature
Hope your managers keep good notes. No equivalent feature
Needs manual Work Classification training and clean Jira before investment data is usable
Needs manual Work Classification training and clean Jira before investment data is usable
Needs clean Jira and proper linking before investment and cost cap metrics are accurate
Needs clean Jira and proper linking before investment and cost cap metrics are accurate
Coarser permissions and less configurable role-based access. Limited IC-level views
Coarser permissions and less configurable role-based access. Limited IC-level views
Knows who’s using AI tools. Can’t tell you which code AI actually wrote
Knows who’s using AI tools. Can’t tell you which code AI actually wrote
2–4 months of survey design and data cleanup before you see full value
2–4 months of survey design and data cleanup before you see full value
Quote-only pricing ($12K– $180K/year). Requires sales negotiation
Quote-only pricing ($12K– $180K/year). Requires sales negotiation
The Span Advantage
Why teams choose Span over DX
Why teams choose Span over DX
01
Built for real-world data, not perfect data
DX depends on clean, well-structured Jira data and manual Work Classification training to deliver accurate results. Span’s AI-native approach works with your data as-is — most orgs link less than 40% of PRs to issues, and that’s fine.
04
Truly flexible, not rigidly templated
Span's co-build approach means the platform adapts to your unique workflows rather than forcing you into predetermined structures.
02
Faster implementation, faster results
DX enterprise rollouts commonly take 2–4 months with survey program design, Work Classification training, and data hygiene prerequisites. Span delivers actionable insights in days to weeks.
05
Universal AI detection that actually works
Span's universal AI code detector identifies AI-assisted code with 95% accuracy across all tools — even ones you haven't integrated yet.
03
Built for everyone, not just executives
DX is known for surveys and aggregate perception data for leadership. Span provides tailored experiences across all roles — coaching signals for managers, brag sheets for ICs, and strategic intelligence for executives.
06
Transparent, predictable pricing
$45/contributor/month. No negotiation games, no hidden costs, no surprises. Just straightforward pricing you can plan around.
01
Built for real-world data, not perfect data
DX depends on clean, well-structured Jira data and manual Work Classification training to deliver accurate results. Span’s AI-native approach works with your data as-is — most orgs link less than 40% of PRs to issues, and that’s fine.
02
Faster implementation, faster results
DX enterprise rollouts commonly take 2–4 months with survey program design, Work Classification training, and data hygiene prerequisites. Span delivers actionable insights in days to weeks.
03
Built for everyone, not just executives
DX is known for surveys and aggregate perception data for leadership. Span provides tailored experiences across all roles — coaching signals for managers, brag sheets for ICs, and strategic intelligence for executives.
04
Truly flexible, not rigidly templated
Span's co-build approach means the platform adapts to your unique workflows rather than forcing you into predetermined structures.
05
Universal AI detection that actually works
Span's universal AI code detector identifies AI-assisted code with 95% accuracy across all tools — even ones you haven't integrated yet.
06
Transparent, predictable pricing
$45/contributor/month. No negotiation games, no hidden costs, no surprises. Just straightforward pricing you can plan around.
01
Built for real-world data, not perfect data
DX depends on clean, well-structured Jira data and manual Work Classification training to deliver accurate results. Span’s AI-native approach works with your data as-is — most orgs link less than 40% of PRs to issues, and that’s fine.
03
Built for everyone, not just executives
DX is known for surveys and aggregate perception data for leadership. Span provides tailored experiences across all roles — coaching signals for managers, brag sheets for ICs, and strategic intelligence for executives.
05
Universal AI detection that actually works
Span's universal AI code detector identifies AI-assisted code with 95% accuracy across all tools — even ones you haven't integrated yet.
02
Faster implementation, faster results
DX enterprise rollouts commonly take 2–4 months with survey program design, Work Classification training, and data hygiene prerequisites. Span delivers actionable insights in days to weeks.
04
Truly flexible, not rigidly templated
Span's co-build approach means the platform adapts to your unique workflows rather than forcing you into predetermined structures.
06
Transparent, predictable pricing
$45/contributor/month. No negotiation games, no hidden costs, no surprises. Just straightforward pricing you can plan around.
Glossgenius
glossgenius.com
"Span helps us take a more data-driven approach to velocity and gives every team and engineer visibility into how they can improve. We quickly moved the needle by giving teams insight into their working patterns and their own maker time."
Brady Allchin
VP of Engineering
Classpass
classpass.com
"We looked at other products, but ultimately chose Span. It came down to the magic and usability. Span just feels built by engineers who understand how teams actually work."
Henrique Boregio
Director of Engineering
Glossgenius
glossgenius.com
"Span helps us take a more data-driven approach to velocity and gives every team and engineer visibility into how they can improve. We quickly moved the needle by giving teams insight into their working patterns and their own maker time."
Brady Allchin
VP of Engineering
Classpass
classpass.com
"We looked at other products, but ultimately chose Span. It came down to the magic and usability. Span just feels built by engineers who understand how teams actually work."
Henrique Boregio
Director of Engineering
Transparent, predictable pricing
Transparent, predictable pricing
No negotiation games. No hidden costs. No surprises.
No negotiation games. No hidden costs. No surprises.
$45
contributor/mo
billed annually
Glossgenius
glossgenius.com
"Span helps us take a more data-driven approach to velocity and gives every team and engineer visibility into how they can improve. We quickly moved the needle by giving teams insight into their working patterns and their own maker time."
Brady Allchin
VP of Engineering
Classpass
classpass.com
"We looked at other products, but ultimately chose Span. It came down to the magic and usability. Span just feels built by engineers who understand how teams actually work."
Henrique Boregio
Director of Engineering
Everything you need to unlock engineering excellence
Everything you need to unlock engineering excellence