Free Visual Studio Code alternatives

Top Code Editors & IDEs like Visual Studio Code

Updated Oct 12, 2026

The most popular alternative to Visual Studio Code is Cursor, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Visual Studio Code are VSCodium, Zed, IntelliJ IDEA, and WebStorm.

Most alternatives to Visual Studio Code are in the Code Editors & IDEs category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Visual Studio Code alternatives

All Free Open source

10 apps

Cursor
Cursor is a code editor from Anysphere, forked from VS Code, with AI integrated throughout the workflow. Its Tab model predicts multi-line edits, chat understands the whole codebase, and agent mode plans and applies changes across files while running terminal commands. Background agents can also work on tasks in the cloud. It stays compatible with VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings, and has a free Hobby plan.
12 Cursor alternatives
Pros
Tab completion predicts multi-line edits as you type
Agent mode applies changes across files and runs commands
Keeps VS Code extensions, themes and keybindings
Cons
Request limits and usage-based billing can be confusing
As a VS Code fork, it can lag behind upstream updates
The free Hobby plan is quickly limiting for daily work
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
AI Coding Assistants Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Autonomous coding agent Chat with your codebase Code completion Extensions marketplace Terminal integration
Visit website More about Cursor
VSCodium
33.6Kstars
VSCodium is a community project that compiles the open source VS Code codebase into ready-to-use MIT-licensed binaries, with Microsoft telemetry disabled and branding removed. It offers the same editing experience, debugger, terminal and Git tools, and installs extensions from the Open VSX registry instead of the Microsoft marketplace. It suits developers who want the VS Code workflow in a fully open source package.
12 VSCodium alternatives
Pros
The VS Code experience without Microsoft telemetry or branding
Fully open source, MIT-licensed binaries
Ready-made builds for Windows, macOS and Linux
Cons
Open VSX lacks some extensions found in the Microsoft marketplace
Microsoft extensions such as Pylance or Remote SSH are not officially usable
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Terminal integration
Visit website More about VSCodium
Zed
91.6Kstars
Zed is a code editor written in Rust by the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, with a GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects. It includes multiplayer editing, an agent panel that works with several AI models, edit predictions, Git tools, remote development over SSH and an extensions registry. Zed is open source under the GPL and runs on macOS, Linux and Windows; paid plans cover hosted AI usage.
12 Zed alternatives
Pros
GPU-rendered interface that stays fast on large projects
Built-in multiplayer editing and an agent panel for several AI models
Open source under the GPL
Cons
Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
Some IDE features are less mature than in established editors
Hosted AI usage requires a paid plan
Cost / License
FreemiumOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs AI Coding Assistants
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Extensions marketplace Git integration Real-time collaboration Remote development
Visit website More about Zed
IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains development environment for Java, Kotlin, Groovy and Scala, with deep code analysis, refactoring, a debugger and Maven and Gradle support. Since 2025 it ships as a single download: the core IDE is free, including for commercial work, and a subscription unlocks advanced Ultimate features for enterprise frameworks and web development. JetBrains AI tools are built in.
10 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
Pros
Deep code analysis and safe refactoring for Java and Kotlin
The core IDE is free, including for commercial work
Excellent Maven, Gradle and debugger integration
Cons
Resource-hungry, with slow indexing on large projects
Enterprise framework and web features require a subscription
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about IntelliJ IDEA
WebStorm
WebStorm is a JetBrains IDE dedicated to JavaScript and TypeScript, with built-in support for React, Angular, Vue, Node.js and common test runners. It provides smart completion, safe refactorings, a debugger for browser and Node code, and Git tools without extra plugins. WebStorm is free for non-commercial use, and a paid license is required for commercial work.
8 WebStorm alternatives
Pros
Built-in support for React, Angular, Vue and Node.js
Smart completion and safe refactoring for JavaScript and TypeScript
Free for non-commercial use
Cons
Commercial use requires a paid license
Heavier than VS Code for quick edits
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Terminal integration
Visit website More about WebStorm
PyCharm
PyCharm is the JetBrains IDE for Python, with code completion, inspections, refactoring, a graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management. A single distribution provides a free core for everyday Python work, while a Pro subscription unlocks advanced features for web frameworks such as Django, databases and remote development. JetBrains AI features are available in the IDE.
8 PyCharm alternatives
Pros
Excellent Python completion, inspections and refactoring
Graphical debugger, test runners and virtual environment management
The free core covers everyday Python work
Cons
Heavy on memory and slower to start than lighter editors
Django, database and remote development tools require Pro
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration Remote development
Visit website More about PyCharm
Visual Studio
Visual Studio is Microsoft's integrated development environment for building .NET, C# and C++ applications, games and cloud services. It includes IntelliSense, an advanced debugger and profiler, visual designers, testing tools, Git integration and GitHub Copilot. The Community edition is free for individuals, students, open source and small teams, while Professional and Enterprise are paid. It runs on Windows only.
8 Visual Studio alternatives
Pros
Advanced debugger and profiler for .NET and C++ apps
Visual designers and testing tools for Windows development
Free Community edition for individuals, students and small teams
Cons
Windows only, as Visual Studio for Mac has been retired
Large install and heavy resource use
Professional and Enterprise editions are paid
Cost / License
FreemiumProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Extensions marketplace Git integration
Visit website More about Visual Studio
Xcode
Xcode is Apple's free development environment for building apps for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. It bundles the Swift and Objective-C toolchains, SwiftUI previews, Interface Builder, device simulators, Instruments for profiling, a debugger and tools to submit apps to the App Store. Recent versions add predictive code completion and coding help from AI models. It runs on macOS only.
7 Xcode alternatives
Pros
Everything needed to build and ship Apple apps in one free package
SwiftUI previews, simulators and Instruments built in
Built-in tools to submit apps to the App Store
Cons
Runs only on macOS, so a Mac is required
Large downloads and updates take up a lot of disk space
Indexing and previews can be slow or unstable on large projects
Cost / License
FreeProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Mac
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Git integration
Visit website More about Xcode
Notepad++
29.5Kstars
Notepad++ is a free source code editor for Windows and a popular replacement for the built-in Notepad. Written in C++ on the Win32 API and the Scintilla editing component, it starts quickly and stays light while offering syntax highlighting for dozens of languages, tabs, macros, regular expression search and replace, and a plugin manager. It is open source under the GPL and maintained by Don Ho.
7 Notepad++ alternatives
Pros
Starts instantly and stays light on resources
Syntax highlighting for dozens of languages, tabs and macros
Free, open source and extendable through a plugin manager
Cons
Windows only, with no native macOS or Linux version
Lacks the debugging, Git and project tools of a full code editor
Cost / License
FreeOpen source
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows
Features
Code completion Dark mode Plugins & extensions
Visit website More about Notepad++
Android Studio
Android Studio is the official development environment for Android, built by Google on the IntelliJ platform. It provides Kotlin and Java editing, a visual layout editor, Jetpack Compose previews, an emulator, profilers and Gradle builds for phones, tablets, Wear OS, Android TV and cars. Gemini in Android Studio adds AI help for writing code and fixing errors. It is free on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS.
7 Android Studio alternatives
Pros
Official, complete Android toolkit, free on all desktop systems
Emulator, profilers and Compose previews built in
Gemini helps write code and fix build errors
Cons
Heavy on RAM and CPU, especially with the emulator running
Gradle builds can be slow on large projects
Cost / License
FreeProprietary
Categories
Code Editors & IDEs
Platforms
Windows Mac Linux
Features
AI assistant Code completion Debugger Git integration Plugins & extensions
Visit website More about Android Studio

Visual Studio Code vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Visual Studio Code, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Visual Studio Code vs its alternatives at a glance
App	Pricing	Platforms
Visual Studio Code	FreeOpen source	Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
Cursor	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
VSCodium	FreeOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux
Zed	FreemiumOpen source	Windows, Mac, Linux
IntelliJ IDEA	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux
WebStorm	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux

Visual Studio Code alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Visual Studio Code?

The most popular alternative to Visual Studio Code is Cursor: AI code editor built on VS Code, with agents and multi-line autocomplete. Other great alternatives are VSCodium, Zed, IntelliJ IDEA, and WebStorm.