Fast, collaborative open source code editor written in Rust
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.
- features
- 7
- alternatives
- 12
- platforms
- 3
- Updated
- Oct 12, 2026
Features
Our take
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
Editorial assessment by the Alternatives.tools team, based on what the product is known for. Not a user review.
Best Zed alternatives
See all 12 alternatives
Visual Studio CodeFreeOpen sourceFree, extensible code editor from Microsoft for most languages
193.6Kstars
CursorFreemiumAI code editor built on VS Code, with agents and multi-line autocomplete
Sublime TextFree trialFast, lightweight text editor for code, markup and prose
NeovimFreeOpen sourceExtensible Vim-based text editor with Lua scripting
103Kstars
WindsurfFreemiumAgentic AI code editor, formerly Codeium, built around the Cascade agent
VSCodiumFreeOpen sourceCommunity builds of VS Code without Microsoft telemetry or branding
33.6Kstars
User reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Zed.