Open source Zed alternatives

All Zed alternatives

1. 

   

   Visual Studio Code

   193.6KstarsLike

   Visual Studio Code is a free source code editor from Microsoft that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and in the browser. It combines IntelliSense completion, a built-in debugger, Git tools and an integrated terminal with a large extensions marketplace. It is built on the MIT-licensed Code - OSS project and integrates GitHub Copilot for AI chat and agent workflows.

   12 Visual Studio Code alternatives

   Pros

   • Huge extensions marketplace for almost any language or tool
   • Integrated terminal, debugger and Git tools
   • Remote development over SSH, in containers and with WSL

   Cons

   • Official builds include Microsoft telemetry and proprietary components
   • As an Electron app it uses more memory than native editors
   • Large extension setups can slow it down

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   Code Editors & IDEs

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinux

   Features

   AI assistantCode completionDebuggerExtensions marketplaceGit integrationRemote development

   Visit websiteMore about Visual Studio Code
2. 

   

   Neovim

   103KstarsLike

   Neovim is a community-driven fork of Vim that keeps modal editing while modernizing the codebase. It adds first-class Lua scripting, a built-in Language Server Protocol client, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, an embedded terminal and an RPC API that lets other programs use it as an editing engine. It is free and open source, and popular with developers who build a customized, keyboard-driven setup.

   12 Neovim alternatives

   Pros

   • Lua scripting makes configuration and plugins easier to write
   • Built-in LSP client and Tree-sitter highlighting
   • Fast, keyboard-driven editing that runs anywhere in a terminal

   Cons

   • Modal editing has a steep learning curve
   • Turning it into a full IDE takes time and ongoing plugin maintenance

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   Code Editors & IDEs

   Platforms

   WindowsMacLinux

   Features

   API accessCode completionPlugins & extensionsTerminal integration

   Visit websiteMore about Neovim
3. 

   

   VSCodium

   33.6KstarsLike

   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

   WindowsMacLinux

   Features

   Code completionDebuggerExtensions marketplaceGit integrationTerminal integration

   Visit websiteMore about VSCodium
4. 

   

   GNU Emacs

   Like

   GNU Emacs is a free, extensible text editor built around an Emacs Lisp interpreter, so almost every part of it can be reshaped. It supports programming with language servers through Eglot, debugger integration and built-in shells, and many people also use it for Org mode notes and planning, email and file management. Packages install from ELPA archives. It is part of the GNU Project and licensed under the GPL.

   7 GNU Emacs alternatives

   Pros

   • Almost every part can be reshaped with Emacs Lisp
   • Org mode is a powerful system for notes, tasks and planning
   • Huge package ecosystem through the ELPA archives

   Cons

   • Steep learning curve and unusual default keybindings
   • Needs significant configuration to match a modern IDE
   • Can slow down with heavy configurations or very large files

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   Code Editors & IDEs

   Platforms

   WindowsMacLinux

   Features

   Code completionDebuggerPlugins & extensionsTerminal integration

   Visit websiteMore about GNU Emacs