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Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code Alternatives

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Discover the 6 best alternatives to Visual Studio Code.

Smart recommendations
IDEs # ide# editor# open-source# microsoft# coding# ai-coding

Why Look for Visual Studio Code Alternatives?

Looking for alternatives to Visual Studio Code? Whether you're seeking different features, better pricing, or exploring options before committing, we've compiled a comprehensive list of 6 alternatives.

Our top recommendation is Bolt.new, which offers Prompt, build, and deploy full-stack web applications entirely in your browser.. Other notable options include Zed, Trae, Windsurf , and more.

Each alternative below has been evaluated based on features, pricing, user feedback, and how well it serves as a replacement for Visual Studio Code.

Top Visual Studio Code Alternatives

#1
Bolt.new

Bolt.new

Prompt, build, and deploy full-stack web applications entirely in your browser.

IDEs Freemium From $20/mo
Visit Bolt.new Full Review
#2
Zed

Zed

A high-performance, multiplayer code editor crafted for speed and collaboration with humans and AI.

IDEs Freemium From $10/mo
Visit Zed Full Review
#3
Trae

Trae

An adaptive, AI-powered IDE built on VS Code to understand, execute, and deliver software solutions faster.

IDEs Freemium From $10/mo
Visit Trae Full Review
#4
Windsurf

Windsurf

The first agentic AI-native IDE that understands your entire codebase and handles multi-step tasks autonomously.

IDEs Freemium From $15/mo
Visit Windsurf Full Review
#5
Google Antigravity

Google Antigravity

An agent-first AI-powered IDE designed for autonomous development and parallel orchestration.

IDEs Freemium From $20/mo
Visit Google Antigravity Full Review
#6
Cursor

Cursor

The AI-native code editor built for extraordinary productivity and seamless multi-file editing.

IDEs Freemium From $20/mo
Visit Cursor Full Review

Visual Studio Code Features

  • → IntelliSense AI completions
  • → Built-in debugger
  • → Integrated Git control
  • → Extensive marketplace with 80k+ extensions
  • → Integrated terminal
  • → Multi-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • → Web-based version (vscode.dev)

Visual Studio Code Pros

  • Lightweight and fast startup compared to full IDEs
  • Industry-leading extension marketplace for any language
  • Highly customizable UI and JSON-based settings
  • Frequent monthly updates with new features

Visual Studio Code Cons

  • High RAM consumption due to Electron-based architecture
  • Complex configuration can be overwhelming for beginners
  • Extension quality and maintenance can be inconsistent
  • Lacks some out-of-the-box depth found in specialized IDEs

Visual Studio Code Technical Performance

Lighthouse Audit

Speed
65/100 D
Accessibility
100/100 A
Best Practices
58/100 D
SEO
100/100 A

Core Web Vitals

LCP 4.4s
FCP 4.2s
CLS 0.195
TBT 118ms