VS Code Alternatives

Visual Studio Code is a cross-platform, extension-driven code editor with IntelliSense-style completion plus integrated Git and debugging workflows. Users praise its versatility and ease of use for many programming workflows, though some complain it can feel resource-intensive and may get slower over time, especially after updates.

VSCodium tops the rankings as a fully open-source build of Code - OSS that removes telemetry while keeping most VS Code functionality and extensibility. Privacy-focused developers who want a VS Code-like experience often choose VSCodium specifically to avoid telemetry, though some Microsoft extensions may be unavailable. Sublime Text ranks second and is repeatedly praised for outstanding speed and being less resource-intensive than VS Code, making it popular with developers on slower machines or large projects.

The alternatives landscape spans lightweight text editors like Vim and Notepad++ to newer AI-first editors like Zed Editor, with over 100 alternatives covering code editors, full IDEs, and terminal-based editors.

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Visual Studio Code is a code editor, but the alternatives span different approaches to development workflows. Open source options like VSCodium, Vim, and GNU Emacs appeal to users who want transparent licensing and community-driven tooling. For privacy-focused development, VSCodium and Helix emphasize no-tracking and telemetry prevention features.

Linux users have native options in VSCodium, Kate, and Lapce. Web-based development suits users who want browser-based environments - Replit and Firebase Studio run online for coding without local setup. For developers who live in the terminal, Micro, Neovim, and Helix target command-line workflows useful for SSH-heavy or low-overhead environments.

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Alternatives list

  1. Tilde icon
     3 likes

    Tilde is a text editor for the console/terminal, which provides an intuitive interface for people accustomed to GUI environments such as Gnome, KDE and Windows. Example: copy current selection is Control-C; paste previously copied text is Control-V.

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  2. Code icon
     18 likes

    Code (formerly known as Scratch) is an advanced text editor built for and bundled with elementary OS. A very intuitive interface keeps complex functionality like Vim emulation, Git and terminal integration accessible but out of the way while...

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  3. CodeBuddy icon
     1 like

    CodeBuddy IDE is built to create a symbiotic environment where product, design, development, and deployment flow into one another without friction. By embedding AI deeply into every step—from requirement planning and product design to coding and go-live—it delivers a one-stop...

    51 CodeBuddy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  4. HTML-Kit icon
     21 likes

    HTML Kit is a full-featured free editor for HTML, XHTML, XML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and other text files. 400+ plugins are available for it, including HTML Tidy for creating standards-compliant web pages. HTML-Kit has received 95% thumbs up on Download.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. Skylark Edit is written in C, a high performance text/hex editor. Embedded Database-client/Redis-client/Lua-engine. You can run Lua scripts and SQL files directly.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  6. Code Writer icon
     2 likes

    Code Writer is a free text and code editor app for the Windows platform, downloadable from the Windows Store. Use it as a replacement for Notepad and other quick edit apps.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  7. TwistPad icon
     8 likes

    Twistpad is a fully featured text and code editor for Windows. Twistpad can be used as a simple notepad replacer, or a featured packed editor targeting web and software developers.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Colon IDE icon
     1 like

    A flexible and hybrid text editor | IDE.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  9. Scribes icon
     24 likes

    A text editor for GNOME that combines simplicity with power.

    Scribes focuses on streamlining your workflow. It does so by ensuring common and repetitive operations are intelligently automated. And also by eliminating factors that prevent you from focusing on your tasks.

    The res.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  10.  Like

    Smallest Vi-clone text editor for Windows (62KB) that runs in terminal and SSH sessions.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  11. Ki Editor icon
     Like

    Ki Editor is a modal editor that supports multi-cursor structural editing.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Rust
     
  12. MadEdit icon
     14 likes

    MadEdit is an Open-Source and Cross-Platform Text/Hex Editor written in C++ and wxWidgets.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Xfce
     
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