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Alternatives

Best Visual Studio Code alternatives in 2026

Visual Studio Code is free code editor with built-in Git, terminal and a large extension marketplace. These 6 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.

6 alternatives From best code editors and IDEs How we rank

Ranked alternatives

  1. 1

    IntelliJ IDEA

    The deepest Java and Kotlin analysis in this list, with a free download that includes 30 days of Ultimate. It starts heavier than the general editors, and Ultimate features need a paid license.

    Best for Java and Kotlin projects

    WindowsmacOSLinuxFree plan, paid upgrades

    91.0score
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  2. 2

    Zed

    A fast editor with multiplayer editing included in every plan, and a free Personal plan. AI features need Pro or your own API keys, and the Business plan is priced per seat.

    Best for Fast editing with built-in collaboration

    macOSLinuxWindowsFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source

    88.0score
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  3. 3

    Visual Studio

    The full IDE for .NET and C++ on Windows, free in its Community edition for individuals. It is much heavier than the editors above and does not run on macOS or Linux.

    Best for Windows .NET and C++ development

    WindowsFree plan, paid upgrades

    86.5score
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  4. 4

    Neovim

    A free, Apache 2.0 licensed terminal editor for keyboard-first work that runs over SSH. Its setup takes the most effort in this list, and it has no graphical menus.

    Best for Terminal-based editing and keyboard-first work

    WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source

    85.0score
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  5. 5

    Xcode

    The official IDE for Apple platforms and the only option here for building iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS apps. It runs only on macOS, and publishing needs an Apple Developer Program membership.

    Best for Apple platform apps on macOS

    macOSFree

    82.5score
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  6. 6

    Sublime Text

    A fast, native editor with multiple selections and a light interface. Continued use needs a paid license after evaluation, and it has fewer built-in tools than VS Code or Zed.

    Best for Fast native editing with a one-time license

    WindowsmacOSLinuxPaid

    78.0score
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About Visual Studio Code alternatives

What is the best alternative to Visual Studio Code?
On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is IntelliJ IDEA, followed by Zed. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
Is there a free alternative to Visual Studio Code?
Yes. Free options include IntelliJ IDEA, Zed, Visual Studio.