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Best Open-Source Code Editors and IDEs in 2026

5 of the 10 code editors and IDEs ranked on listme.name match: their source code is public under an open-source license. The order uses the same scores as the full ranking.

5 products ranked Updated October 2026 How we rank Share

The ranking

  1. Visual Studio Code

    Free, widely used and extensible, with an integrated terminal, Git tools and a large extension marketplace. Its source is MIT-licensed on GitHub, though the official build uses Microsoft's product license.

    Best for Multi-language work in one free editor

    WindowsmacOSLinuxWebFreeOpen source

    94.5of 100
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  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

    88.0of 100
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  3. 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

    85.0of 100
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  4. Helix

    MPL-2.0 editor written in Rust that runs in any terminal, including over SSH and inside tmux, with no Electron. It is the lightest option here for terminal users, but it has no graphical interface.

    Best for Terminal editing over SSH and in tmux

    Command lineFree and open sourceOpen source

    83.0of 100
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  5. GNU Emacs

    GNU Emacs is GPL-3.0 free software that runs on GNU/Linux, BSDs, Windows, macOS and Haiku, configured in Emacs Lisp. It is extensible in ways few editors match, but its learning curve is steeper than Zed or VS Code.

    Best for Long-lived, highly customized editing in Lisp

    LinuxmacOSWindowsFree and open sourceOpen source

    81.5of 100
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At a glance

ProductScorePricePlatformsMain focus
Visual Studio Code94.5FreeWindowsmacOSLinuxWebMany languages through extensions
Zed88.0Free plan, paid upgradesmacOSLinuxWindowsFast editing with collaboration
Neovim85.0Free and open sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineTerminal editing with Vim keys
Helix83.0Free and open sourceCommand lineTerminal editing in Rust
GNU Emacs81.5Free and open sourceLinuxmacOSWindowsExtensible general-purpose editor