Visual Studio Code
Free code editor with built-in Git, terminal and a large extension marketplace
Ranked 1 of 7 in best code editors and IDEs
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
About Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a lightweight editor with an integrated terminal, Git source control, task runner and debugger. Most language support and framework tooling comes from extensions in its marketplace, so a setup can stay small or grow to cover many languages. The same editor runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and Visual Studio Code Web runs it in a browser.
The source is MIT-licensed on GitHub, but Microsoft's official builds are distributed under its own product license, so the free download and the open-source code differ in license terms. VS Code suits developers who work across many languages in one editor. Full IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA and Visual Studio go deeper into one stack but start heavier.
Key features
- Integrated terminal
- Built-in Git source control
- Debugger for many languages
- Remote development
- Extension marketplace
Strengths
- Free to download and use
- Large extension marketplace
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
Limits
- Many features depend on third-party extensions
- Official builds use Microsoft's product license, not MIT
Where Visual Studio Code ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Code editors and IDEs | 1 of 7 | 94.5 | Multi-language work in one free editor |
Alternatives to Visual Studio Code
All 6 alternatives
IntelliJ IDEAJava and Kotlin IDE with code analysis, refactoring and a debugger
ZedFast code editor with built-in multiplayer editing and optional AI
Visual StudioWindows IDE for .NET, C++, web and game development
NeovimTerminal text editor, a Vim fork focused on extensibility
XcodeApple's IDE for apps on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS
Sublime TextFast native text and code editor sold with a paid license
Questions about Visual Studio Code
- Is Visual Studio Code free?
- Visual Studio Code can be used without paying: Free to download and use; official builds use Microsoft's product license. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is Visual Studio Code open source?
- Yes. Visual Studio Code publishes its source code under the MIT license.
- Which platforms does Visual Studio Code support?
- Visual Studio Code is available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web.
- What is Visual Studio Code best for?
- Multi-language work in one free editor. In our ranking of code editors and IDEs it is number 1 of 7 with a score of 94.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Visual Studio Code?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are IntelliJ IDEA, Zed, Visual Studio, Neovim.