VS Code AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Text Editors

The best Text Editor alternative to Visual Studio Code is VSCodium, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Visual Studio Code and loads of them are Text Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Text Editor alternatives to Visual Studio Code are Sublime Text, Notepad++, Vim and Kate.

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Visual Studio Code alternatives are mainly Text Editors, but if you're looking for Code Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Online, Android, Linux, Windows, iPad, Chrome OS and Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Visual Studio Code.
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Alternatives list

  1. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     399 likes

    VSCodium offers a privacy-focused, open-source alternative to Visual Studio Code, eliminating telemetry and proprietary components. It provides a similar code editing experience across Mac, Windows, and Linux without sacrificing functionality, customization, or support.

    197 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    VSCodium screenshot 1
     
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    23
    130
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Comment summary: VSCodium is often praised for being a telemetry-free, free, and open-source alternative to Visual Studio Code. Users appreciate its privacy-focused design while still maintaining most of the functionality found in Visual Studio Code, although some extensions, especially Microsoft-made ones, are not available. While some criticize VSCodium for these limitations, many users find it a viable and preferable option for those concerned about privacy.
    Top Positive Comment
    Thatstinkyguy
    8

    It's Visual Studio Code without Microsoft's invasive telemetry BS.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It doesn’t have any of Microsoft’s invasive BS, and there is no AI, woo!

    social-remodeler
    Positive
    3

    It is Visual Studio Code and a tracker free free and open source version.

    Show more comments
    3 of 23 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    VSCodium icon

    • Almost everyone thinks VSCodium is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • VSCodium is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Visual Studio Code.

    • VSCodium is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Visual Studio Code.

    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • VSCodium is Privacy focused and LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  2. Sublime Text icon

    Sublime Text

     2042 likes

    Sublime Text, a popular commercial alternative to Visual Studio Code, is renowned for its speed and lightweight design. While both support plugins and customization, Sublime offers swifter navigation and less resource usage, making it a fast and efficient choice.

    193 Sublime Text alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Sublime Text screenshot 1
     
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    4
    92
    Comments about Sublime Text as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Sublime text is a million times faster than other text editors such as VSCode. It also maximizes screen space, increasing productivity.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Outstanding performance with regard to loading and navigation

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    bobbobly
    Positive
    0

    Faster and less resource-intensive.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Sublime Text icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Sublime Text is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Sublime Text is Freemium and ProprietaryVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • Sublime Text is LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  4. Notepad++ icon

    Notepad++

     4926 likes

    Notepad++ is a free, open-source code editor supporting several languages, offering features like syntax highlighting, plugin support, dark mode, portability, privacy, and efficient resource usage, making it highly customizable and suitable for various programming needs.

    248 Notepad++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
     
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    12
    80
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Comment summary: Notepad++ is praised for being lightweight, simple, and fast, serving well as a text editor. However, users highlight that it is not as extensible or feature-rich as Visual Studio Code, emphasizing that it functions more as a basic text editor rather than a full-fledged IDE with version control system integration and user-friendly extensions. There is a consensus that while Notepad++ is good for simple tasks, it should not be considered a replacement for Visual Studio Code.
    Top Positive Comment
    DevGrx
    6

    Lightweight and resource-less code editor.

    Top Negative Comment
    Matt Adamek
    12

    It is not an extensible IDE, it lacks many features of VSC. Great software nevertheless.

    social-remodeler
    Positive
    1

    Notepad++ is a good texteditor whereas Visual Studio Code is a fully functional IDE with VCS.

    Show more comments
    3 of 12 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Notepad++ icon

    • Most users think Notepad++ is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Notepad++ is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • Notepad++ is Lightweight and Privacy focusedVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    EmEditor icon
    EmEditor

    Versatile Windows editor offering lightweight, ultra-fast performance with robust support for text, code, and CSV files, AI-assisted writing, macros, Unicode, plugins, syntax highlighting, advanced search, column editing, split v...

    https://www.emeditor.com
    Learn More
  6. Vim icon

    Vim

     1343 likes

    Vim, or "Vi IMproved", is an advanced text editor that provides a myriad of features including syntax highlighting, word completion, and a vast amount of contributed content. This tool comes with a GUI version known as GVim. Vim's top features include being lightweight, keyboard-focused, and customizable. It supports a wide range of operating systems such as Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, Haiku, AmigaOS, OpenSolaris, and MorphOS. Vim is recognized as an open-source software and is available for free.

    In comparison to Visual Studio Code, Vim presents itself as a viable alternative. Both being Text Editor & Code Editors, they share some similar features such as customizability. However, Vim stands out with its lightweight design and keyboard-focused operation. Vim has received positive comments as an alternative to Visual Studio Code, with users noting it as 'the lightest alternative with the most features', praising its readiness to work as soon as it is opened, and its massive amount of extendable, open-source plugins.

    214 Vim alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Vim screenshot 1
     
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    6
    64
    Comments about Vim as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Top Positive Comment
    alelondon
    0

    the lightest alternative with the most features

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    1

    It is not alternative, if you dont want to spend your life configuring shit in vim instead of writing some code you should chose something else

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Amara
    2

    If you intend to use this, learn Vim Motions FIRST. If you're in VisualStudio Code, use the Vim plugin and start using the motions to get a feel for it. Using someone else's configuration is usually harder to learn because you have to learn that person's workflow. I say this because I see a lot of comments saying that it's extendable and lightweight which is all true but don't expose the true learning curve that using Vim proficiently requires.

    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Vim icon

    • Most users think Vim is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Vim is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • Vim is LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  7. Kate icon

    Kate

     312 likes

    Kate is a product of the Kate project, which primarily develops two key products: KatePart and Kate. KatePart is an advanced editor component, utilized in a myriad of KDE applications that require a text editing component. On the other hand, Kate is a MDI text editor application. It is a native application that comes with a variety of themes and supports syntax highlighting. Kate has been well-received by users and has garnered numerous positive reviews. It is compatible with multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, and KDE.

    As a popular open source and free alternative to Visual Studio Code, Kate offers certain advantages. Unlike Visual Studio Code which is an Electron app, Kate is a compiled C++ application, which results in a more performant operation. This difference is often noted by users who prefer Kate over Visual Studio Code. Additionally, users have pointed out that while Kate may not be suitable for larger projects as of yet, it is an excellent choice for smaller ones due to its syntax highlighting and other features. It's important to note that while both Kate and Visual Studio Code serve as Text Editor, Code Editor & IDE, Visual Studio Code is known for its extensibility through plugins/extensions, customization options, and autocompletion feature.

    144 Kate alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Kate screenshot 1
     
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    4
    28
    Comments about Kate as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Peter Mello
    Positive
    10

    Compiled C++ applications are so much more performant than Electron apps like VS Code.

    Zipping
    Positive
    3

    It's not based on electron.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Kwrite is nice too. Use it mainly, has syntax hightligting and other features. Wouldnt use it for big projects just yet though.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Kate icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Kate is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Kate is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • Kate is LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  8. Eclipse icon

    Eclipse

     1147 likes

    Eclipse is an extensible development platform with runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Many people know Eclipse as a Java IDE, but it is much more than that- Eclipse actually consists of over 60...

    147 Eclipse alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    eclipse on windows 10
     
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    3
    27
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Ola Johansson
    4

    It's a thin line between IDE and editor nowdays, especially with all the extensions to VS Code.

    Guest
    Negative
    7

    Eclipse is an IDE, VS Code is an editor.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    not a text editor, it is a java ide

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Eclipse icon

    • Most users think Eclipse is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Eclipse is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
  10. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     105 likes

    Blazing fast code editor offering real-time multi-user collaboration, language-aware syntax highlighting, integrated terminal, multi-buffers for tab-free editing, built-in Vim mode, searchable outline, AI coding assistance, advanced keyboard commands, and cross-platform support.

    88 Zed Editor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zed Editor screenshot 1
     
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    2
    13
    Comments about Zed Editor as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Joseph Leskey
    Positive
    0

    I am very interested in Zed as an alternative to VS Code. Even early releases have robust and ergonomic functionality, a clean look and feel, and wonderful speed. It is developed in Rust, not Electron. I am very interested to see where Zed goes.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    I like Zed as alternative VSCode.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    Zed Editor icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Zed Editor is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • Zed Editor is Freemium and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • Zed Editor is LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  11. GNU Emacs icon

    GNU Emacs

     387 likes

    GNU Emacs, often simply referred to as Emacs, is an extensible and customizable text editor. Its core functionality is powered by an interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of the Lisp programming language that has been extended to support text editing. This software's key features include extensibility, customizability, and the ability to be further extended by plugins and extensions. It is compatible with a wide range of operating systems including Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, Haiku, Homebrew, Android, and F-Droid.

    As an alternative to Visual Studio Code, GNU Emacs is recognized for its speed and advanced autocomplete capabilities. It's also noted for its ability to run in a command line and its extensive collection of available plugins. Users have highlighted its extensive extensibility, stating that it surpasses Visual Studio Code in this regard. Unlike Visual Studio Code, GNU Emacs is not based on a web browser and can be used without a mouse. It's also appreciated for its compatibility with OpenBSD and its ability to handle all the tasks required for daily work. While both GNU Emacs and Visual Studio Code share features like extensibility by plugins/extensions and customizability, GNU Emacs is particularly popular among Android users.

    181 GNU Emacs alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Debian
    • MacPorts
    • Homebrew
    The GNU Emacs Manual calls Emacs the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor
     
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    5
    22
    Comments about GNU Emacs as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Top Positive Comment
    Skalamanga
    1

    @yetanotherqubick I believe the original comment was "Emacs is a great operating system that desperately needs a text editor"

    yetanotherqubick
    Positive
    1

    "Emacs is not just a code editor or an IDE, but a whole operating system around plain text."

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    I like Gnu Emacs as alternative of Visual Studio Code because it's free and it works on OpenBSD and I can do everything I need for my daily work.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    GNU Emacs icon

    • Almost everyone thinks GNU Emacs is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • GNU Emacs is the most popular Android alternative to Visual Studio Code.

    • GNU Emacs is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • GNU Emacs is Privacy focused and LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  12. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     186 likes

    Neovim is a text editor, code editor, and integrated development environment (IDE) that is often described as 'Vim out of the box.' It is highly regarded in the software community, with numerous positive reviews. Among its top features are its lightweight design, its configurability, and its extensibility through plugins and extensions. Neovim is compatible with a range of operating systems, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and BSD.

    As an alternative to Visual Studio Code, Neovim stands out in several ways. While both are text editors, code editors, and IDEs, Neovim is particularly popular among Android users. Both Neovim and Visual Studio Code offer extensibility through plugins and extensions, and both are customizable. However, Visual Studio Code also offers autocompletion as one of its top features. It is worth noting that while Visual Studio Code supports Mac, Windows, Linux, Online, and Chrome OS, it does not have support for Android or BSD, both of which are supported by Neovim.

    106 Neovim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Neovim screenshot 1
     
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    18
  13. Geany icon

    Geany

     575 likes

    Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow.

    152 Geany alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    • Haiku
    Geany screenshot 1
     
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    14
  14. gedit icon

    gedit

     694 likes

    Official text editor of the GNOME desktop environment. Has syntax highlighting and is suitable for programming, with support for several languages. It is extensible with plugins.

    192 gedit alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • GNOME
    • OpenSolaris
    • Flathub
    The Default look under GNOME with Adwaita
     
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    1
    10
    Comments about gedit as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It is light weight and works and chromebook.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    gedit icon

    • Most users think gedit is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • gedit is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • gedit is Lightweight and Privacy focusedVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  15. PyCharm icon

    PyCharm

     296 likes

    Cross-platform IDE for Python and Django with refactoring capabilities, code completion, VCS integration, deployment, issue tracking, remote debugging, and Community Edition, though lacking database support and web technologies.

    57 PyCharm alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PyCharm screenshot 1
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about PyCharm as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    A good IDE but it's not a text editor

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    matti631
    Positive
    0

    It's a great tool and much less invasive then microsoft products

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    PyCharm icon

    • Most users think PyCharm is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • PyCharm is Freemium and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
    • PyCharm is Lightweight and Privacy focusedVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
12 of 139 Visual Studio Code alternatives