The Best Open Source VS Code AlternativesTop Code Editors & IDEs like VS Code

The best open source alternative to Visual Studio Code is VSCodium. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Visual Studio Code and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Visual Studio Code are Vim, Notepad++, Kate and Eclipse.

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Visual Studio Code alternatives are mainly Code Editors but may also be Text Editors or IDEs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Visual Studio Code.
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Free, extensible code editor with Git integration, AI-driven IntelliCode, and 30,000+ extensions, supporting various languages like Python, Java.

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Visual Studio Code alternatives page was last updated Feb 22, 2025
  1. VSCodium icon
     334 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.

    196 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  MIT License
    8.  Dark Mode
    9. Git icon  Git integration
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap
    VSCodium iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    VSCodium VS Visual Studio Code

    Is VSCodium a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    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.
    Thatstinkyguy

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

    Top positive commentJan 3, 2023
    6
    social-remodeler

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

    Positive commentOct 2, 2024
    1
    Shaz Shah

    My go-to FOSS editor of choice, where Microsoft telemetry is removed.

    I do use it occasionally for Markdown as there are plenty of extensions that work with it. But my Markdown editor of choice is Typora.

    It's not as extensible as the original as the VSCode (esp. Microsoft-made extensions) but there's still plenty available. Have a look at the Open VSX Registry.

    Positive commentSep 12, 2024
    1
    Show more comments
    3 of 22 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 Customizable and Privacy focusedVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  2. Vim icon
     1311 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...

    209 Vim alternatives
    Vim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Keyboard focused
    3.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Hackable
    4.  Well documented
    5.  Modal editor
    6.  Command line interface
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Batch Editing
    12.  Terminal-based
    Vim iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    Vim VS Visual Studio Code

    Is Vim a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    Comments about Vim as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
     
       
    alelondon

    the lightest alternative with the most features

    Top positive commentDec 22, 2022
    0
    Guest

    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

    Top negative commentJun 9, 2023
    0
    Amara

    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.

    CommentDec 14, 2024
    0
    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 Lightweight and CustomizableVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  3. Notepad++ icon
     4851 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.

    228 Notepad++ alternatives
    Notepad++ screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable

    Features

    1.  Code Formatting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Tabbed interface
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Multiple Open Tabs
    8.  Multiple languages
    9.  Color coding
    10.  Support for Javascript
    11.  Built-in themes
    12.  Auto-saving
    Notepad++ iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    Notepad++ VS Visual Studio Code

    Is Notepad++ a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    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.
    DevGrx

    Lightweight and resource-less code editor.

    Top positive commentMar 21, 2020
    5
    Matt Adamek

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

    Top negative commentJul 13, 2020
    12
    social-remodeler

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

    Positive commentOct 2, 2024
    0
    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 LightweightVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  4. Kate icon
     291 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 t...

    139 Kate alternatives
    Kate screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Native application
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  Themes
    4.  Editable text color schemes
    5.  Built-in terminal emulation
    6.  Tabbed interface
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8. Git icon  Git Support
    9.  Code Formatting
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  Full-Text Search
    12.  Support for MarkDown
    Kate iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    Kate VS Visual Studio Code

    Is Kate a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    Comments about Kate as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
     
       
    Peter Mello

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

    Positive commentMay 12, 2020
    10
    Zipping

    It's not based on electron.

    Positive commentSep 22, 2022
    2
    social-remodeler

    Kate is an Text editor and VS is a fully functional IDE with VCS.

    Negative commentOct 2, 2024
    -1
    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
  5. Eclipse icon
     1141 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...

    155 Eclipse alternatives
    eclipse on windows 10

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Top Eclipse Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  C++
    4.  Refactoring
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Portable
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Code Formatting
    10.  Batch Editing
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Spell Checking
    Eclipse iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    Eclipse VS Visual Studio Code

    Is Eclipse a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
     
    Ola Johansson

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

    CommentJun 21, 2021
    3
    Guest

    Eclipse is an IDE, VS Code is an editor.

    Negative commentFeb 28, 2020
    7
    Guest

    not a text editor, it is a java ide

    Negative commentJul 6, 2020
    5
    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
  6. Neovim icon
     172 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 th...

    98 Neovim alternatives
    Neovim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Configurable
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Lua scripting
    3.  Terminal-based
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Asynchronous
    6.  Sane defaults
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Autocompletion
    10.  Code Formatting
    Neovim iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    Neovim VS Visual Studio Code

    Is Neovim a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
  7. IntelliJ IDEA icon
     423 likes

    IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains IDE for pro development in Java and Kotlin. Built for your comfort, it unlocks productivity, ensures quality code, supports cutting-edge tech, and protects your privacy.

    58 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
    IntelliJ IDEA interface overview: the Project tool window (left) outlines the code structure and the Editor (right) is used to read, write, and explore the source code.

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Code Completion
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Real time collaboration
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Autocompletion
    9.  Spell Checking
    10.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    11.  No registration required
    12.  WYSIWYG Support
    IntelliJ IDEA iconVisual Studio Code Icon

    IntelliJ IDEA VS Visual Studio Code

    Is IntelliJ IDEA a good alternative to Visual Studio Code?
     
    Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
     
    Jo

    IntelliJ IDEA, by it's own definition, is a Java IDE. Visual Studio Code is a text editor.

    Negative commentJan 24, 2019
    12
    Ranogard

    VS Code is much more than a text editor. Comparing it with IntelliJ IDEA is totally fine. There are plugins for various programming languages available, like python. Both can work interchangeably.

    Positive commentJul 26, 2020
    -2
    Visual Studio Code Icon
    IntelliJ IDEA icon
    • Most users think IntelliJ IDEA is a great Visual Studio Code alternative.

    • IntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
7 of 126 Visual Studio Code alternatives