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 Notepad++, Vim, Kate and Eclipse.

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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

     402 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

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    VSCodium screenshot 1
     
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    23
    131
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    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!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    social-remodeler
    Positive
    3

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

    3 of 23 comments
    VSCodium icon
    VSCodium icon

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

    • 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. 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 type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    Notepad++ screenshot 1
     
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    12
    80
    Comments about Notepad++ as an Alternative to 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.

    3 of 12 comments
    Notepad++ 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
  4. Vim icon

    Vim

     1344 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.

    213 Vim alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    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.

    3 of 6 comments
    Vim 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
  5. 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 type

    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.
    3 of 4 comments
    Kate 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
  6. 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 type

    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.
    Eclipse 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
  7. Zed Editor icon

    Zed Editor

     107 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
    • Open Source

    Application type

    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.
    Zed Editor 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
  9. IntelliJ IDEA icon

    IntelliJ IDEA

     441 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.

    60 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    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.
     
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    2
    30
    Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    Ranogard
    Positive
    0

    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.

    Jo
    Negative
    11

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

    IntelliJ IDEA 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
    • IntelliJ IDEA is Privacy focusedVisual Studio Code is not according to our users
  10. Neovim icon

    Neovim

     187 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.

    105 Neovim alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chocolatey
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Neovim screenshot 1
     
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    18
  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 type

    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.
    3 of 5 comments
    GNU Emacs icon
    GNU Emacs icon

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

    • 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. 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 type

    Platforms

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

    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.
    gedit 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
  14. Apache NetBeans icon

    Apache NetBeans

     742 likes

    A free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers. You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and...

    97 Apache NetBeans alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Editor
     
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    2
    12
    Comments about Apache NetBeans as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
    ericwaters
    Negative
    8

    NetBeans is great and all, but it's an IDE, not a coding text editor. Inf act, there's a lot of IDEs listed as alternatives to VS Code, and they're really not.

    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    It's an IDE, not a generic text editor. While visually similar, they are quite different.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Apache NetBeans icon
    Apache NetBeans icon

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

    • Apache NetBeans is Free and Open SourceVisual Studio Code is Free and Proprietary
12 of 126 Visual Studio Code alternatives