VS Code AlternativesOnly apps from the EU
The best alternative to Visual Studio Code is Vim, 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 many of them are so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting alternatives to Visual Studio Code are Notepad++, Kate, IntelliJ IDEA and Geany.
filter to find the best alternatives
Visual Studio Code alternatives are mainly Code Editors, but if you're looking for Text Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. 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.- Code Editor
- Free • Proprietary
- 205 Vim alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Netherlands
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Haiku
- AmigaOS
- OpenSolaris
- MorphOS
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
Comments about Vim as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
Top Positive CommentTop Negative CommentIt 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
Most Recent CommentAmaraIf 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.
- 239 Notepad++ alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
France
EU
Platforms
- Windows
- PortableApps.com
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 CommentDevGrxLightweight and resource-less code editor.
Top Negative CommentMatt AdamekIt is not an extensible IDE, it lacks many features of VSC. Great software nevertheless.
Most Recent Commentsocial-remodelerNotepad++ is a good texteditor whereas Visual Studio Code is a fully functional IDE with VCS.
- 136 Kate alternatives
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.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- KDE Plasma
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Snapcraft
Comments about Kate as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
Most Recent CommentPeter MelloCompiled C++ applications are so much more performant than Electron apps like VS Code.
ZippingIt's not based on electron.
Kwrite is nice too. Use it mainly, has syntax hightligting and other features. Wouldnt use it for big projects just yet though.
- 55 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
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.
License model
- Freemium • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Czechia
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
RanogardVS 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.
JoIntelliJ IDEA, by it's own definition, is a Java IDE. Visual Studio Code is a text editor.
- 146 Geany alternatives
Geany is a powerful, stable and lightweight programmer's text editor that provides tons of useful features without bogging down your workflow.
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Flatpak
- 56 PyCharm alternatives
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.
License model
- Freemium • Open Source
Application types
Country of Origin
Czechia
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
Comments about PyCharm as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
A good IDE but it's not a text editor
matti631It's a great tool and much less invasive then microsoft products
- 54 WebStorm alternatives
JetBrains WebStorm is a commercial IDE for JavaScript, CSS & HTML built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA platform.
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Application types
Country of Origin
Czechia
EU
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
WebStorm Features
Comments about WebStorm as an Alternative to Visual Studio Code
Kristopher KalishWebStorm at the time of writing has slightly better integration with JS build tools and TypeScript. If you're doing primarily frontend work, WebStorm is probably still the best choice. However, VsCode is a bit more flexible if you move out of that area.
easily the most professional one and things work properly not dependent on outside programmers
the lightest alternative with the most features