Best Visual Studio Code Alternatives (2026)

Visual Studio Code is a free ide tool (desktop). Free source-code editor with rich extension ecosystem. We found 12 alternatives worth considering.

Quick verdict

Most similar: Cursor
Best free option: Cursor

Why look for Visual Studio Code alternatives?

Feature gaps — while Visual Studio Code is free, paid alternatives may offer more polish or support.
Workflow fit — every team is different; the best tool depends on your stack and preferences.

Top 12 Alternatives to Visual Studio Code

AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Agentic IDE where developers and AI flow together (formerly Codeium)

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Zedfree

High-performance code editor designed for collaboration with humans and AI

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Google Antigravityfree

Google's agent-first IDE with mission control and multi-agent workflows

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Amazon Kiropaid

AI IDE from AWS for prototype to production

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Orchidsunknown

The Vibe Coding IDE

Both Desktop ide toolsShared: ide, desktop

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Firebase Studiofree

Google's agentic cloud-based dev environment for full-stack AI apps

Both in IDEShared: ide

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Repo Promptpaid

Repository-wide code generation and editing via AI prompts

Both DesktopShared: desktop, ide

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Free personal AI assistant running locally

Both DesktopShared: desktop

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AI dictation app for speech-to-text coding

Both DesktopShared: desktop

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Dyadopen-source

Free local open-source AI app builder

Both DesktopShared: desktop

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Prompt Toweropen-source

Tool that helps build prompts with many code blocks

Both DesktopShared: desktop

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Alternatives by type

Web-Based alternatives

Firebase Studio

Frequently asked questions

What are the best alternatives to Visual Studio Code?: The top alternatives to Visual Studio Code include Cursor, Windsurf, Zed. All are ide tools that support desktop workflows.
Is there a free alternative to Visual Studio Code?: Yes. Cursor is available for free. AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context
Is Cursor better than Visual Studio Code?: Cursor and Visual Studio Code serve similar purposes as ide tools. Cursor: AI-powered IDE designed to replace VS Code with predictive editing and project context Visual Studio Code: Free source-code editor with rich extension ecosystem The best choice depends on your workflow and requirements.
How many alternatives to Visual Studio Code are there?: We track 12 alternatives to Visual Studio Code across categories including IDE, Workflow Tool, AI Assistant.

Related alternatives pages

Alternatives to Cursor Alternatives to Windsurf Alternatives to Firebase Studio Alternatives to Zed Alternatives to Google Antigravity Alternatives to Amazon Kiro Alternatives to Orchids

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