Zed
High-performance multiplayer code editor in Rust — GPU-accelerated, AI-native, built for speed.
Open-source alternative to VS Code from the Atom and Tree-sitter team. Real-time collaboration, native AI agents, built-in Git, and parallel agentic editing — macOS, Linux, and Windows.
CodeEdit
Native macOS code editor in Swift — lightweight, open-source, and free forever.
MIT-licensed VS Code alternative built for Mac with Tree-sitter, Git, terminal, and debugging. Community-driven, Apple HIG native — pre-release, macOS only.
Compare VS Code alternatives
Visual Studio Code is Microsoft's free code editor, but it isn't fully open source in the version most people download — the official Microsoft build adds proprietary elements (like its marketplace terms and telemetry) on top of the open-source Code - OSS core, and it's increasingly positioned as the delivery vehicle for Microsoft's paid Copilot features.
If you want a fully open-source editor with no proprietary layer, CodeEdit is a lightweight, native macOS option built in Swift. Zed is the better pick if you want a from-scratch, GPU-accelerated editor built for speed and built-in AI features rather than a VS Code-derived codebase.
FAQ
Is there a free, open-source alternative to VS Code?
Yes. Zed and CodeEdit are both fully open source, without the proprietary layer Microsoft adds on top of VS Code's open-source core.
What's the best open-source alternative to VS Code?
Zed is the better pick if you want maximum performance and built-in AI features in a modern, from-scratch editor. CodeEdit is the closer pick if you want a lightweight, native macOS-only experience.
What are the top open-source alternatives to VS Code?
Browse all open-source alternatives to VS Code above, or explore the full Developer Tools category for more options.