saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

code editor · Microsoft

Visual Studio Code

Free code editor from Microsoft with a built-in debugger, terminal and git, plus an extension marketplace.

94/100

#1 of 12 code editors
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

VS Code suits people who want language help, a debugger, a terminal and git in one free editor4,6,7,8. Remote editing over SSH, in containers and in WSL comes through Microsoft's extensions3. The catch: the download is built under a Microsoft product licence, not the MIT licence used by the source repository1,15.

Best for: People who want one editor for many languages, with remote editing and an extension marketplace.

Where the points come from

Systems22 of 22
Code tools37 of 37
Extending11 of 11
Licence and price12 of 18
Upkeep12 of 12

Systems 22 of 22 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Systems besides WindowsmacOS, Linux, WebDownload page lists macOS and Linux builds; VS Code for the Web runs in a browser2,5.9 / 9
Portable Windows buildYesWindows 'Other Downloads' lists .zip (x64) and .zip (Arm64)2.5 / 5
Remote editingYesRemote - SSH opens folders on a remote machine; Dev Containers and WSL extensions give a container or WSL environment3.8 / 8

Code tools 37 of 37 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Language Server ProtocolYesExtension guide documents Language Server Protocol for completion and diagnostics in VS Code6.10 / 10
DebuggerYesBuilt-in debugger with breakpoints and stepping for JavaScript, TypeScript and Node.js; others need extensions4.9 / 9
Built-in terminalYesDocs describe a full-featured integrated terminal, also openable in the editor area7.6 / 6
Git in the editorYesSource Control view stages changes and creates commits using built-in Git support8.6 / 6
Multiple cursorsYesThe docs have a section on multiple selections (multi-cursor)9.3 / 3
Live collaborationYesMicrosoft's Live Share extension edits and debugs together in real time; it is in maintenance mode but available10.3 / 3

Extending 11 of 11 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Extension directoryYesVisual Studio Marketplace lists extensions; the docs describe an Extension API11,12.8 / 8
Custom key bindingsYesKeyboard Shortcuts editor and a keybindings.json file are documented13.3 / 3

Licence and price 12 of 18 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free for work useYesFAQ says VS Code is free for private or commercial use1.6 / 6
Price$0No paid licence; free for private or commercial use1.6 / 6
Open sourceNoSource repo is MIT, but the product download is a Microsoft-licensed distribution of it1,15.0 / 6

Upkeep 12 of 12 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Release in the past yearYesUpdates page lists 1.141 as the latest stable release, dated October 7, 202614.8 / 8
Telemetry off or noneYesFAQ documents telemetry.telemetryLevel set to off, which also stops crash reporting1.4 / 4

The rule behind each line: how we score code editors.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Visual Studio Code1 personFree1$0Free for private or commercial use

Strengths

  • Free for private or commercial use1.
  • Remote SSH, Dev Containers and WSL extensions let you work on a remote machine, in a container or in WSL3.
  • Built-in debugger with breakpoints and stepping for JavaScript, TypeScript and Node.js4.
  • Telemetry can be switched off with one setting1.
  • Documented extension API and a marketplace of extensions11,12.

Limits

  • The download is released under a Microsoft product licence, not the MIT licence of the source repository1,15.
  • Debugging other languages needs a debugger extension4.
  • Microsoft's Live Share is in maintenance mode, with no further features planned10.

Other code editors

  1. 2
    ZedPeople who want a free editor with debugging and collaboration built in
    92/100
    $0price
  2. 3
    GNU EmacsPeople who want a free editor they can reshape in Emacs Lisp, with many tools built in
    87/100
    $0price
  3. 4
    VSCodiumPeople who want VS Code's editor as a fully open-source build without Microsoft telemetry
    78/100
    $0price
  4. 5
    NeovimKeyboard-driven developers who want built-in language server support and are happy to configure their own setup
    73/100
    $0price

Visual Studio Code vs Zed · Visual Studio Code vs GNU Emacs · All 12 code editors

Sources

  1. Visual Studio Code FAQ, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Download Visual Studio Code, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Visual Studio Code Remote Development, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Debugging in Visual Studio Code, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. Visual Studio Code for the Web, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Language Server Extension Guide, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Terminal Basics, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Source Control in VS Code, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Basic editing, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. What is Live Share?, Microsoft Learn. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  11. Extension Marketplace, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  12. Extension API, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  13. Key Bindings for Visual Studio Code, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  14. Visual Studio Code updates, Microsoft. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  15. microsoft/vscode, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: code.visualstudio.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Microsoft.