Best Pair Programming Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Drovio is ranked #1 of 26 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Pop and Zed. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Pop. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Duckly at $6/mo.
Pair programming software supports working through code together, whether you want to edit alongside another person, talk through a change, or share a screen. The ranking compares editor support, maximum participants, integrated chat, screen sharing, and voice audio. Free plans, paid-from prices, and self-hosted options are included as further points to weigh. CodeTogether leads, followed by Drovio and Duckly; Codovate Meet is also among the first entries. Consider which forms of collaboration suit your sessions, whether you need support for a particular editor, and if self-hosting matters for your setup.
26 pair programming software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DrovioWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $15/mo | 6.6 | |
| 2 | PopWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $25/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | ZedWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $10/mo | 6.6 | |
| 4 | SarosWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | DucklyWeb · Extension | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $6/mo | 6.4 | |
| 6 | Visual StudioWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | ShareCodeWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 8 | CodeTogetherWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $10/mo | 5.6 |
| 9 | GobbyWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 10 | HackerRankWeb · Windows · Mac · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $165/mo | 5.5 |
| 11 | TeamtypeWindows · Mac · Linux · Android | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | Codovate MeetWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | CotermMac · iPhone | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | live-share.nvimWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | Remote CollabWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | TupleWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $30/mo | 5.2 |
| 17 | CodeInterviewWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | CodeshareWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | ShareCodeLiveWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | SyncodeLiveWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | CodeCollabWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 22 | CoderPadWeb · API · Extension | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $6.67/mo | 5.0 |
| 23 | SubEthaEditMac | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 | HoppWeb · Windows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 25 | Open PairNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which pair programming software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Drovio is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 6.6. Pop is second and Zed third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Duckly has the lowest first paid tier we found: $6/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.