Side by side
KWrite vs Zed
Both stand on text editors. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Pick KWrite if you want a free editor with syntax highlighting, multi-cursor editing, and plugin support across desktop platforms. Look elsewhere if you need a stable build specifically; the listed nightly installers are intended for testing.
Visit KWrite
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Zed combines code editing with Git tools, debugging, remote development, extensions, and team collaboration. Check the Personal prediction limit and Pro token overage billing against your needs.
Visit ZedThe facts
| KWrite | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Pro: $10 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | KWrite | Zed |
| Website | apps.kde.org | zed.dev |
| On text editors | #14 of 82 | #10 of 82 |
KWrite: what it does well
- Free to use under the LGPL-2.1+ license.
- Syntax highlighting is based on file type.
- Includes word completion and auto-indentation.
- Supports plugins, extensions, and Vi input mode.
- Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
What to know first
- Nightly installers are intended for testing.
- Third-party distributors may modify the software beyond KDE's privacy policy.
Zed: what it does well
- Free Personal plan with 2,000 accepted edit predictions
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Built-in debugger and remote development
- Git tools include staging, commits, and diffs
- Team chat, coding, and screen sharing
What to know first
- Personal plan limits accepted edit predictions to 2,000
- Pro usage beyond $5 is billed separately
- SSO, SAML, and SCIM are not currently available