Side by side
Vim vs Visual Studio Code
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
Vim offers extensive editing and extension capabilities across Linux, macOS, and Windows, with no listed charge. Its learning requirement and lack of WYSIWYG typesetting make it less suited to users seeking a conventional word processor.
Visit Vim
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1
VS Code offers a broad editor toolkit and optional agent workflows across desktop and web. Consider the web environment’s limits and extension permissions when deciding how to use it.
Visit Visual Studio CodeThe facts
| Vim | Visual Studio Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Vim | Not published |
| Website | vim.org | code.visualstudio.com |
| On text editors | #9 of 82 | #5 of 82 |
Vim: what it does well
- Free distribution under a GPL-compatible license
- Supports hundreds of languages and file formats
- Includes persistent, multi-level undo
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Offers plugins and a scripting language
What to know first
- Takes learning to use
- Not a WYSIWYG word processor for typeset documents
Visual Studio Code: what it does well
- Free for private or commercial use.
- Marketplace lists more than 80,000 extensions.
- Built-in Git, terminal, debugging and build tasks.
- Settings Sync shares user settings across instances.
- Workspace Trust can prevent automatic code execution.
What to know first
- Starting AI agent work requires a GitHub account.
- The web editor has a limited execution environment.
- Extensions can access files and run processes.
- Microsoft may not provide support services.
Alternatives to Vim Alternatives to Visual Studio Code The whole list