Visual Studio Code review
Free, extensible code editor for nearly every language
- Microsoft
- Free
- Mac, Windows, Linux, Web
Does it deserve #1?
The verdict
Visual Studio Code is the default editor for a reason. It is free, quick enough for big projects, and its extension marketplace covers almost every language, framework and tool. Git, debugging, remote development and dev containers are built in, and GitHub Copilot adds AI chat and agent mode. The trade-offs: heavy extension use slows it down, and telemetry is on by default. For most developers, start here.
- Huge extension marketplace
- Built-in Git and debugging
- Remote and container development
- GitHub Copilot agent mode
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Free, with a massive extension ecosystem
- Strong debugging, Git and remote development tools
- Runs on Mac, Windows, Linux and in the browser
What could be better
- Many extensions can slow startup and eat memory
- Telemetry is on by default
Developers of any level who want one free editor for every language
you want a minimal editor or an AI-first coding workflow
Questions about Visual Studio Code
Is Visual Studio Code free?
Yes, VS Code is completely free for personal and commercial use. GitHub Copilot has a free tier inside VS Code, with paid plans for heavier AI use.
Is VS Code the same as Visual Studio?
No, VS Code is a lightweight, cross-platform code editor, while Visual Studio is Microsoft's full IDE for Windows, aimed mainly at .NET and C++ development.
What are the best alternatives to Visual Studio Code?
The closest alternatives are Cursor, GitHub and Warp. See all of them ranked on our Visual Studio Code alternatives page.
Where does Visual Studio Code rank?
Visual Studio Code ranks #1 of 8 in our Developer Tools ranking, with an overall score of 9.2 out of 10.