Visual Studio Code is the world's most popular code editor — a free, open-source editor from Microsoft used by 73% of professional developers globally. VS Code combines a lightweight, fast editor with a powerful extension ecosystem of 50,000+ extensions covering every language, framework, and tool. Built-in Git integration, an integrated terminal, IntelliSense code completion, and a rich debugging interface make VS Code functional for everything from quick text editing to complex full-stack development. Remote development extensions enable coding on servers, containers, and cloud machines from the same local interface.
VS Code
The most popular free code editor with 30,000+ extensions.
Best for: Every developer — the universal default IDE with the best extension ecosystem for any language.
- Free plan
4.8/5 ratingEditorial score 95/100code.visualstudio.com
The editorial note
What to know about VS Code
Is it right for you?
Who VS Code suits
Choose it if
- Every developer — the universal default IDE with the best extension ecosystem for any language.
Look elsewhere if
- Developers building Android, iOS, or JVM applications at enterprise scale — Android Studio and IntelliJ IDEA provide IDE-grade tooling for Kotlin/Java development with refactoring, profiling, and build tools that VS Code's extensions cannot fully replicate
What you get
Key features
- IntelliSense code completion
- Integrated Git version control
- Built-in debugger
- Extension marketplace
- Remote development (SSH, containers)
- Integrated terminal
- Multi-cursor editing
- Live Share collaboration
Works with
Integrations8
What it costs
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | FreeBilled monthly | Full-featured code editor — all features free forever, open source, all extensions |
Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.
The trade-off
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open-source — no cost for the most capable editor used by professional developers worldwide
- Massive extension ecosystem of 50,000+ extensions supports every language, linter, and tool
- Built-in Git integration with visual diff, staging, and commit workflow streamlines version control
- Remote SSH, Dev Containers, and Codespaces enable the same editor for local and remote development
- GitHub Copilot integration brings AI code completion and chat directly into the editor
Cons
- Memory usage grows significantly with many extensions installed — can slow on older hardware
- Not a full IDE — complex Java, C#, or Kotlin projects may benefit from JetBrains IDEs
- Settings sync can become complex — managing settings across multiple machines requires care
- Electron-based architecture means it is heavier than native editors like Sublime Text or Vim
Quick read
At a glance
- Category
- Development & Coding
- Pricing model
- Free
- Entry plan
- Free
- Free plan
- Available
- Free trial
- Not listed
- Website
- code.visualstudio.com
The verdict
Our take on VS Code
The indispensable code editor — free, fast and the 30,000-extension ecosystem makes it adaptable to any workflow.
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