Editor or IDE
A code editor edits text files and grows with extensions. An IDE (integrated development environment) bundles more tools for one kind of project, such as building, debugging and testing. Start with what you build:
| You want to | Free options |
|---|---|
| Edit any language on any system | Visual Studio Code, Zed, Pulsar, Geany |
| Work in a terminal or over SSH | Vim, Neovim, Helix |
| Build Java apps | Eclipse IDE, Apache NetBeans |
| Build Windows, Android and iOS apps | Visual Studio Community |
| Build apps for Apple platforms | Xcode |
| Code without installing anything | vscode.dev, GitHub Codespaces, StackBlitz |
Licenses in plain words
"Free" can mean free of charge or free software. Most editors here are open source, so you can read, change and share the code under their license (GPL, MIT, Apache 2.0, MPL or EPL). A few are free of charge but not open source as you download them.
Visual Studio Code is an example: Microsoft says it is free for private or commercial use, and its source code is under the MIT license, while the download you get from Microsoft comes under the Microsoft Software License Terms. If you want builds of the open source code instead, VSCodium is in our list of open-source alternatives.
Visual Studio Community has rules for organizations: up to five users in non-enterprise organizations, and enterprises may use it only for open source, academic research and classroom learning.
Coding in the browser
Browser editors are handy on a borrowed computer or a Chromebook, but they differ a lot:
- vscode.dev runs VS Code entirely in your browser with no install. Microsoft notes that the terminal and debugger are not available and only a subset of extensions runs.
- GitHub Codespaces gives a full cloud machine. GitHub Free personal accounts get 120 hours of compute and 15 GB-month of storage a month, and bigger machines use the hours faster.
- StackBlitz is free for unlimited public projects and GitHub repositories.
Paid editors you can try
Some popular editors are not free, even if the download is. Sublime Text says it may be downloaded and evaluated for free, but a license must be purchased for continued use. That is why it is not in the table.
Quick jobs without an editor
For a one-off task you do not need to open a project:
- JSON formatter: format, validate and minify JSON.
- Regex tester: try a pattern against sample text.
- HTML formatter: tidy up messy markup.
- CSS and JS minifier: shrink files before you ship them.
- Markdown editor: write a README with a live preview.
We opened each editor's official page on the date in the table and wrote down only what it says. An empty cell means the page does not say it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Visual Studio Code free for commercial use?
Yes. Microsoft's FAQ says VS Code is free for private or commercial use. It runs on macOS, Linux and Windows.
What is the difference between Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is a free code editor for macOS, Linux and Windows. Visual Studio Community is a free full IDE for individuals, students and open source work, with limits for organizations: up to five users in non-enterprise organizations, and only open source, research and classroom use in enterprises.
Can I code in the browser for free?
Yes. vscode.dev runs VS Code in the browser with no install, without a terminal or debugger. GitHub Codespaces gives GitHub Free personal accounts 120 hours of compute and 15 GB-month of storage a month. StackBlitz is free for public projects.
Is Sublime Text free?
No. Sublime Text may be downloaded and evaluated for free, but a license must be purchased for continued use.
Which free code editors are open source?
Zed, Notepad++, Vim, Neovim, Helix, Geany, Pulsar, Eclipse IDE and Apache NetBeans are all open source under licenses such as GPL, MIT, Apache 2.0, MPL 2.0 or EPL 2.0. The VS Code source code is MIT licensed, while Microsoft's download comes under its own license terms.