Zed
Blazing-fast open-source editor from the Atom creators, with built-in AI agents and multiplayer coding
Last updated
- ⭐ Best for
- developers
- 💰 Pricing
- From $20/mo
- ⏱ Hours saved/wk
- 3
- 🔥 Why trending
- 7/10 popularity
About Zed
Zed is a high-performance, open-source code editor written in Rust by the creators of Atom, featuring GPU-accelerated rendering, built-in collaboration, and an integrated AI agent panel supporting Claude and other models. It is free to use, with optional paid AI plans. Developers frustrated by editor latency are its core audience.
Key benefits
- ✓GPU-accelerated, Rust-native performance
- ✓Agent panel for AI edits with model choice
- ✓Edit prediction autocomplete
- ✓Built-in real-time collaboration and calls
- ✓Language server, Git, and terminal built in
- ✓Bring-your-own-key or hosted AI plans
+Pros
- ✓Startup and typing latency in a class of its own
- ✓Free and open source, with BYO API keys for AI
- ✓Native collaboration beats screen-sharing pairing
- ✓Clean, minimal design without plugin sprawl
−Cons
- −Extension ecosystem far smaller than VS Code's
- −Windows support arrived late and still trails macOS polish
- −AI agent features less mature than Cursor's
Ready to try Zed?
Start free — paid plans from $20/mo.
Zed vs alternatives
Same category, ranked by ToolMango ROI Score.
| Tool | ROI Score | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
Zedthis page Blazing-fast open-source editor from the Atom creators, with built-in AI agents and multiplayer coding | ★★★★★59.8 | $20/mo | View → |
The AI-first code editor. | ★★★★⯨85.5 | $20/mo | View → |
Anthropic's terminal-native coding agent. | ★★★★★80.0 | $20/mo | View → |
Your AI pair programmer. | ★★★★★78.0 | $10/mo | View → |
Build apps from a prompt. | ★★★★★77.0 | $25/mo | Try → |
Our take on Zed
Zed is what the creators of Atom built after learning every lesson the hard way: an editor written in Rust, rendered on the GPU, that opens instantly and never drops a keystroke. In daily use the speed difference from VS Code is not subtle — it is the difference between an editor you wait for and one that waits for you. On top of that foundation, Zed has grown a serious AI story: an agent panel with model choice, edit prediction, and bring-your-own-key freedom.
What we like
Performance remains the reason people switch and the reason they stay. Large files, giant monorepos, instant search — everything responds at typing speed. The AI integration respects user choice in a way rivals do not: use your own Anthropic or OpenAI key for free, run local models, or pay for Zed's hosted plan. Built-in multiplayer editing with voice is the best pairing experience outside of dedicated tools, and the editor is genuinely open source, which matters for a tool this central to daily work.
Where it falls short
The extension ecosystem is the honest gap. VS Code has an extension for everything; Zed has a growing but modest catalog, and specific language or framework tooling may be missing. Windows arrived late and still lags macOS in polish. The AI agent, while improving quickly, does not yet match Cursor's tab completion or agentic reliability.
Verdict
If editor latency bothers you even a little, try Zed for a week — most converts do not go back. Keep VS Code installed for the odd extension-dependent task, and treat Zed's AI as a strong bonus rather than the primary reason to switch.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zed free?
Yes, the editor is free and open source. AI features work free with your own API keys; Zed Pro at around $20 per month adds hosted model access with higher limits.
Is Zed better than VS Code?
Zed is dramatically faster and has collaboration built in, but VS Code's extension ecosystem is vastly larger. If your workflow depends on niche extensions, VS Code wins; if you value speed and focus, Zed does.
Can Zed replace Cursor?
Zed's agent panel handles many AI editing tasks, especially with Claude models, but Cursor's agentic features and tab completion remain more polished. Some developers run Zed for editing speed and use terminal agents for AI.
Does Zed work on Windows and Linux?
Yes. macOS is the most mature platform, Linux support is solid, and Windows support shipped more recently and continues to improve.
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Blazing-fast open-source editor from the Atom creators, with built-in AI agents and multiplayer coding
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