Zed is a collaborative code editor built in Rust that is markedly faster than Electron-based editors, with AI assistance and multiplayer editing built in. It is younger than VS Code and missing some extensions, but the performance and the collaboration model are the reasons to try it.
Who it is for
A developer who cares about editor latency and wants real-time pair programming.
Key features
- Rust-native performance with low latency
- Built-in multiplayer collaboration
- AI assistant with inline transformation
- Language server support
- Open source with a hosted collaboration server
Where it falls short
Younger than VS Code and it shows: extension coverage is partial, and the AI features assume you will live without the plugins you rely on.
Pricing
The editor is free and open source. AI features can use your own API keys or the hosted service, which is paid. Windows support lags macOS and Linux, so check platform before switching.
Prices move; the tier structure is the part that stays true. Check current pricing on Zed.
Alternatives to Zed
Frequently asked
Is Zed free?
Yes. The editor is free and open source. AI features can use your own API keys or the hosted service, which is paid. Windows support lags macOS and Linux, so check platform before switching.
What is Zed best for?
A developer who cares about editor latency and wants real-time pair programming.
What are the best alternatives to Zed?
The closest substitutes we list are Codeium, Cursor and Windsurf. They sit in a similar price bracket but make a different trade-off, so read the weaknesses section of each review before switching.
Which platforms does Zed run on?
Zed is available on macOS and Linux.