We have assessed a selection of the most advanced AI-powered code editors currently available, each offering distinct advantages for developers at every level of experience.
It is important to note that GitHub Copilot is an extension requiring installation from the VS Code marketplace. While the extension itself is complimentary, access to its full feature set necessitates a subscription, beginning at $10 USD per month. Once activated, developers can leverage:
Cursor provides a free plan for essential features, with premium plans starting at $20 per month for access to its more sophisticated AI functionalities. Given its VS Code foundation, Cursor maintains familiar features like multi-line edits, debugging, and Git integration, ensuring a smooth transition for existing VS Code users.
Unique features include:
Also built on VS Code, Windsurf offers familiar features like multi-line editing, IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration. Its standout feature is the deeply integrated AI, particularly Cascade.
Zed features a clean user interface with standard tools such as a file explorer, editor pane, and minimap. Its AI capabilities are integrated through The Assistant.
JetBrains has recently integrated JetBrains AI into the latest versions of its IDEs, including PhpStorm, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, and Fleet. These AI features are engineered to boost productivity and workflow efficiency. They include context-aware smart auto-completion, debugging assistance that identifies potential issues and suggests fixes, and documentation support that automatically generates comments and documentation.
Key Advantages:
One of its distinctive features is the built-in Builder Mode. This mode empowers users to generate entire application prototypes from scratch by simply specifying requirements to the AI. Upon prompting, it can decompose the project into manageable tasks, optimize each step, and create and save necessary files, all while enabling real-time previews and granular user control. This feature presents a compelling alternative to services like Vercel v0 or StackBlitz's Bolt.new.
Key Advantages:
AI-powered code editors are rapidly gaining prominence due to their demonstrable ability to help developers write code with greater speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Furthermore, they serve as invaluable tools for learning new programming languages and enhancing existing coding proficiencies.
VS Code
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) stands as a widely adopted code editor, a staple in many development workflows. Its seamless integration with GitHub Copilot transforms it into a robust AI-powered coding assistant directly within the editor. This integration delivers intelligent code suggestions, auto-completion, and problem-solving capabilities, significantly enhancing coding, debugging, and project efficiency.It is important to note that GitHub Copilot is an extension requiring installation from the VS Code marketplace. While the extension itself is complimentary, access to its full feature set necessitates a subscription, beginning at $10 USD per month. Once activated, developers can leverage:
- Code Auto-completion: Copilot dynamically suggests code as you type, analyzing your current file and related documents to provide intelligent, style-matched predictions.
- Code Fixing and Improvements: Copilot assists in refining code and understanding its context. It can refactor functions, propose enhancements like error handling, improve readability, and generate documentation. The /fix command offers targeted suggestions for resolving errors and warnings, accelerating issue resolution.
- Chat Assistance: A built-in chat assistant enables direct inquiries about programming concepts or syntax within the editor. It also provides plain-language explanations of selected code snippets, a valuable aid for learning and collaborative discussions.
- Robust integration within the GitHub ecosystem.
- A free tier is available, though with certain resource limitations.
- Powerful AI features encompassing auto-completion and debugging.
- Highly customizable and user-friendly interface.
- AI functionality is not native; it relies on the GitHub Copilot extension.
- AI-driven suggestions can occasionally feel intrusive.
Cursor
Cursor is a code editor built upon the VS Code framework, yet it distinguishes itself by offering fully integrated AI capabilities out-of-the-box. It leverages advanced models such as OpenAI's GPT-4 and Anthropic's Claude, enabling a deep contextual understanding of your codebase to facilitate more efficient code writing, debugging, and optimization.Cursor provides a free plan for essential features, with premium plans starting at $20 per month for access to its more sophisticated AI functionalities. Given its VS Code foundation, Cursor maintains familiar features like multi-line edits, debugging, and Git integration, ensuring a smooth transition for existing VS Code users.
Unique features include:
- Cursor Tab: This feature provides intelligent code auto-completion, capable of suggesting entire functions based on code context, thereby accelerating development and reducing errors.
- Chat: Users can interact with Cursor AI using natural language commands, requesting code explanations or modifications by simply describing their needs. The flexibility to select models like GPT-4 and Claude is available based on project requirements.
- Offers a free tier for foundational features.
- AI capabilities are natively integrated, eliminating the need for extensions.
- Seamless integration of advanced AI models like GPT-4 and Claude.
- Retains the familiar feature set of VS Code.
- The Pro version carries a higher cost compared to GitHub Copilot.
- AI auto-completion can sometimes be perceived as less fluid or slower than GitHub Copilot.
- Requires a consistently stable internet connection; otherwise, performance may be affected.
Windsurf
The Windsurf Editor, developed by Codeium, presents itself as the world's first agentic IDE. This signifies its integration of AI that not only assists but can also operate autonomously, performing tasks such as running commands and managing files without continuous user input.Also built on VS Code, Windsurf offers familiar features like multi-line editing, IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration. Its standout feature is the deeply integrated AI, particularly Cascade.
- Cascade: This intelligent chat assistant and collaborator retains memory of past actions and provides real-time support. It is capable of multi-file editing and possesses a profound understanding of your code. For instance, you can instruct Cascade to generate documentation for a file; it will intelligently scan related files and automatically edit them to incorporate the necessary documentation. It can also suggest code refactoring, correct context types, and automatically add documentation to key code sections—all from a single prompt. This capability streamlines complex projects while maintaining a seamless workflow.
- Powerful AI capabilities with autonomous operation and simultaneous multi-file editing.
- A generous free tier is available.
- Supports seamless multi-file editing and real-time collaboration.
- Deep AI integration for efficient documentation and code refactoring.
- Few notable drawbacks, though some advanced features might initially seem overwhelming.
- New users may experience a learning curve with its AI features.
Zed
Zed is a high-performance, open-source code editor developed by the team behind the Atom Editor. Distinctively, Zed is built from the ground up using Rust, which contributes to its superior performance compared to editors based on VS Code forks. Zed's design emphasizes a straightforward, efficient, and enjoyable coding experience, prioritizing a lightweight and highly responsive environment.Zed features a clean user interface with standard tools such as a file explorer, editor pane, and minimap. Its AI capabilities are integrated through The Assistant.
- Assistant Panel: This panel acts as a context-aware interface connecting you with various AI models, including those from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Gemini, allowing you to leverage generative AI services based on your preferences. It maintains a history of queries and responses for future reference.
- Inline Assistant: Similar to GitHub Copilot, the inline assistant provides context-aware code completions.
- Free, exceptionally fast, and highly responsive.
- Supports integration with various AI models, including Gemini and local options like Ollama.
- Lightweight and engineered with Rust for superior performance.
- Modern interface with familiar coding tools.
- AI integration is a manual setup process, requiring configuration of preferred AI services.
- May not offer the same breadth of advanced out-of-the-box features as some other editors.
JetBrains
JetBrains is a well-established leader in developing intelligent tools designed to enhance productivity for software developers and teams. Their extensive portfolio of IDEs and tools supports a wide array of programming languages, including PHP, Python, .NET, and Kotlin—the official programming language for Android development since 2017.JetBrains has recently integrated JetBrains AI into the latest versions of its IDEs, including PhpStorm, PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, and Fleet. These AI features are engineered to boost productivity and workflow efficiency. They include context-aware smart auto-completion, debugging assistance that identifies potential issues and suggests fixes, and documentation support that automatically generates comments and documentation.
Key Advantages:
- Backed by a reputable brand with a long history of creating developer tools.
- JetBrains AI is freely available in certain products like YouTrack and Datalore.
- Comprehensive range of IDEs supporting multiple programming languages.
- Deep integration with advanced tools and enterprise-level features.
- AI features may not be as advanced as those offered by GitHub Copilot or Cursor.
- Free trials for JetBrains products are typically limited to 7 days.
- The subscription-based pricing model may be a consideration for individual developers.
Bonus: Trae
Trae AI is an advanced, AI-powered IDE developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. It supports multiple programming languages and integrates seamlessly with popular development tools. It notably includes an AI-driven assistant with agent-based programming capabilities designed to streamline workflows.One of its distinctive features is the built-in Builder Mode. This mode empowers users to generate entire application prototypes from scratch by simply specifying requirements to the AI. Upon prompting, it can decompose the project into manageable tasks, optimize each step, and create and save necessary files, all while enabling real-time previews and granular user control. This feature presents a compelling alternative to services like Vercel v0 or StackBlitz's Bolt.new.
Key Advantages:
- All AI features are available for free (apparently indefinitely at this time).
- Based on the VS Code editor and compatible with its extensions.
- The Builder Mode significantly accelerates prototyping and supports multiple languages.
- Does not appear to support custom themes.
- Some extensions may not achieve full functionality.
AI-powered code editors are rapidly gaining prominence due to their demonstrable ability to help developers write code with greater speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Furthermore, they serve as invaluable tools for learning new programming languages and enhancing existing coding proficiencies.
