Cursor
AI-native code editor that runs autonomous agents to build, test, and review code
FREEMIUM Verified JUL 3, 2026
Zed
Fast, open-source code editor written in Rust with a built-in AI agent panel and agentic editing
Zed is a free, open-source code editor written from scratch in Rust for GPU-accelerated speed, with a built-in AI Agent Panel and agentic editing. The free tier includes 2,000 edit predictions a month; Pro is $10/month with $5 of token credits; Business is $30/seat. Bring your own API key for unlimited model use. Best for developers who want a fast, native editor with optional AI baked in.
Verified JUN 26, 2026 FREEMIUM Live
What is Zed?
Zed is a code editor built from scratch in Rust, designed around speed: it uses GPU acceleration for rendering and spreads work across multiple CPU cores, which gives it noticeably lower latency than editors built on a web stack like Electron. It is open source, and the editor itself is fully featured and free — language-server support, an integrated terminal, native Git, multibuffer editing, Vim mode, and an extension system all ship without a subscription. From its origins it emphasized collaboration, with real-time multiplayer editing and remote development built in.
On top of that foundation, Zed adds an AI layer that is model-agnostic. An Agent Panel and agentic editing let the AI read, write, and run code across a project with your approval at key steps, and you can run multiple agents in parallel. Zed offers hosted access to frontier models like Claude, GPT-5, and Gemini, connects to external agents such as Claude Agent and Codex through an open agent protocol, and supports bringing your own API key for unlimited use. AI billing is token-based: the free tier covers 2,000 edit predictions a month, Pro adds $5 of hosted credits, and anything beyond that is charged at API list price plus ten percent.
Who is it for?
Zed is aimed at developers who care about editor performance and want AI as an option rather than a mandatory, metered add-on. The free tier is genuinely usable, especially with your own API key, which makes Zed easy to adopt without committing budget.
- Performance-focused developers who want a fast, native editor and find Electron-based tools sluggish.
- Engineers who bring their own API key and want unlimited model use without per-prompt subscription fees.
- Small teams that value real-time collaboration and want low-cost AI at $10 per seat on Pro.
- Organizations needing centralized AI model policies, data governance, and access controls via the Business plan.
How much does Zed cost?
Starting price: $10/mo · Free tier: yes · Model: freemium
Pricing verified JUN 26, 2026
Price history tracked from June 2026
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free (Personal) | $0 | Full open-source editor, no feature gating · 2,000 accepted edit predictions per month · Unlimited use with your own API keys · External agents work without a subscription |
| Pro | $10/mo | Unlimited accepted edit predictions · $5 of Zed-hosted token credits per month · Overage billed at API list price plus 10% · Default $10/month spend cap; 14-day trial with $20 credits |
| Business | $30/seat/mo | Unlimited edit predictions · Org-wide AI model policies and data governance · Role-based access controls and unified spend visibility · No seat minimum, month-to-month |
What are Zed's key features?
- Built from scratch in Rust with GPU acceleration and multicore CPU usage
- Agent Panel and agentic editing — AI reads, writes, and runs code with user approval
- Model-agnostic AI: hosted Claude, GPT-5, and Gemini, plus bring-your-own-key
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration and remote development
- Edit Prediction powered by the open-weight Zeta model
- Full Language Server Protocol and Debug Adapter Protocol support
- Native Git, integrated terminal, multibuffer editing, and Vim mode
- Open source with an extension ecosystem
What people use Zed for
- 01 Editing code in a GPU-accelerated, low-latency native editor instead of an Electron app
- 02 Delegating multi-file edits to the Agent Panel with approval at key steps
- 03 Pairing with teammates in real time through built-in multiplayer collaboration
- 04 Using bring-your-own-key models for unlimited AI without per-prompt charges
- 05 Connecting external agents like Claude Agent or Codex through the agent protocol
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Genuinely fast — native Rust and GPU acceleration beat Electron-based editors on latency | Windows support is the newest and least mature of the three desktop platforms |
| The editor itself is free, open source, and fully featured with no AI subscription required | Smaller extension ecosystem and community than VS Code, with fewer third-party integrations |
| Bring-your-own-key gives unlimited model use without per-prompt fees | AI is metered: the free tier has no hosted token credits, and Pro's $5 credit can run out fast before +10% overage kicks in |
| Pro at $10/month is half the price of several mainstream AI editor plans |
What are the best Zed alternatives?
Windsurf
Agentic AI IDE with Cascade that writes, edits and runs code autonomously inside your editor
FREEMIUM Verified JUN 11, 2026
GitHub Copilot
AI coding assistant with inline completions, chat, and autonomous agent mode across major IDEs
FREEMIUM Verified JUL 3, 2026
Claude
Anthropic's AI assistant built for long-context analysis, coding, and safe reasoning
FREEMIUM Verified JUL 3, 2026
Cline
Open-source autonomous coding agent for VS Code that edits files, runs commands, and brings your own model
OPEN-SOURCE Verified JUN 20, 2026
Warp
AI-powered terminal and agentic development environment with autocomplete and cloud agents
FREEMIUM Verified JUN 22, 2026
How people make money with Zed
- Offer setup and migration consulting for teams moving from VS Code to Zed, including agent configuration and Business-plan model policies
- Build and publish Zed extensions, themes, or a paid course on its agentic editing workflow for developers
Frequently asked questions
Is Zed free?
Yes. The Zed editor is free and open source, with no feature gating. The free Personal plan includes 2,000 accepted edit predictions per month and unlimited model use if you bring your own API key. Only Zed-hosted AI usage requires a paid plan.
How much does Zed Pro cost?
Zed Pro is $10 per month, reduced from $20 in late 2025. It adds unlimited edit predictions and $5 of Zed-hosted token credits monthly. Usage beyond that is billed at the model's API list price plus 10 percent, with a default monthly spend cap.
What AI models does Zed support?
Zed is model-agnostic. It offers hosted access to Claude, GPT-5, and Gemini, supports external agents like Claude Agent and Codex through an agent protocol, and lets you bring your own API key for unlimited use with any supported provider.
Does Zed run on Windows?
Yes, Zed runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows. Windows support is the newest of the three and is less mature than macOS and Linux, which have been first-class targets for far longer. There is no web or mobile version.
What makes Zed fast?
Zed is written from scratch in Rust rather than built on a web stack like Electron. It uses GPU acceleration for rendering and takes advantage of multiple CPU cores, which gives it noticeably lower input latency than most mainstream editors.
Is Zed better than Cursor for AI coding?
Zed is faster and cheaper at $10 per month, and it is open source. Cursor offers a deeper agentic feature set and a larger ecosystem. For raw editor speed Zed wins; for heavy agentic workflows Cursor and Claude-based tools are stronger.
Public signals
- "Zed 1.0" — 2153 points on Hacker News, Apr 29, 2026