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Sublime Text vs Visual Studio Code
Short answer: Pick Sublime Text if you want fast, GPU-accelerated code editing; pick Visual Studio Code if you want AI-augmented code editing. Sublime Text is paid; Visual Studio Code is free and open source.
Sublime TextFast, minimal text editor for code
Visual Studio CodeFree, open source code editor from MicrosoftWhich to pick
Pick Sublime Text if you want…
- Fast, GPU-accelerated code editing
- Integrations with TypeScript, JSX or TSX (on Sublime Text's list, not Visual Studio Code's)
Pick Visual Studio Code if you want…
- AI-augmented code editing
- Free, extensible code editor
- A free, open-source tool
- Integrations with GitHub Copilot or Git (on Visual Studio Code's list, not Sublime Text's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Sublime Text:Sublime Text is a fast, minimal, cross-platform text editor for code, markup and prose with a slick UI and high performance.
- Visual Studio Code:Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor that supports AI-assisted multi-agent development across Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Best for
- Sublime Text:Fast, GPU-accelerated code editing
- Visual Studio Code:AI-augmented code editing
- Who it’s for
- Sublime Text:Developers and writers needing a lightweight yet powerful code editor.
- Visual Studio Code:Developers needing a lightweight, extensible editor with AI assistance.
- Pricing
- Sublime Text:Paid
- Visual Studio Code:Open source
- Starting price
- Sublime Text:—
- Visual Studio Code:Free
- Free plan or trial
- Sublime Text:—
- Visual Studio Code:Free to use
- Open source
- Sublime Text:—
- Visual Studio Code:Yes, 193,343 GitHub stars
- Works with
- Sublime Text:TypeScript, JSX, TSX, Python API, GPU rendering, Apple Silicon, Linux ARM64
- Visual Studio Code:GitHub Copilot, Git
Sublime Text features
- GPU Rendering. Uses the GPU on Windows, macOS and Linux for fluid UI up to 8K resolution.
- Tab Multi-Select. Select multiple tabs and split panes effortlessly across the interface.
- Side-by-Side Definitions. View definitions, references and symbols in a side-by-side pane for easier navigation.
- Context-Aware Auto-Complete. Smart completions based on project code with type info and definition links.
- Native Apple Silicon & ARM64. Runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs and Linux ARM64 devices like Raspberry Pi.
- Updated Python API. Python 3.8 API with expanded features for plugin development.
Visual Studio Code features
- AI-assisted coding. Integrates AI agents that can plan, write, and debug code within the editor.
- Cross-platform support. Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows with native installers.
- Extensible marketplace. Install extensions for languages, debuggers, and tools.
- Built-in Git integration. Manage source control directly from the editor.
- Integrated terminal. Run commands without leaving the editor.
- Open-source core. Source code is publicly available under an open-source license.
Sublime Text vs Visual Studio Code FAQ
What is the difference between Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code?+
Visual Studio Code: Open source, free, with a large extension marketplace.
Should I use Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code?+
Pick Sublime Text if you want fast, GPU-accelerated code editing or integrations with TypeScript, JSX or TSX (on Sublime Text's list, not Visual Studio Code's). Pick Visual Studio Code if you want AI-augmented code editing, free, extensible code editor or a free, open-source tool.
Is Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code free?+
Sublime Text is paid. Visual Studio Code is free and open source.
Is Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code open source?+
Visual Studio Code is open source (microsoft/vscode on GitHub, MIT license). DevHunt has no public source repository on record for Sublime Text.
Do Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Sublime Text lists TypeScript, JSX, TSX, Python API and 3 more; Visual Studio Code lists GitHub Copilot and Git.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.