Overview

Zed is a desktop code editor for developers who want editing, Git, debugging, AI options, and collaborative tools in one workspace. It suits individuals who value a flexible AI setup and teams that work together in the editor; its main trade-off is that paid AI use can exceed the subscription price.

Editing essentials sit alongside native Git operations, remote development, and a built-in debugger. Personal is free, but its 2,000 accepted edit predictions make it a starting point rather than an unlimited hosted-AI plan.

Key features

Zed supports multi-cursor and column editing, macro recording, language servers, extensions, remote development, and a built-in debugger. Its Git tools handle staging, committing, pulling, pushing, and viewing diffs, giving developers a useful range of daily workflows without making Zed a full IDE by default. Hundreds of extensions cover language support, themes, and more.

AI support spans Amazon Bedrock, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, Google AI, OpenAI, and other providers. Personal users can use API keys or external agents without a stated usage cap for those routes, but hosted edit predictions are limited to 2,000 accepted predictions. Pro removes that prediction cap and includes $5 of tokens; usage beyond the included amount is billed at API list price plus 10%. That structure gives users provider choice, but makes Pro’s total cost dependent on token use.

For collaboration, users can chat with teammates, code together, and share screens and projects. Business adds organization controls, governance, billing visibility, and role-based access controls. Admins can restrict hosted models, disable edit predictions, and lock data-sharing settings. SSO, SAML, and SCIM are planned, not currently available, so organizations requiring those identity features should look elsewhere for now.

Pricing

Personal: $0.00 USD per free. Free forever, with 2,000 accepted edit predictions. API keys and external agents allow unlimited use through those routes, making this the sensible starting plan for individuals who want to manage their own AI setup.
Pro: $10.00 USD per month. Includes unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens. Additional usage is billed at API list price plus 10%, so the monthly price is not a ceiling for users who consume more than the allowance.
Pro Free Trial: $0.00 USD per free. The trial lasts 14 days or until its $5 balance is used, whichever comes first. It includes unlimited accepted edit predictions and $5 of GPT-5.6 Luna usage, with no credit card required. The balance cap can make the trial end before 14 days for heavier use.
Business: $30.00 USD per month. The team plan includes organization controls, governance, billing visibility, and role-based access controls. There is no minimum seat count, and it is available to organizations of any size; order forms are available at 25+ seats. The listed price is the monthly plan price, while the 25-seat threshold applies to order forms.

Platforms

Zed runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, covering the main desktop platforms without a mobile option in its platform range.

Who it's for

Choose Zed if you want an editor that combines native Git, debugging, extensions, collaboration, and a choice of AI providers. Personal is particularly fitting for developers comfortable supplying API keys or using external agents; Pro is better for people who rely on edit predictions and accept usage-based charges beyond $5. Business fits teams seeking admin controls and shared workflows, but not those that require SSO, SAML, or SCIM today.

Pros and cons

Pro: Personal supports API keys and external agents with unlimited use, avoiding dependence on its capped prediction allowance.
Pro: Native Git operations, a debugger, and remote development bring useful development tasks into the editor.
Pro: Business has no minimum seat count and gives admins controls over hosted models, predictions, and data-sharing settings.
Con: Personal allows only 2,000 accepted edit predictions, so regular users of hosted predictions may need Pro.
Con: Pro token use above $5 costs API list price plus 10%, making spend less predictable than its base monthly rate.
Con: SSO, SAML, and SCIM are not currently available, limiting its fit for organizations that require those controls.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of editor options, compare Code editors; developers seeking a pairing-focused category can browse Pair Programming Software. Language-specific directories include Rust IDEs, PHP IDEs, and Go IDEs; for simpler editing choices, see Text Editors.

Kate is a free editor for Linux, Windows, and macOS, a straightforward alternative if you want a free cross-platform text editor. Lapce is a free, open-source code editor for those who prefer that model. Fresh is free and open source, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated, and also supports self-hosting. CodeLite is a free GPLv2 IDE for readers who want an IDE rather than a minimal editor.

Qt Creator is worth considering for its free open-source version if you need a tool centered on Qt; using the Qt framework carries LGPL/GPL obligations. RustRover offers a free non-commercial plan for eligible learning, hobby, and other qualifying use, making it a more targeted option for Rust users who fit those terms. Oride and Eclipse Corrosion are also free options.

Verdict

Zed is a strong choice for developers who want a modern editor with Git, collaboration, and flexible AI connections in one desktop app. Start with Personal if API keys or external agents suit your workflow; choose Pro for unlimited edit predictions only if you are comfortable with token overage charges. Teams should weigh its practical admin controls against the current absence of SSO, SAML, and SCIM.

	Kakoune	Zed
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	—	$10/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Linux, macOS	Linux, macOS, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Supported platforms	Linux, macOS	macOS, Windows, Linux
Multi-cursor editing	Yes	Yes
Macro recording	Yes	Yes
Extension support	Yes	Yes
Paid from	—	$10/yr
Column editing	—	Yes

Kakoune vs Zed

Kakoune

Zed