Monaco Editor
6.6#36 in code editorsFree planFree planWebAPI
VisitMonaco Editor vs Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
8.2#3 in text editorsFree planFree planWebLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Monaco Editor | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| Extension support | No | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | The project documents an ESM build compatible with tools such as webpack and provides a webpack plugin for selecting included languages and features. | The editor includes Git source control and can connect to GitHub Codespaces and remote development environments. |
| Models | A model holds text content, its language, and edit history, and can represent a file that does not exist on a file system. | The editor supports agent workflows with Copilot and third party providers, and users can bring their own model key. |
| Product | Monaco Editor is the fully featured code editor from VS Code, provided as a library for use in a web browser. | Visual Studio Code is a code editor with AI assisted development features. |
| Supported platforms | web | web,windows,macos,linux |
Monaco Editor plans
- Monaco EditorFree
Visual Studio Code plans
- Visual Studio CodeFree
Pick Monaco Editor if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.
Pick Visual Studio Code if…
VS Code suits developers who want a free editor for desktop or browser coding, with built-in tools and a large extension library. It also fits users who want to combine AI agent workflows with direct coding, provided they have a GitHub account to start building with agents.