# Visual Studio Code Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Visual Studio Code the right Source Code Management solution for you? Explore 1694 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/186634/Visual-Studio-Code/reviews --- Visual Studio Code 4.8 (1694) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/186634/Visual-Studio-Code/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated July 14th, 2026 # Reviews of Visual Studio Code Ease of use 4.6 Customer Service 4.2 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews Versatile language compatibility 96% positive reviews out of 167 Most users report programming languages are well-supported, enabling seamless coding across numerous languages with helpful extensions and customization. Khaled G. Software Engineer, 2 - 10 employees. "VS Code has empowered me to learn and experiment with new programming languages and technologies, thanks to its extensive library of extensions and resources." Frequent bugs and glitches 60% negative reviews out of 229 Most reviewers indicate bugs and issues are common, mentioning crashes, plugin conflicts, update problems, and occasional loss of unsaved work. Yash W. Teaching Assistant, 10,001+ employees. "I have to manually update them. And sometimes it crashes which is very frustrating." Comprehensive web development support 97% positive reviews out of 136 Most reviewers find web development efficient, citing built-in tools, language support, and real-time preview features for various frameworks and technologies. Miranda C. Director of IT, 51 - 200 employees. "Overall I will continue to use this product because it has proven to be a value to my ability to write code for simple web pages." Sluggish performance on large projects 63% negative reviews out of 158 Most users report performance and speed issues, experiencing slowdowns, lag, and longer load times with big files, many tabs, or extensive extensions. Arpon G. Executive Manger., 201 - 500 employees. "This can cause the editor to lag or slow down on less powerful machines." Free, open-source code editor 98% positive reviews out of 123 Most users comment pricing is a major advantage, appreciating that Visual Studio Code is free, open-source, and offers full features without requiring a paid license. High memory and CPU usage 56% negative reviews out of 88 Most reviewers describe memory and resource consumption as problematic, noting significant RAM and CPU usage, especially with large projects or many extensions. Anonymous User Ceo, 1 employee. "Takes up alot of memory space and sometimes it slows down the computer." ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 1694 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Mahbubul A. Owner Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Excellent and lightweight tool for web development" July 4, 2026 5.0 From my experience, VS Code is the absolute best code editor I have ever used. It has made my coding workflow much faster and more structured. Seeing as it is totally free and decidedly customizable, I highly propose it to all students and professional developers. Pros Visual Studio Code's extension marketplace is admirable. It allows me to effortlessly install the essential plug-in. additionally, its built - in terminal is extremely useful, and the software runs quickly with no lag. Cons Every so often, if I open very large project files or install too many extension, the software can consume a bit higher RAM memory. Aside from this, it is a great software. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Software Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The absolute standard for modern software development (and it's free)" January 7, 2026 5.0 We required an editor that could support multiple languages in one project (client side as well as server side). VS Code hit the right spot in terms of being lightening fast and feature-rich; it has now become an essential tool in our daily workflow right from documentation writing to debugging code in production environments Pros The ecosystem for extensions is second to none; whether it be some programming language or framework I'm working on (Python, JS, Go, Docker), a plugin for it exists. The integration with Git is excellent for working with merge conflicts right within the editor. Additionally, the capabilities of Remote Development (WSL/SSH) enable me to code on a remote Linux machine as if I were on localhost. Cons While it starts lightweight, it can become very resource-heavy (RAM) if you install too many extensions. The initial setup for some specific debuggers-like C++ or specialized PHP configs-requires fiddling with the launch.json files, which has a steeper learning curve compared to full-blown IDEs like Visual Studio or IntelliJ that work out of the box. Switched from [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) VS Code offers better IntelliSense and integrated debugging while remaining fast. Review Source DL Dave L. Senior Consultant Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "It's definitely a slimmed down version with lots of kinks that are done differently to the full blown Visual Studio" April 24, 2025 3.0 I had to install this to use and create SPFX solutions. SPFX was frustrating in itself, and then trying to figure out features and functionality of VS Code. I've been using VS for years that doing the switch to VS Code wasn't hard, but not straight forward either. Pros I like that it has a somewhat more simplified interface than the full blown Visual Studio Cons It is lacking in a lot of features. IN some cases, I felt like they (Microsoft) are trying to change the way people do things between Visual Studio and VS Code. Review Source JC Jerrid C. CEO Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "My Go-To Environment for Building and Deploying Client Prototypes" April 17, 2026 5.0 Overall, Visual Studio Code has become my default environment for almost all of my client work. As a solo founder and developer, I need tools that let me move quickly without getting bogged down in setup or configuration, and VS Code generally delivers on that. The core code editing experience is strong—especially for TypeScript, JavaScript, and Python. The built-in Git integration, debugger, and terminal let me go from idea to a running prototype and then to a deployable version without constantly switching tools. In terms of features, the extension ecosystem fills most of the gaps I run into, whether that’s working with specific frameworks, improving testing, or integrating with deployment workflows. Security and reliability are largely in my control: by being selective with extensions and keeping an eye on updates, I’ve been able to avoid major issues, though there are occasional bugs or performance hiccups that come with a highly customizable editor. Customer support is more community- and documentation-driven than traditional ticket-based help, but between official docs, GitHub issues, and third-party resources, I can usually find an answer. From a value-for-money perspective, VS Code is excellent. The fact that the core product is free yet powerful enough to support professional client work and rapid prototyping makes it an easy choice. For my use case, building and iterating on prototypes, then moving them toward client deployment, it has been a reliable, high-leverage tool I use every day. Pros What I like most about Visual Studio Code is how well it supports me as a solo founder and developer who’s constantly building client prototypes. I often jump between clients, stacks, and codebases, and VS Code makes that context switching surprisingly manageable. It starts up quickly, feels lightweight, and still provides the features I’d expect from a full IDE. Day to day, a few things stand out. TypeScript, JavaScript, and Python support is excellent, with intelligent code completion, inline errors, and quick fixes that help me catch issues early rather than chasing them down later. The built-in Git and GitHub integration lets me manage branches, commits, and pull requests directly from the editor, and the integrated terminal and debugger make it easy to run and troubleshoot my prototypes without leaving the environment. The extension ecosystem and workspace settings let me tailor VS Code to each client’s stack and deployment setup, whether I’m targeting simple web apps or more complex services. From a value-for-money perspective, it’s hard to beat: the core product is free, and I get a professional-grade code editing experience with a rich feature set. Security-wise, I appreciate that I can control which extensions I install, how they access workspaces, and how my projects connect to external services like GitHub. Overall, VS Code has become the backbone of my development workflow and a reliable tool for quickly getting client-facing prototypes into a deployable state. Cons What I like least about Visual Studio Code is that its flexibility can sometimes work against you. With so many extensions and configuration options, it’s easy to end up with a cluttered setup or conflicting plugins if you’re not disciplined about managing your environment. I’ve had situations where an extension degraded performance or introduced odd behavior, and tracking down the root cause took longer than I would have liked. On larger projects or in heavily customized workspaces, I’ve also noticed occasional slowdowns and minor bugs, such as the editor feeling less responsive or certain language features not behaving as expected until I restart. These aren’t showstoppers, but they do add overhead to keeping VS Code stable. Customer support is mostly handled through documentation, community resources, and GitHub issues rather than direct, high-touch support, so resolving edge cases can require some digging. Overall, these issues are manageable, but they’re the main trade-offs of such a flexible, extension-driven tool. Review Source Osama A. Full Stack Developer Government Administration Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Reliable code editor" January 23, 2026 4.0 Overall experience with Visual Studio Code is very positive. It is reliable and flexible for both beginners and experienced users. Pros It's interface is clean and simple, so even beginners can understand it quickly. Supports many coding languages and has a lot of useful extensions.Has multiple features like auto-complete,syntax highlighting reduce mistakes.The best part is that it is free and regularly updated. Cons Visual studio code is sometimes confusing because of too many extensions. Some extension can cause a bug or slow performance. Alternatives considered [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) Reason for choosing Visual Studio Code Because sublime gives more useful features without extra effort. Review Source Chuck K. Software Engineer Financial Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Easy, flexible, and extensible" August 30, 2025 5.0 Overall VS code is a great tool. I use it for multiple software development languages and it does a great job support each one. Pros VS Code is so easy to install and start using. And it has a multiple of plugins available to enhance the tool to make your software development experience better. Cons Its built-in integration with git is pretty basic; I find my self using a terminal window and the git command line more often. Switched from [IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.capterra.com/p/136010/IntelliJ-IDEA/) Lower cost with pretty much all the features I needed for my software development. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Head Of Development Program Development Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Solid code editor" December 2, 2025 4.0 Pros I've been using VS Code for a number of years now and it handles almost anything I've thrown it, after a number of key extensions have been installed. Cons Some basic features missing that extensions are required for but this is improving over time. The extension community is very vast however. Switched from [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) I started working with C# and I use a Mac, so I needed something with debugging abilities Review Source Vansh K. SDE Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best Lightweight IDE with Powerful Features" February 17, 2025 5.0 I use it not only for web development but also for building APIs and programming, thanks to its flexibility and integrations. It’s a powerful tool that keeps evolving, making development easier and more efficient. Pros VS Code is one of the best lightweight IDEs out there. It runs smoothly on most systems and offers a huge collection of extensions. It is used by many types of developers —whether it's web, AI, or App. It also gets regular updates and has strong community and support. Cons The extension marketplace is great, but installing too many extensions can slow down performance of vsCode. It’s better to be mindful of what you install to keep things running smoothly. Switched from [Notepad++](https://www.capterra.com/p/185965/Notepad/) I made this switch 5 years ago and I am happy that I made this switch. VSCode offers more coding environment for developers while Notepad is for general purpose tasks related to text. Review Source PT Petru T. Developer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Reliable And Solid Code Editor." June 16, 2026 5.0 My overall experience with Visual Studio Code has been great, i've been using it for years now and it is go to editor for developement tasks, it also has a wide range of customization options, great value for the money. Pros What i like most about Visual Studio Code is that it continuously evolves based on user needs and almost every aspect of the editor can be adjusted, a reliable,solid product. Cons What i like least about Visual Studio Code is the way it manages extensions, especially when there are many of them , it could become a bit overwhelming. Review Source MY Matthias Y. Student Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A good general IDE" June 4, 2026 5.0 Pros A very good code editor and IDE, it has everything you want and need, you can customize it however you like and just start coding. Cons Its proprietary to Microsoft, there are alternatives like VSCodium that exists but lack some features :/ Review Source AG Arpon G. Executive Manger. Computer Software Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Versatile, Powerful, and Customizable" September 25, 2024 5.0 My overall experience with Visual Studio Code has been highly positive. It's a lightweight yet feature-rich code editor that supports multiple programming languages and provides an excellent development environment for both small projects and large-scale applications. The ease of installing and managing extensions allows you to tailor it to your specific needs, and the integrated Git support makes version control seamless. Its user interface is intuitive, and productivity-enhancing features like IntelliSense, debugging, and code refactoring tools make coding more efficient. However, with many extensions running simultaneously, it can become resource-intensive. Still, its versatility and powerful features far outweigh this minor drawback, making it a go-to editor for most development needs. Pros I like most about Visual Studio Code is its flexibility and customization options. It's lightweight yet powerful, supporting a wide range of programming languages through extensions. Features like IntelliSense, Git integration, and an extensive plugin ecosystem make it great for both beginners and professionals, offering smooth workflows across different types of projects. The interface is clean, and the real-time collaboration tools are useful for team projects. Cons I like least about Visual Studio Code is that it can sometimes become resource-intensive, especially when using multiple extensions. This can cause the editor to lag or slow down on less powerful machines. Additionally, its built-in terminal, while useful, isn't as robust as standalone terminal applications, and managing extensions can sometimes be overwhelming due to the sheer volume available. Despite these, it's still a highly functional and versatile tool. Switched from [TopNotepad](https://www.capterra.com/p/145874/TopNotepad/) Visual studio is better than Notepad. Because it is Versatile, Powerful, and Customizable than notepad. So that I switch. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Senior Developer Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Visual Studio Code- Your coding partner" August 5, 2024 5.0 My overall experience with visual studio code has been pretty amazing. I started with sublime text at first but then having seen the workspace folder integrations built-in terminal and extensive extension support I eventually switched to studio code which took a little learning at first but then changed the way i have been developing websites lately. Pros The ability to make use of several extensions really helps me save time while writing code,the auto complete feature enables me to write code for web layouts quite effectively and provides me with a base template to further work on the internal structure and functions. The processing is fast and terminal works effortlessly. Auto-complete Extensions for various Languages and libraries Built-in terminal Easy workspace folder management system. Cons The auto complete sometimes messes up my coding speed by completing code chunks that it expects me to be writing while i might be writing a similar code structure. Having to disable it again and again or having to pay attention to it while working can sometimes become a hassle. Switched from [Sublime Text](https://www.capterra.com/p/179535/Sublime-Text/) Auto-complete Extensions for various Languages and libraries Built-in terminal Easy workspace folder management system. Review Source Phil C. Data Architect Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Runs code nicely with all the trimmings" July 21, 2023 4.0 Love it. One of the few pieces of software which is impressive and productive. It's simple where it needs to be and complex where it has to be. Mostly, it just works and runs code nicely with all the trimmings. Pros Unlike the massive behemoth of Visual Studio Pro, Visual Studio Code is free and installs quickly, immediately becoming the go-to environment for Python and other development languages. Cons Sometimes rather too many plugins for the same needs, but you can see number of users and reviews so helps decide. It can die in action sometimes, but only requires reload not reboot. Alternatives considered [PyCharm](https://www.capterra.com/p/186625/PyCharm/) Reason for choosing Visual Studio Code Cost, functionality and ease of use. Switched from [PyCharm](https://www.capterra.com/p/186625/PyCharm/) Found PyCharm a bit unpolished and support a bit drawn out - but improving rapidly. However, it's another cost, and VSC is free and excellent. Review Source Tommy W. CTO, System designer Sokoni Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "I was blown away" December 17, 2023 5.0 I started out with low expectations and after the Visual Studio 2023 on Mac was cancelled, I moved over all devlopment of our 55Gb code base to Visual Studio Code. Never going back. Pros I thought that Visual Studio Code was "just" an editor. Hey, I've been around from the early days vi, notepad, .. This is a different ball game. Visual Studio Code understands your code, the integration with lint, code snippets, plugins and AI makes it a dream come true. Now, I just need more nuget and Azure overview and I'm totally happy. Cons The simple installation, sync between all systems - well - it's a marvel. Cannot complain. Speed. Cannot complain. Quality. Cannot complain. NO CONS! Just download if you haven't yet! Reason for choosing Visual Studio Code I had to and wasn't too sorry. Just getting custom to short cuts and up to speed. Switched from [Microsoft Visual Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/80230/microsoft-visual-studio/) It was cancelled.. On the PC I use both Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio on W11. great match in heaven. Review Source UD Umesh D. Software Developer Government Administration Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A Powerful, Lightweight, and Customizable Code Editor" May 1, 2025 5.0 I have enjoyed using VS Code immensely. I now use it as my primary code editor for web development, Python scripting, and certain data science work. Regular updates and strong community support make the tool improve with time. The tool has the perfect blend of features and usability, making it suitable both for beginners and professional programmers. Pros Visual Studio Code is customizable, speedy, and flexible. The various extensions, Git integration and intelligent code completion (such as IntelliSense) simplify and expedite development. The interface is lightweight and clean, and it supports almost every programming language natively. Cons Some of the extensions can slow down performance or conflict with each other, and it takes some time to have everything in your setup fine tuned. Review Source JI Jack I. IT Development Lead Insurance Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Powerful suite of development tools for the modern developer" July 9, 2025 5.0 Overall, VSCode provides me with the toolset I need to ensure I can develop code at speed and to the best of my ability. Pros The extensibility of VSCode really helps with my workflow. Using tools like GitHub and also being able to access and manage databases from within VSCode is super useful. Cons If anything, the only con I would say is the layout can be overwhelming, it would be good to have a simple view. Review Source MR Mathieu R. Programmeur Jouabilité Gambling & Casinos Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Visual Studio Code is the best editor." October 16, 2025 5.0 Pros Visual Studio Code is a text editor for programmers, and with its many plugins, it offers numerous advantages. The code updates smoothly and efficiently — VS Code is truly one of the best software tools available. Cons In the free downloaded version, you need links or guides to understand each section. Otherwise, there aren’t many drawbacks. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Owner of ShadowPlayersDev Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Visual Studio Code, the best and lightest code editor" December 10, 2024 4.0 I've been using VS Code for over 4 years to edit code, mainly for personal and business projects. Pros Visual Studio Code is a versatile, and highly customizable code editor that supports a wide range of programming languages. Its extensive marketplace offers thousands of extensions, enabling developers to tailor the editor to specific workflows, such as linting, debugging, or version control integration. Cons Its performance can degrade with too many extensions or large projects. Additionally, beginners might find the vast customization options overwhelming, and some advanced features may require configuration or external tools to function optimally. Review Source MH Mitch H. Developer Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "VS Code intuitiveness" March 26, 2025 5.0 Very easy and intuitive to use. It allows users to start at an entry level if they want but also offers very advanced features. It could easily be the only code editor used during an entire career. Pros The color coded data type styles are really nice. It integrates seamlessly with git and is very intuitive. I also love the integration of GitHub copilot and the customizable shortcuts. Cons I wish the extensions were clearer to use. Review Source AT Adam T. Software Analysts Food & Beverages Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Efficient Coding Experience" February 22, 2025 4.0 From a tool used occasionally, Visual Studio Code has now become a complete product in our toolkit. It's the most lightweight and can be adapted, which actually fits us quite well Pros One of the greatest thing about Visual Studio Code is the fact that it is really easy to use as well as to configure Cons It may slow down if there are too many extensions, but it's still fine Review Source KG Khaled G. Software Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best compatible browser for every coders." December 1, 2024 5.0 VS Code has empowered me to learn and experiment with new programming languages and technologies, thanks to its extensive library of extensions and resources. Pros I appreciate the cross-platform compatibility of VS Code; it works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it perfect for any developer. Cons Occasionally, I encounter conflicts between extensions, which can be frustrating to troubleshoot. Review Source Rakesh K. Senior Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Best Free Code Editor for Developers of All Levels" September 14, 2024 5.0 It is versatile and supports extensive customization options. it supports various languages and frameworks Pros VS Code has a vast marketplace of extension Lightweight and Fast Integrated Git Cross-Platform Compatibility Cons UI feels boring sometimes because we just see codes and nothing else Review Source SS Shanky S. Software developer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Maximum Software developer used visual studio code" October 14, 2023 5.0 Excellent Pros Visual studio code most like search filter Extensions Bug detectedUsing git easy to downlod and use Code format pattern light and dark mode Go live server run project code styling are good using the cmd good source and direct open the project folder are easy to work and save your time uses the small amount of dataAnd preview the images Cons Light dark mode changes the alphabet text colors Review Source Joël T. Senior Frontend Developer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best software development integration" June 15, 2023 5.0 Visual studio code is the best editor for developing nice apps for the web, Windows, and mobile. Pros Visual studio code is my to-go software development studio. It's free and available for various devices.The code editor is highly responsive and interactive. Its built-in ability to quickly scan through local storage and update information change is pretty astonishing.I like it because it's so easy to use and there is much to be confused about. The interface is clean and less saturated. Working with VS code changes the game and I enjoy every single day that I work with it. Cons The editor will freeze when kept for 5 minutes in the background or will pop up an annoying notice each time I hover for at least 3s on any CSS property. Switched from [CodePen](https://www.capterra.com/p/229451/CodePen/) only web-based. Review Source DO Donald O. Executive Technical Director Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "My Overall Experience with VSC" August 2, 2024 5.0 Running, editing and debugging codes is made easy by Visual Studio Code. Pros Visual Studio Code allocates builtin Git commands capabilities which makes it easy to develop codes. Cons Whenever I encounter issues, vendor technical team offers free support rapidly. 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