Monaco Editor vs Visual Studio Code
Monaco Editor
microsoft.github.io
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.comSide by side
| Figure | Monaco Editor | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Code editors | 8.0 (#28) | 9.0 (#2) |
| 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. |
Plans
In their own words
Monaco Editor
Monaco Editor has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is an open-source code editor with AI-assisted development features for macOS, Linux, Windows, and the web. It offers inline AI suggestions and intelligent completions, and its agent workflows can plan tasks, change code, run commands, and iterate. Users can switch between agent work and direct coding in the same editor. Agent workflows work with Copilot and third-party providers, and users can supply their own model key. The editor includes JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, and HTML support; extensions add support for other languages. Its Marketplace lists more than 80,000 extensions. Built-in tools include Git source control, an integrated terminal, code running and debugging, build tasks, and local history. It connects to GitHub Codespaces and remote development environments, while Settings Sync and profiles help carry and organize customizations. The browser version has a limited execution environment. VS Code is free for private or commercial use at free. A GitHub account is required to start building with AI agents.