Sublime Text vs Visual Studio Code
Sublime Text
sublimetext.com
Visual Studio Code
code.visualstudio.comSide by side
| Figure | Sublime Text | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 1 |
| Spec score · Text Editors | 8.8 (#7) | 9.0 (#3) |
| Spec score · Code editors | 8.6 (#7) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Spec score · Front End Tools | 8.3 (#6) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Spec score · Go IDEs | 8.2 (#13) | 8.2 (#14) |
| Spec score · Developer Tools | 8.2 (#19) | 8.2 (#20) |
| Column editing | Yes | Yes |
| Extensions | Sublime Text supports packages such as plugins, syntax definitions, menus and snippets, with additional user-created packages available. | The Visual Studio Marketplace lists more than 80,000 extensions. |
| Extension support | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Large-file handling | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-cursor editing | Yes | Yes |
| Product | Sublime Text is a text editor for code, markup and prose. | Visual Studio Code is a code editor with AI assisted development features. |
| Supported platforms | Windows,macOS,Linux | web,windows,macos,linux |
Plans
Sublime Text
- PersonalPrice not published
- Business: seats 1-10Price not published
- Business: seats 11-25Price not published
- Business: seats 26-50Price not published
- Business: seats 51+Price not published
- Business license$65 a year
- Personal license$99, paid once
In their own words
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a text editor for code, markup, and prose on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Editing includes multi-cursor and column work, macro recording, large-file handling, tab multi-select, split views, Goto Anything, Goto Definition, and context-aware auto-completion. GPU rendering is supported on all three platforms, including resolutions up to 8K. The maker lists native Apple Silicon support and Linux ARM64 builds. Extensions can add plugins, syntax definitions, menus, and snippets, and a documented Python API supports plugin development such as LSP. The download page identifies Sublime Text 4, Build 4215, as the current release. The software can be downloaded and evaluated without an enforced time limit, but continued use requires a license. A Personal license costs $99 as a one-time purchase and includes three years of updates. Business licensing costs $65 per seat per year for the first 10 seats, with lower rates for larger tiers. The maker is based in Woollahra, Sydney, Australia.
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.