Zed

Zed is a code editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with tools for editing, debugging, remote development, and working with Git. It supports extensions, multi-cursor and column editing, and macro recording. Its built-in debugger, remote development, and language server support suit a range of coding workflows. Git features include staging, committing, pulling, pushing, and viewing diffs. Users can chat with teammates, code together, and share screens and projects. Zed supports model providers including Amazon Bedrock, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, Google AI, and OpenAI, and its extension collection includes hundreds of options for languages, themes, and more. The free Personal plan costs $0 forever and includes 2,000 accepted edit predictions, with unlimited use through API keys or external agents. Pro costs $10 a month and includes unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens; additional usage is billed at API list price plus 10%. A Pro trial lasts 14 days or until its $5 balance is used, without requiring a credit card.

Zed suits developers looking for an editor with Git operations, extensions, and collaboration features. Its Business plan includes organization controls and is available to organizations of any size.

Personal includes 2,000 accepted edit predictions. Pro includes $5 of tokens; additional usage is billed at API list price plus 10%, and its trial ends after 14 days or when the $5 balance is used.

Zed is a minimal code editor for developers who want editing, Git, debugging, and AI tools in one workspace. It suits individuals and teams looking to combine those workflows, especially if they want a choice of model providers. Its strongest case is breadth; the main trade-offs are the Personal plan’s prediction cap and Business’s lack of SSO, SAML, and SCIM today.

Overview

Zed brings together core editing tools, native Git operations, a debugger, remote development, and language server support. Multi-cursor and column editing plus macro recording give experienced editors useful ways to work, while hundreds of extensions cover languages, themes, and more. This range makes Zed a practical candidate for readers seeking more than a text editor without moving to a heavyweight IDE.

AI options include Amazon Bedrock, Anthropic, GitHub Copilot, Google AI, OpenAI, and other providers, as well as API keys and external agents. Teammates can chat, code together, and share screens and projects. The team says it has 15 years of experience with tools including Atom, Electron, and Tree-sitter; Zed is based in Denver, Colorado.

Key features

Editing and development

Multi-cursor editing, column editing, macro recording, language server support, and a built-in debugger make Zed capable of supporting varied coding workflows. Remote development extends that workspace beyond local projects. Native Git covers staging, committing, pulling, pushing, and viewing diffs, keeping common version-control tasks close to the editor.

AI and collaboration

Provider choice is a meaningful advantage for developers who already use a particular AI service or prefer their own API keys or external agents. Personal allows unlimited use through API keys or external agents, but its 2,000 accepted edit predictions are a real ceiling for anyone relying on that feature. Pro removes the prediction limit, though its included token allowance and overage terms still matter.

Chat, shared coding, screen sharing, and project sharing make Zed relevant to collaborative work as well as solo editing. Business adds organization controls, governance, billing visibility, and role-based access. Admins can restrict hosted models, disable edit predictions, and lock data-sharing settings. However, SSO, SAML, and SCIM are planned rather than currently available, a significant gap for organizations that require those identity controls.

Pricing

• Personal: free, forever. It includes a free code editor, 2,000 accepted edit predictions, and unlimited use with API keys or external agents. This is the sensible starting point for individuals who can stay within the prediction cap or supply their own AI connection.
• Pro: $10 a month, billed monthly. It includes unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens. Usage beyond the included $5 is billed at API list price plus 10%, so the subscription price is not a ceiling on AI costs. The 14-day trial ends earlier if its $5 balance is used; it includes unlimited accepted edit predictions and $5 of GPT-5.6 Luna usage, with no credit card required.
• Business: $30 a month. It adds team and organization controls, governance, billing visibility, and role-based access controls. There is no minimum seat count, and organizations of any size can use the plan; order forms are available at 25+ seats. Business is the fit for teams needing administrative oversight, but it does not currently provide SSO, SAML, or SCIM.

The cheaper Personal plan gives up unlimited edit predictions and Business administration. Pro is the direct upgrade for individuals who need unlimited predictions; Business is for organizational controls rather than simply a larger prediction allowance.

Platforms

Zed supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, giving desktop users on all three platforms access to the same broad editor category.

Who it's for

Zed is best suited to developers who want editing, Git, debugging, extensions, and multiple AI connection options in one editor. It also fits teams that value shared coding and project collaboration, provided Business’s current identity-feature gap is acceptable. Readers who need SSO, SAML, or SCIM now should look elsewhere; individuals who rarely use edit predictions may find Personal adequate without paying for Pro.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Native Git, a debugger, remote development, and language server support bring several development tasks into one editor.
• Pro: Multiple hosted providers plus API-key and external-agent support avoid tying AI use to a single provider.
• Pro: Personal offers unlimited API-key or external-agent use at no cost.
• Con: Personal caps accepted edit predictions at 2,000, while Pro token usage above $5 incurs API list price plus 10%.
• Con: Business lacks SSO, SAML, and SCIM today, limiting its fit for organizations that require those identity features.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Code editors, Text Editors, Go IDEs, PHP IDEs, AI Code Editors, or Pair Programming Software.

• Neovim is a free alternative for readers who want a free editor available across desktop, Android, API, and self-hosted platforms.
• Visual Studio Code is a free alternative for readers who want an editor that also runs on the web.
• EmEditor is a Windows-only alternative with a Professional Monthly Subscription at $6 a month, billed monthly, with licensing counted per computer.
• VSCodium is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• BBEdit is a macOS alternative with a permanent free mode for core editing features after its evaluation period.
• Kate is a free editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
• Notepad++ is a free Windows text and source code editor under the GPL license.
• Micro is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows, distributed as a single static binary with no dependencies.

Verdict

Choose Zed if you want a capable cross-platform code editor that puts Git, debugging, collaboration, and flexible AI connections in one place. Personal is a credible free starting point, while Pro suits individuals who need unlimited edit predictions and can manage token overages. Teams should weigh Business’s useful controls against its current lack of SSO, SAML, and SCIM; that gap is the clearest reason to choose another editor.

Zed combines core editor functions with Git tools, collaboration, and support for multiple model providers. The free plan has a stated edit-prediction limit, while Pro and Business add paid options and controls.