# Emacs vs Vim

| Attribute | Emacs | Vim |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 35.8 (53% (medium)) | 51.5 (26% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | 16 |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,170 | 40,802 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A free and open-source text editor built on a Lisp interpreter that enables extensive customization through Lisp code. It combines core text editing with broader functionality including project planning, email and news reading, debugging, calendar, and IRC capabilities. | An advanced text editor that improves upon the classic Unix vi editor with modern features including multi-level undo, plugin support, and syntax highlighting for hundreds of programming languages. Offered as both terminal and graphical interfaces with extensive tool integration. |
| features.capabilities | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Haiku, Android","remote_dev":false,"open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":false,"code_intelligence":"lsp_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":false,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Windows 7-11, macOS, Linux/Unix, Haiku, VMS, Android","open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot"}` |
| integrations.count | 2 | - |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Tree-Sitter"},{"name":"EditorConfig"}]` | - |
| language.primary | Emacs Lisp | Vim Script |
| license.spdx | GPL-3.0 | Vim |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:00:52.092Z"}` | `{"type":"free","summary":"Free and open source (Charityware - donations requested)","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.vim.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T16:43:11.333Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | free |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| security.scorecard | 3.2 | 5 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Femacs-mirror%2Femacs&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=conda&package_name=vim&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Emacs | Vim |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Terminal editor |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD, Haiku, Android | Windows 7-11, macOS, Linux/Unix, Haiku, VMS, Android |
| Base platform | Original | Original |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Extensibility | Plugins | Plugins |
| **DX** |  |  |
| LSP / DAP support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Remote / dev-containers | ✗ | - |
| Integrated debugger / profiler | ✓ | - |
| Code intelligence depth | LSP-grade | - |
| Built-in git integration | ✗ | - |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Built-in AI | None | None |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Openness | Open-source | Open-source |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T16:45:17.762Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*