# Helix vs Theia

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Theia

| Attribute | Helix | Theia |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 42 (45% (low)) | 63.7 (64% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 27 | 69 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | 324 |
| adoption.github_stars | 45,941 | 21,655 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A terminal-based code editor written in Rust featuring multiple cursors as a core editing primitive, Tree-sitter syntax highlighting, and built-in language server support for IDE-like features. | A development tool combining open-source principles with artificial intelligence features, available for cloud and desktop use. It emphasizes user privacy, supports many programming languages, and works with thousands of existing development tools. |
| features.capabilities | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Cross-platform terminal","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"config_only","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":false,"code_intelligence":"lsp_grade","integrated_debugger":false}` | `{"type":"full_ide","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"native","deployment":"both","open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"marketplace","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","code_intelligence":"lsp_grade"}` |
| integrations.count | - | 3,000 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"Python"},{"name":"Java"},{"name":"C++"},{"name":"JavaScript"},{"name":"Go"},{"name":"YAML"},{"name":"Docker"},{"name":"ESLint"},{"name":"NPM"},{"name":"GitHub Pull Requests"},{"name":"GitLens"}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | MPL-2.0 | EPL-2.0 |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free, open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://helix-editor.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:03:11.895Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Completely free and open-source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://theia-ide.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:06:19.308Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 75 | 10 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.07.1","date":"2025-07-18T15:13:19Z","type":"stable","version":"25.07.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.07","date":"2025-07-15T19:18:05Z","type":"stable","version":"25.07"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.01.1","date":"2025-01-19T21:31:02Z","type":"stable","version":"25.01.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/25.01","date":"2025-01-03T20:30:05Z","type":"stable","version":"25.01"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/24.07","date":"2024-07-14T16:53:17Z","type":"stable","version":"24.07"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/24.03","date":"2024-03-30T14:06:45Z","type":"stable","version":"24.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.10","date":"2023-10-25T17:20:28Z","type":"stable","version":"23.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.05","date":"2023-05-18T07:56:01Z","type":"stable","version":"23.05"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/23.03","date":"2023-03-31T09:04:21Z","type":"stable","version":"23.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.12","date":"2022-12-07T03:56:16Z","type":"stable","version":"22.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.08.1","date":"2022-09-01T17:43:43Z","type":"stable","version":"22.08.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.08","date":"2022-08-31T17:44:58Z","type":"stable","version":"22.08"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.05","date":"2022-05-28T16:39:49Z","type":"stable","version":"22.05"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/22.03","date":"2022-03-29T13:47:14Z","type":"stable","version":"22.03"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.6.0","date":"2022-01-04T10:15:57Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.6.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.5.0","date":"2021-10-28T07:58:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.4.1","date":"2021-08-14T04:44:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.4.0","date":"2021-08-12T16:46:45Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.4.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.3.0","date":"2021-06-27T04:42:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.3.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/releases/tag/v0.2.1","date":"2021-06-14T16:22:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.2.1"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/next","date":"2026-08-26T00:22:32Z","type":"prerelease","version":"next"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.74.1","date":"2026-08-06T15:44:57Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.74.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.74.0","date":"2026-07-31T11:53:39Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.74.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.73.1","date":"2026-07-01T12:46:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.73.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.73.0","date":"2026-06-25T13:02:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.73.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.72.3","date":"2026-06-10T08:44:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.72.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.72.2","date":"2026-06-05T14:19:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.72.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.72.1","date":"2026-05-29T12:04:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.72.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.72.0","date":"2026-05-28T14:14:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.72.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.71.2","date":"2026-05-27T15:57:40Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.71.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.71.1","date":"2026-05-11T09:28:09Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.71.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.71.0","date":"2026-04-30T12:29:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.71.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.70.2","date":"2026-04-10T09:50:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.70.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.70.1","date":"2026-04-08T10:03:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.70.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.70.0","date":"2026-03-26T14:55:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.70.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.69.0","date":"2026-02-26T15:25:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.69.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.68.2","date":"2026-02-05T15:18:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.68.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.68.1","date":"2026-02-05T12:43:15Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.68.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.68.0","date":"2026-01-29T16:10:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.68.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/releases/tag/v1.67.0","date":"2025-12-10T16:06:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.67.0"}]` |
| security.scorecard | - | 5 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2FHelix-editor%2Fhelix&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40theia%2Fmarkers&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Helix | Theia |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Full IDE |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Both |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | Cross-platform terminal | - |
| Base platform | Original | Original |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Extensibility | Config file only | Extension marketplace |
| **DX** |  |  |
| LSP / DAP support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote / dev-containers | ✓ | - |
| Integrated debugger / profiler | ✗ | - |
| Code intelligence depth | LSP-grade | LSP-grade |
| Built-in git integration | ✗ | - |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Built-in AI | None | Native |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Openness | Open-source | Open-source |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:32:11.220Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*