# Helix vs Visual Studio Code

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Visual Studio Code

| Attribute | Helix | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 45 (39% (low)) | 60.4 (67% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 27 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 0 | 1 |
| adoption.github_stars | 45,941 | 189,621 |
| 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 multi-platform code editor combining traditional editing, debugging, and terminal capabilities with built-in AI agents that research, modify code, run commands, and iterate toward task completion. |
| 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","os_support":"Windows, macOS, Linux","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"open_core","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"marketplace","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":true,"code_intelligence":"ide_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 7 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"GitHub"},{"name":"GitHub Actions"},{"name":"GitHub Copilot"},{"name":"Azure Pipelines"},{"name":"GitLab CI"},{"name":"Azure DevOps"},{"name":"MCP servers"}]` |
| language.primary | Rust | TypeScript |
| license.spdx | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free, open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://helix-editor.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T23:03:11.895Z"}` | `{"type":"free","summary":"Free","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://code.visualstudio.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T16:40:57.497Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 75 | 6 |
| 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/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.135.0","date":"2026-08-26T16:52:46Z","type":"stable","version":"1.135.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.134.0","date":"2026-08-19T09:08:11Z","type":"stable","version":"1.134.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.133.0","date":"2026-08-12T09:41:17Z","type":"stable","version":"1.133.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.132.1","date":"2026-08-11T22:23:22Z","type":"stable","version":"1.132.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.132.0","date":"2026-08-05T09:49:29Z","type":"stable","version":"1.132.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.131.0","date":"2026-07-29T14:07:58Z","type":"stable","version":"1.131.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.130.0","date":"2026-07-22T17:39:17Z","type":"stable","version":"1.130.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.129.1","date":"2026-07-17T21:32:58Z","type":"stable","version":"1.129.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.129.0","date":"2026-07-15T22:13:23Z","type":"stable","version":"1.129.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.128.1","date":"2026-07-14T20:48:10Z","type":"stable","version":"1.128.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.128.0","date":"2026-07-08T08:25:25Z","type":"stable","version":"1.128.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.127.0","date":"2026-07-01T09:32:59Z","type":"stable","version":"1.127.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.126.0","date":"2026-06-24T12:49:34Z","type":"stable","version":"1.126.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.125.0","date":"2026-06-17T14:59:29Z","type":"stable","version":"1.125.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.124.2","date":"2026-06-12T05:06:56Z","type":"stable","version":"1.124.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.124.0","date":"2026-06-10T13:39:34Z","type":"stable","version":"1.124.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.123.2","date":"2026-06-10T09:39:44Z","type":"stable","version":"1.123.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.123.1","date":"2026-06-10T09:38:39Z","type":"stable","version":"1.123.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.123.0","date":"2026-06-05T08:50:41Z","type":"stable","version":"1.123.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/releases/tag/1.122.1","date":"2026-05-29T12:53:58Z","type":"stable","version":"1.122.1"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | - | 7.4 |
| 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%2Fvscode-builtin-javascript&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Helix | Visual Studio Code |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Full IDE |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Both |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | Cross-platform terminal | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 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 | IDE-grade |
| Built-in git integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Built-in AI | None | Native |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Openness | Open-source | Open-core |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T20:20:01.741Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*