# Neovim vs Visual Studio

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Visual Studio

| Attribute | Neovim | Visual Studio |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 52.1 (48% (low)) | 58 (54% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | - |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 2 | - |
| adoption.github_stars | 101,978 | - |
| deployment.options | `{"on_prem":true,"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A terminal-based text editor that extends Vim with modern features including built-in language server support, tree-sitter integration for code understanding, and a powerful Lua scripting API. It maintains full Vim compatibility while enabling new applications through its extensible plugin architecture and remote capabilities. | Comprehensive integrated development environment for .NET and C++ development with AI-powered assistance, integrated debugging, testing, and CI/CD integration. Available as Visual Studio IDE for Windows and macOS, plus Visual Studio Code for cross-platform web development. |
| features.capabilities | `{"type":"terminal_editor","lsp_dap":true,"builtin_ai":"none","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Windows, macOS, Linux (x86_64, arm64)","remote_dev":true,"open_source":"oss","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"plugins","pricing_model":"free","language_scope":"polyglot","code_intelligence":"ide_grade"}` | `{"type":"full_ide","builtin_ai":"native","deployment":"desktop","os_support":"Windows, macOS, Linux","base_platform":"original","extensibility":"marketplace","language_scope":"polyglot","git_integration":true,"code_intelligence":"ide_grade","integrated_debugger":true}` |
| integrations.count | - | 2 |
| integrations.list | - | `[{"name":"GitHub"},{"name":"Azure"}]` |
| language.primary | Vim Script | - |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"free","summary":"Completely free and open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://neovim.io","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T16:37:28.674Z"}` | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Community","summary":"Free","features":["Full IDE capabilities for .NET and C++ development"],"description":"Best comprehensive IDE for .NET and C++ developers on Windows","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Professional standard","summary":"$99.99/user/mo (paid annually), renews at $66.59/user/mo","features":["Visual Studio Professional","Azure DevOps (Basic plan)","$50 Azure credit per month","Basic dev/test software","Training and support"],"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":99.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise standard","summary":"$499.92/user/mo (paid annually), renews at $214.09/user/mo","features":["Visual Studio Enterprise","Azure DevOps (Basic + Test plan)","$150 Azure credit per month","Premium dev/test software","Extended training and support","Power BI Pro"],"commitment":"annual","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":499.92,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Professional monthly","summary":"$45/user/mo","features":["Visual Studio Professional","Azure DevOps (Basic plan)"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":45,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise monthly","summary":"$250/user/mo","features":["Visual Studio Enterprise","Azure DevOps (Basic + Test plan)"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"seat","amount":250,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false}],"summary":"Free Community edition; subscriptions from $45/user/mo to $499.92/user/mo","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://visualstudio.microsoft.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-03T20:23:24.983Z","startingPrice":{"amount":45,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | free | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | mid |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 43 | - |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/nightly","date":"2026-08-26T05:20:06Z","type":"prerelease","version":"nightly"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.5","date":"2026-08-23T18:27:13Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/stable","date":"2026-08-23T18:27:09Z","type":"stable","version":"stable"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.4","date":"2026-07-05T13:41:40Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.3","date":"2026-06-10T22:57:39Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.2","date":"2026-04-22T15:03:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.1","date":"2026-04-06T14:30:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.12.0","date":"2026-03-29T17:16:57Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.12.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.7","date":"2026-03-28T18:14:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.6","date":"2026-01-26T17:02:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.5","date":"2025-11-02T17:04:31Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.4","date":"2025-08-31T20:08:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.3","date":"2025-07-12T20:59:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.2","date":"2025-05-30T09:52:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.1","date":"2025-04-26T15:14:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.11.0","date":"2025-03-26T14:44:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.11.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.10.4","date":"2025-01-29T10:31:24Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.10.3","date":"2024-12-21T17:26:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.10.2","date":"2024-10-03T09:02:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/neovim/neovim/releases/tag/v0.10.1","date":"2024-07-24T07:32:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.1"}]` | - |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 4.8 | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fneovim%2Fneovim&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | - |

## Capabilities (IDEs & Code Editors)

| Capability | Neovim | Visual Studio |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Type | Terminal editor | Full IDE |
| Language scope | Polyglot | Polyglot |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| **Platform support** |  |  |
| OS support | Windows, macOS, Linux (x86_64, arm64) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Base platform | Original | Original |
| **Extensibility** |  |  |
| Extensibility | Plugins | Extension marketplace |
| **DX** |  |  |
| LSP / DAP support | ✓ | - |
| Remote / dev-containers | ✓ | - |
| Integrated debugger / profiler | - | ✓ |
| Code intelligence depth | IDE-grade | IDE-grade |
| Built-in git integration | - | ✓ |
| **AI** |  |  |
| Built-in AI | None | Native |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Openness | Open-source | - |
| **Pricing** |  |  |
| Pricing model | Free | - |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:26:40.211Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*