Zed
GPU-accelerated open-source editor with AI agents
Performance-obsessed developers who want the fastest editor with integrated AI
Founded 2022 · USA
Good Fit If You're...
Developer who values raw editor speed above all else
Zed boots instantly and never lags, even on massive files. If you've been frustrated by VS Code or Cursor feeling sluggish, Zed's Rust-native performance is a revelation.
Open-source enthusiast who wants a modern AI editor
Zed is fully open-source and supports both cloud and local AI models. You can use Zeta2 for edit predictions without sending code anywhere.
Real-time collaboration with AI and teammates
Zed's multiplayer features let you pair program with colleagues while AI agents assist — real-time chat, screen sharing, and shared notes built in.
Developer who wants to plug in multiple AI agents
Zed supports agents via ACP and MCP protocols. Bring Claude, GPT, Gemini, or your own agents and orchestrate them from within the editor.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full editor, 2,000 accepted edit predictions, Bring your own API keys |
| Pro | $10/mo | — |
Hidden costs to be aware of:
- Pro includes $5/mo in tokens — usage-based billing beyond that
- API list price + 10% for hosted model usage
- BYOK option avoids markup
Pricing last verified: 2026-04-21
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Built in Rust — fastest editor available, leverages GPU and multiple CPU cores
- +Open-source with active community from the creators of Atom
- +Edit predictions via Zeta2 open-weight model — works even without cloud
- +Multi-agent support via Agent Client Protocol (ACP) and MCP
Limitations
- -Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
- -Some developers find the UI more minimal than expected
- -AI features require Pro plan or BYOK for full usage
- -Newer than Cursor/VS Code — some workflows may have gaps
How It Compares
Similar Tools
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Last updated: 2026-04-21