Zed

Zed is a next-generation code editor built entirely from scratch in Rust, using a custom GPU-accelerated UI framework called GPUI. Unlike VS Code forks such as Cursor or Windsurf, Zed is not based on Electron — it was built from the ground up for performance. The result is sub-millisecond keystroke response, startup in under a second, and smooth editing even on very large files. Zed reached 1.0 on April 29, 2026 after five years of development and has 81,700+ GitHub stars.

Zed's native multiplayer feature is unique: multiple developers can edit the same file simultaneously in real time, similar to Google Docs but for code. As of v1.0, Zed supports concurrent AI agents — multiple AI agents can work on different parts of the codebase simultaneously within the same editor window. The proprietary Zeta model powers AI features on the paid plan, while BYOK is supported for custom LLM configurations.

Key capabilities include native real-time collaboration without plugins, concurrent AI agents, LSP support for all major languages, vim mode, a built-in terminal, and extensibility via a WebAssembly-based plugin system. Zed is available on macOS and Linux; Windows support is in progress.

Pricing: The editor itself is free and open source. AI features use a credit system — some usage is included free, with a paid plan for heavier Zed AI usage. BYOK is supported for teams with existing LLM contracts.

Limitations: Zed cannot run VS Code extensions — the extension ecosystem is smaller than VS Code or Cursor. Windows support is still in progress as of mid-2026. Teams heavily invested in VS Code extensions may find the transition costly.

Best suited for developers prioritizing editor performance, real-time team collaboration, and a modern editor architecture — particularly on macOS and Linux.