Code Editor reviews from Reddit

Summary

We analyzed 286 Reddit reviews across 32 subreddits and 40 posts to rank the best Code Editor brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/linuxmint, r/Fedora, r/Ubuntu, r/java, r/learnprogramming. Top-rated brands include Visual Studio Code (4.3/5), JetBrains (4.4/5), Neovim (4.0/5).

Stats

Reviews286

Subreddits32

Posts40

Brands69

Products17

Top communities

r/linuxmint40 r/Fedora37 r/Ubuntu22 r/java21 r/learnprogramming17

286 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Visual Studio Code

4.3

(56)

"I use clangd in vscode, it works great."

"I think the best option is to have vs code server on a local computer or a free VM on Azure or AWS."

"For frontend? Sorry but nothing even comes close to VS Code."

"VSCode, very good for Web development."

"I use vscode and it works great for me."

"Visual Studio Code with the Flutter and Dart Plugin and the Simulator"

"Hard to go wrong starting with VS Code."

"VS code works perfectly for me."

"I think vs code because of its vast extension library."

"Visual Studio Code."

JetBrains

4.4

(30)

"Pycharm for Python, RustRover for Rust, etc. They tend to be really well configured out of the box for the language your using, has great features, is free, etc. Works great on linux."

"I really liked Zed but the refactoring and code awareness in IntelliJ are impossible to beat."

"I’d suggest starting with PyCharm community (which is free) and the moment you get a GaTech email you’ll be able to get PyCharm pro for free."

"Python: Jetbrains' Pycharm"

"Check out PyCharm."

"It's wonderful, love that product."

"PHPSTORM the only IDE i would recommend for PHP projects."

"PhpStorm with IdeaVim plugin."

"For anything bigger, it's PHPStorm all the way."

"I’ve used to use PHPStorm before, it’s really great tool for heavy refactoring."

Neovim

4.0

(20)

"Neovim. It will take some time learning motions (and you should learn them using your current editor using a vim extension), but it's the most comfortable and most configurable editing tool I have ever used."

"Neovim - when I want to be a cool kid again or when I have to work from the terminal"

"NeoVim. Very steep learning curve but once you learn it, you can work so much faster than VSCode..."

"Neovim with kick start"

"Agreed. So worth the time investment."

"Neovim"

"Neovim, but I advise getting there slowly."

"Install Neovim with LazyVim"

"Just moved to neovim as well from vscode! I've been using nvchad and find it very user friendly."

"Neovim + lazyvim, I've been using that combo for over a year since I moved from vscode, works great."

Sublime Text

3.9

(15)

"Sublime - simple and reliable, especially for a starter and someone just writing some python scripts. My favorite, and I use it everyday as a professional."

"I am gonna say , sublime, i have hopes for zed , and i love my lazyvim configs"

"Sublime"

"I like sublime, if is my go to non-IDE"

"Sublime Text will run without registration indefinitely, but it costs $99 to license."

"Try Sublime Text or Lite XL."

"Every time I try a new one, I always end up going back to Sublime Text."

"I use sublime text and Stata Enhanced when I don’t just use Stata’s native text editor, which works perfectly well for my purposes."

"Text editors such as Sublime"

Zed

4.0

(13)

"Within the last year I’ve switched over to using zed and absolutely love it!!!"

"Zed is so good. Been using it professionally for almost a year. Lots of comfort features of VS Code with better text highlighting, terminal integration, and speeeeeeeeeed."

"I've fallen in love with zed using vim key bindings on the mac and linux"

"Long time user of vs code, but since a few weeks i've made the switch to zed and i like it a lot so far"

"I just installed zed but it seems very fast and clean."

"Not mentioned here but zed. Gotta build it yourself I believe but it's fast, smooth and you can learn vim with it."

"I am hearing good things about Zed"

"I think Zed is a good option."

"The Zed editor recently came out for Linux, it's quite good. It's attempting to be a better VS Code."

"Because Zed supports natively quite a few languages."

VSCodium

3.6

(11)

"VS codium or zed (in very early stages though, don't use zed mainly)"

"If you want to keep with VSCode, use VSCodium."

"As i'm familiar with VSC, I went for Codium."

"VS-Codium for working, for quick edits I love Kate."

"Serious coding - VS Codium (if you're coming from VS Code, you'd feel right at home)."

"VSCodium if you want a de-Microsofted version."

"Vscodium, VScode but with all of the Microsoft and proprietary stuff stripped out, works well for webdev"

"I like vscodium"

"Vscodium and xed"

"There's a de- Microsoft version, I think it's vscodium, if you want."

Cursor

4.4

(9)

"After I discovered Cursor, I can't imagine not having it"

"Cursor's AI features definitely sounds better."

"Cursor has access to files, the terminal, then you have the composer feature that can write code directly into your files"

"Cursor without a doubt. but hating to deal with vscode, I stayed on jetbrains IDE"

"Cursor's been the most consistent for me lately, esp with Claude 3.5."

"Would recommend cursor."

"I find cursor to be the best for all around use and good pricing as well."

"Cursor, for example, is a lot more than glorified autocomplete. It's more of a conversation you have with another developer who then does all the work for you, and comes back for review."

"I use cursor mainly. I’ve setup my Java environment, with a bunch of java extensions to get to a comfortable level, kinda equivalent to IntelliJ"

PyCharm

4.6

(8)

"Pycharm, it’s an IDE catered to python development."

"Pycharm hands down."

"Pycharm for sure."

"Best? Pycharm."

"Pycharm."

"One of the reasons I use PyCharm Pro is because, whilst I can install a wide range of plugins, it is already setup for Python development."

"I think pycharm."

"PyCharm community edition is sooooo good."

Vim

4.0

(9)

"Vim with GCC 60d"

"Of course vi and vim for those inclined."

"If you want some change, use Vim or Neovim. It will take a while to learn and use some motions, but it is really worth it."

"If you don't mind learning and configuring a bit, and want a FOSS software, then Vim is your friend."

"Vim or Emacs. I use both."

"What is the best editor? Vim."

"Vim for super quick edits from command line"

"Vim"

"I mostly use vim and PyCharm Pro but also use VS Code, Thonny, Eclipse and Mu from time-to-time."

#10

IntelliJ IDEA

4.1

(8)

"I'm at a point now where I just want to get my job done in the most pain free and reliable way possible and for me that Java/Spring/Angular and Intelij."

"Its majesty Intelij IDEA + copilot plugin."

"Nothing beats Android Studio."

"Intellij or any idea IDE + copilot or codeium or Gemini or any."

"I use Intellij with JetBrains AI which can use multiple different models. It is ok, it will autocomplete your code, you can also give it instructions what to write."

"IntelliJ itself has AI autocomplete now too"

"I love intellij, I've been using it for a decade now. But their AI autocomplete is more of an annoyance than useful."

"Why should I switch to a different code editor just so I can get glorified autocomplete? I just use IntelliJ and if I want AI autocomplete, I'll just use GH Copilot(it's not much accurate though)"

#11

Kate

4.3

(7)

"Kate editor is my favourite."

"Kate does the job for me"

"I also like Kate's UI - simple but it works."

"Kate, I use it on Xfce."

"I like Kate, and i even use it with Konsole on Mint."

"I recommend Kate, or Geany if you’re more into GNOME’s look and looking for something lightweight. Kate has Git integration out of the box, which I use a lot."

"Kate was the reason I tried out KDE and I don’t think I’m going back to Gnome."

#12

Helix

4.6

(5)

"Helix + clangd = awesome"

"Written in Rust, very modern, very fast."

"Helix is the best in my experience."

"To be honest, I'm really enjoying it. As it doesn't have plugin support, and there are some missing features, you end up with watching some GH issues/PRs and enjoying once they're merge :)"

"Helix and dte are my personal favourites"

#13

RubyMine

4.8

(4)

"I've finally switched to RubyMine after years of vscode. It's night and day. vscode ruby support is honestly pretty garbage."

"RubyMine is an unparalleled experience for Ruby."

"Rubymine has the best code browsing not only to ruby, but to a lot of JS frameworks."

"RubyMine - for jumping between files, exploring, coding on my own"

#14

Android Studio

4.3

(4)

"Android Studio is the best."

"I know it places a premium on the machine you use."

"I use android studio and find that works well for me."

"I kinda think you should start with Android Studio."

#15

Microsoft

4.3

(4)

"C#: Visual Studio (full, not *Code*) or Jetbrains' Rider"

"Vscode is pretty good very easy to add extensions and customize."

"I even use VS Code for C++, though Rider could be better option, but VS Code is free."

"VS Code loads faster. I also prefer it's UI (especially for settings)"

#16

Notepad++

4.0

(4)

"Notepad++"

"I used notepad++ for years before i tried vs code."

"Notepad++ If you have issues with that try notepad 2 portable."

"I code in Notepad++."

#17

Emacs

4.0

(4)

"True Linux geeks learn emacs - steep learning curve at first but once you open up the university fueled emacs lisp libraries and/or learn lisp, possibilities are endless."

"Emacs or VSCode."

"Emacs. It's rather old school, and is arguably more of a lisp machine than a code editor, but for the same reason is incredibly flexible."

"Emacs :)"

#18

PyCharm Professional

5.0

(3)

"Pycharm Profesionnal, however, is incredibly good."

"PyCharm Professional, certainly."

"Pycharm professional if work is paying and VS Code otherwise."

#19

Nano

2.8

(4)

"Nano for quick scripts, text including config files."

"Nano"

"Sometimes I simply use use nano or vim for simple edits in the command line"

"Vscode, atom or nano"

#20

Atom

3.7

(3)

"I started with Atom editor which I still use 4 years later, so check that out if it looks neat to you. It's very customizable with plugins and themes."

"I personally really like Atom Editor. It looks nice and its expandable."

"Vscode, atom or nano"

#21

Eclipse

3.7

(3)

"You can use Eclipse with Codeium Extentions which is very advance for a free version or Tabnine or Github for Eclipse"

"If you're searching for a code editor and not for an IDE, I recommend Eclipse."

"Eclipse for Scientific Computing."

#22

CLion

3.7

3.0

3.0

(1)

"Try brackets or note++ for lightweight apps."

#69

NetBeans

3.0

(1)

"I use Netbeans."

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