Zed
High-performance collaborative code editor built in Rust with AI assistance
What is Zed?
Zed is a next-generation code editor built from scratch in Rust for maximum performance, featuring native collaboration and AI assistance. Created by the team behind Atom and Tree-sitter, Zed aims to be the fastest editor available while incorporating modern AI capabilities and real-time multiplayer editing into a polished, production-ready experience.
The editor's AI assistant supports multiple model providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Ollama for local models. It offers inline code generation, a chat panel for code discussion, slash commands for common AI tasks, and context-aware completions. Zed's performance advantage is substantial, with near-instant startup times and buttery-smooth editing even on files with hundreds of thousands of lines.
Multiplayer editing allows teams to collaborate in real-time with shared cursors, voice chat, and screen sharing built directly into the editor rather than requiring separate tools. The fully open-source codebase ensures transparency and community-driven development, with a rapidly growing extension ecosystem adding new language and tool integrations regularly.
Key Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Fastest editor available with native Rust performance
- ✓ Built-in real-time collaboration is seamless
- ✓ Open-source with strong pedigree (Atom team)
- ✓ Local model support via Ollama for privacy
Cons
- ✗ Extension ecosystem is still maturing
- ✗ AI features are less advanced than Cursor or Windsurf
- ✗ Some VS Code features and extensions not yet available
Pricing
Free and open-source editor, Zed Pro plans for enhanced AI and collaboration features
Free
$0
- ✓Full editor features
- ✓BYOK AI assistant
- ✓Basic collaboration
- ✓Extension support
Zed Pro
Coming soon
- ✓Hosted AI models
- ✓Enhanced collaboration
- ✓Team features
- ✓Priority support
Pay with crypto using your Coda One Card
Who is Zed for?
Performance-demanding editing of large files and projects
Real-time pair programming and team collaboration
Developers wanting a modern, fast editor with AI
Open-source enthusiasts wanting a transparent editor
User Reviews
Share your experience with Zed
Sign in to write a review
Log InYour rating
0/2000
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zed free?
Zed offers a free tier with limited features. Free and open-source editor, Zed Pro plans for enhanced AI and collaboration features Paid plans unlock additional capabilities.
What are Zed's key features?
Zed's standout features include Native Rust performance with instant startup, Real-time multiplayer editing with shared cursors, Multi-model AI assistant (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama), Built-in voice chat and screen sharing. It offers 6 features in total designed for performance-demanding editing of large files and projects.
Can I pay for Zed with cryptocurrency?
Zed does not currently accept cryptocurrency directly. However, you can use the Coda One Card to pay for Zed with USDT, USDC, or other crypto through a virtual Visa card.
What are the best alternatives to Zed?
Popular alternatives to Zed include Aider, Amazon Q Developer, Bolt.new. Each offers different strengths in pricing, features, and specialization.
Related Tools
Aider
Open Source
Open-source AI pair programming CLI with git-aware multi-file editing
- Git-aware automatic commits with descriptive messages
- Multi-model support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Ollama)
- Architect/editor dual-model pattern for optimized results
- Repository map for intelligent context management
- Multiple editing formats optimized per model
Amazon Q Developer
Freemium
AWS-integrated AI assistant for coding, debugging, and cloud operations
- Unlimited free code suggestions across 15+ languages
- Deep AWS service and API understanding
- Automated code transformation (Java upgrades, .NET migration)
- Security vulnerability scanning
- Agent mode for autonomous feature implementation
Bolt.new
Freemium
AI app builder with in-browser WebContainers for instant full-stack apps
- In-browser WebContainers for zero-latency development
- Full-stack app generation from natural language prompts
- Live preview with hot module replacement
- Support for React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Astro, and more
- One-click deployment to Netlify
Claude Code
Paid
Anthropic's agentic CLI for autonomous terminal-native coding workflows
- Terminal-native autonomous coding agent
- Full file system and shell access for multi-step tasks
- Deep codebase understanding via repository indexing
- Git workflow automation (commits, branches, PRs)
- Extended thinking for complex reasoning tasks
Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. This helps support Coda One.