Edit vs VSCodeVim
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A simple terminal text editor with VS Code-like controls, inspired by MS-DOS Edit.
Open source · MIT
Vim keybindings and modes inside Visual Studio Code, as a VS Code extension.
The short answer
Choose Edit if you need…
- People who want a simple editor for quick text or code edits in a terminal
- Users new to command-line tools who want an approachable editor
- Developers who want a lightweight editor over SSH or in a terminal session
Choose VSCodeVim if you need…
- Developers who already know Vim and want its keybindings in VS Code
- People who want to customize keys with settings.json remappings
- Users who want to load parts of an existing .vimrc into VS Code
Side-by-side
| Edit | VSCodeVim | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 14.7k | 15.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Download the app |
| Main language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
Edit
Edit is a simple text editor that runs in a terminal window. It is modeled on the classic MS-DOS Editor but uses a modern interface and keyboard controls similar to VS Code. It aims to be easy for people who are not comfortable with terminals.
VSCodeVim
VSCodeVim is an extension that makes Visual Studio Code behave like the Vim text editor, so you can edit text with Vim's keyboard commands and modes. People use it when they already know Vim and want those habits inside VS Code. The README describes it as a Vim emulator rather than real Vim, and it supports settings, key remapping, and a .vimrc file.
Best for
Edit
- People who want a simple editor for quick text or code edits in a terminal
- Users new to command-line tools who want an approachable editor
- Developers who want a lightweight editor over SSH or in a terminal session
VSCodeVim
- Developers who already know Vim and want its keybindings in VS Code
- People who want to customize keys with settings.json remappings
- Users who want to load parts of an existing .vimrc into VS Code
Strengths
Edit
- Familiar VS Code-style controls, so it is easy to pick up
- Installable on Windows via WinGet, on macOS via Homebrew, and via binaries or an install script on Linux
- Released under the MIT license and developed in Rust
VSCodeVim
- Brings familiar Vim keybindings into VS Code
- Configurable through VS Code settings and key remapping options
- Open source under the MIT license with an active issue tracker
Not ideal for
Edit
- Users who need advanced editing features such as plugins or deep language tooling, since the README describes a simple editor for simple needs
- Users on platforms without a listed binary or build path, since install options are documented only for Windows, Linux, and macOS
VSCodeVim
- Users who have never used Vim and want a simple editor, since the modal keys have a learning curve
- People expecting full Vim feature parity, because the README calls it an emulator and lists some plugin emulations rather than the full set
Trade-offs
Edit
- The README describes it as intentionally simple, so it lacks many advanced editor features
- Search and replace requires the ICU library, and Linux builds may need extra configuration
VSCodeVim
- Emulation is not identical to real Vim, so some behavior may differ
- On Mac, key-repeat needs a terminal command and a logout to work properly
- On Windows it takes over control keys unless you adjust the useCtrlKeys and handleKeys settings
Getting started
Edit
Windows (WinGet)
winget install Microsoft.EditmacOS (Homebrew)
brew install mseditFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Edit and VSCodeVim?
Edit: A simple terminal text editor with VS Code-like controls, inspired by MS-DOS Edit. VSCodeVim: Vim keybindings and modes inside Visual Studio Code, as a VS Code extension. Edit suits people who want a simple editor for quick text or code edits in a terminal, while VSCodeVim suits developers who already know vim and want its keybindings in vs code.
Are Edit and VSCodeVim free?
Edit: Free and open source. VSCodeVim: Free and open source.
Is Edit or VSCodeVim more popular?
VSCodeVim has more GitHub stars (15.2k) than Edit (14.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Edit and VSCodeVim?
Other options people compare them with include micro, IdeaVim, Pretty TypeScript Errors, Git History.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.