IdeaVim 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 Vim emulation plugin that brings Vim keybindings and editing to JetBrains IDEs.
Open source · MIT
Vim keybindings and modes inside Visual Studio Code, as a VS Code extension.
The short answer
Choose IdeaVim if you need…
- Developers who already know Vim and want its keys inside a JetBrains IDE
- Users of any JetBrains IDE listed in the README who want Vim-style editing
- People who want to map keys to IDE actions via <Action> mappings
- Users who want to share one Vim configuration file across editors
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
| IdeaVim | VSCodeVim | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 10.3k | 15.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | See the README | Download the app |
| Main language | Kotlin | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
IdeaVim
IdeaVim is a plugin for JetBrains IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm and WebStorm that adds Vim-style modal editing. It lets you use Vim modes, motions, registers, macros and mappings inside the IDE. You can customize it with a ~/.ideavimrc file, similar to a ~/.vimrc.
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
IdeaVim
- Developers who already know Vim and want its keys inside a JetBrains IDE
- Users of any JetBrains IDE listed in the README who want Vim-style editing
- People who want to map keys to IDE actions via <Action> mappings
- Users who want to share one Vim configuration file across editors
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
IdeaVim
- Official JetBrains project with an MIT license and a public bug tracker
- Supports many Vim features including modes, marks, macros, registers and regexps according to the README
- Configuration through a standard ~/.ideavimrc file that can be reused from Vim
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
IdeaVim
- People who have never used Vim and prefer standard IDE shortcuts, since the modal style has a learning curve
- Users who need every Vim built-in function or option, because the README says not all are supported
- Users of non-JetBrains editors, since this plugin only runs in JetBrains IDEs
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
IdeaVim
- The README says not all Vim built-in functions and options are supported
- Early Access builds may be of lower quality than typical beta software, according to the README
- Some behaviour is IDE-specific, and the README points to a separate autocmd doc for differences
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
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IdeaVim and VSCodeVim?
IdeaVim: A Vim emulation plugin that brings Vim keybindings and editing to JetBrains IDEs. VSCodeVim: Vim keybindings and modes inside Visual Studio Code, as a VS Code extension. IdeaVim suits developers who already know vim and want its keys inside a jetbrains ide, while VSCodeVim suits developers who already know vim and want its keybindings in vs code.
Are IdeaVim and VSCodeVim free?
IdeaVim: Free and open source. VSCodeVim: Free and open source.
Is IdeaVim or VSCodeVim more popular?
VSCodeVim has more GitHub stars (15.2k) than IdeaVim (10.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to IdeaVim and VSCodeVim?
Other options people compare them with include TranslationPlugin, 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.