Yes. The Personal plan is free forever and includes the core editor plus limited edit predictions.

Does Zed support AI features?

Yes. Zed offers hosted AI on Pro and also supports bring-your-own API keys and external agents.

Can I use Zed without AI?

Yes. You can disable AI features and use Zed as a fast code editor.

Does Zed support collaboration?

Yes. Multiplayer collaboration is a core feature.

Yes. The project is developed openly on GitHub.

AI Code Assistant

Zed

Zed is a fast, open-source code editor with multiplayer collaboration, integrated dev tools, and native AI-assisted editing.

Zed

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What is Zed?

Zed is a next-generation code editor for developers who want native performance, real-time collaboration, and built-in AI-assisted workflows. It includes core editing features, terminal and debugger support, language server integration, extensions, themes, and options for hosted or bring-your-own AI providers.

Zed vs Similar AI Tools

	Zed	CodeTrain	Termaxa	Juggler
Pricing Model	Free, Freemium	Free, Freemium, Paid	Free	Free, Paid
Free Credits
Key Features	Fast, native code editing Multiplayer collaboration Agentic editing and AI assistance	Local-first: runs on 127.0.0.1, code never leaves your machine Typing every line yourself, not autocomplete Socratic tutor that reviews and explains each line	Policy-based command gating (allow/ask/deny) with first-match-wins rules Blast radius preview for git, PostgreSQL, Terraform, and file operations Automatic backups before destructive operations (git ref pinning, pg_dump, rm insurance)	Visual Miller-column workbench for inspecting tool calls, item properties, and thread structure Tree-based conversation with branching sub-threads, not a linear chat Extensible plugin system for context items, slash commands, and LLM strategies
Pros	Very fast, native-feeling editor Strong multiplayer collaboration features	Local-first: code stays on your machine Hands-on: you type every line, reinforcing learning	Provides command previews before execution Automatic backups for destructive operations	Visual, inspectable interface for AI coding sessions Tree-based conversations enable nonlinear exploration
Cons	Advanced AI usage can add token costs Some enterprise controls like SSO/SAML/SCIM are not yet available	Early beta, still improving Limited to certain AI models (Anthropic primarily)	Hooks are cooperative, not enforced (agent can bypass) Native agent tools (e.g., file editing) are not gated	Learning curve for users accustomed to linear chat interfaces Headless server setup may be complex for non-technical users
Best For	Developers who want a fast modern editor Teams that collaborate in real time	Engineering teams standardizing onboarding Junior developers building deep code understanding	Developers using AI coding agents like Claude Code or Cursor Teams needing visibility and control over agent-issued shell commands	Developers who want fine-grained control over AI code generation and edits Teams needing real-time collaborative coding sessions

How to use Zed?

1Download Zed from the official site for your operating system.
2Install and open your project or workspace.
3Sign in or connect your own API keys if you want AI features.
4Use the editor, terminal, debugger, and language tooling as needed.
5Invite collaborators to work together in multiplayer sessions.
6Browse docs and extensions to customize the workflow.

Zed Key Features

Fast, native code editing
Multiplayer collaboration
Agentic editing and AI assistance
Edit predictions
Integrated terminal
Debugger support via DAP
Language Server Protocol support
Outline and diagnostics views
Dev Containers support
Extensions and themes
Vim mode
Weekly releases

Zed Use Cases

Collaborative software development
AI-assisted coding and refactoring
Local or hosted LLM-powered editing workflows
Debugging across multiple languages
Terminal-first development
Open-source editor customization
Team coding sessions
Project navigation and symbol browsing

Zed Pricing & Free Credits

Zed currently operates on a Free, Freemium model.

Free TierFree Credits

Personal

$0 forever

Free plan for the code editor, including 2,000 accepted edit predictions and unlimited use with your own API keys or external agents.

Paid Plans

Pro

$10 per month

Includes unlimited edit predictions, $5 of monthly token credits, hosted AI models, and a two-week free trial.

Business

$30 per seat per month

Team plan with org-level AI policies, data governance, spend visibility, role-based access controls, and unlimited edit predictions.

Personal

$0 forever

Free plan for the code editor, including 2,000 accepted edit predictions and unlimited use with your own API keys or external agents.

Pro

$10 per month

Includes unlimited edit predictions, $5 of monthly token credits, hosted AI models, and a two-week free trial.

Business

$30 per seat per month

Team plan with org-level AI policies, data governance, spend visibility, role-based access controls, and unlimited edit predictions.

Zed Pros & Cons

Pros

Very fast, native-feeling editor
Strong multiplayer collaboration features
Built-in AI and agentic editing support
Open source with active development
Works with hosted AI or your own keys
Useful developer tooling in one app

Cons

Advanced AI usage can add token costs
Some enterprise controls like SSO/SAML/SCIM are not yet available
Best experience may depend on setup and extension needs

What is Zed best for?

Developers who want a fast modern editor
Teams that collaborate in real time
Users who want AI coding features built into their editor
Open-source tooling enthusiasts
Developers who prefer bring-your-own-key AI workflows

Zed FAQ

Top free alternatives to Zed

CodeTrain

CodeTrain is a hands-on coding trainer that runs on your machine and teaches developers on their own codebase by having them type every line themselves.

Free

Zed