Compare GNU Emacs and Visual Studio Code

At a Glance
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs
Star Rating
(84)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (46.4% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about GNU Emacs
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
Star Rating
(2,568)4.7 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (43.4% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Visual Studio Code
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • G2 reviewers report that Visual Studio Code excels in ease of use, with many users highlighting its intuitive interface and extensive documentation that makes it accessible for newcomers. In contrast, some users of GNU Emacs mention that while it is highly configurable, the learning curve can be steep, which may pose challenges for those less familiar with its environment.
  • Users say that Visual Studio Code's autocompletion feature significantly boosts productivity, making coding more efficient across various programming languages. Meanwhile, GNU Emacs also offers strong autocompletion capabilities, but users note that it may require more setup and customization to achieve similar levels of efficiency.
  • Reviewers mention that Visual Studio Code's plugin ecosystem is extensive, allowing for a high degree of customization and integration with other tools. This flexibility is praised by users who feel that it meets their daily needs effectively. On the other hand, while GNU Emacs is also known for its extensibility, some users feel that it can be overwhelming to navigate the vast array of options available.
  • According to verified reviews, Visual Studio Code shines in setup and implementation, with many users appreciating the quick onboarding process. In contrast, GNU Emacs users report a more complex setup experience, which can deter new users from fully engaging with the software.
  • G2 reviewers highlight that Visual Studio Code provides a more robust support experience, with a community that actively contributes to tutorials and troubleshooting resources. Users of GNU Emacs, while acknowledging the quality of support, often mention that it can be less accessible, particularly for those who are not deeply familiar with the software.
  • Users express that both products offer excellent syntax highlighting and language support, but Visual Studio Code tends to have a slight edge due to its frequent updates and community-driven enhancements. GNU Emacs users appreciate its powerful capabilities but sometimes find that keeping up with the latest features requires more effort.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
GNU Emacs
No pricing available
Visual Studio Code
No pricing available
Free Trial
GNU Emacs
No trial information available
Visual Studio Code
No trial information available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.2
75
9.3
2,100
Ease of Use
6.2
76
9.2
2,118
Ease of Setup
5.7
18
9.3
516
Ease of Admin
6.8
16
9.0
226
Quality of Support
7.9
60
8.7
1,733
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
7.8
9
9.2
196
Product Direction (% positive)
7.9
73
9.6
2,033
Features by Category
8.9
8
9.1
1,731
Coding
9.0
7
9.5
1544
8.8
7
9.0
1559
9.0
7
9.2
1526
8.6
7
9.1
1468
Editing
Not enough data
8.6
1223
9.0
7
9.2
1504
8.8
7
9.0
1443
Functionality
9.6
8
9.3
1541
9.0
7
9.2
1443
8.9
6
9.3
1583
8.0
5
8.9
1198
Agentic AI - Landing Page Builders
Not enough data
8.9
108
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
GNU Emacs and Visual Studio Code are categorized as Text Editor
Unique Categories
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs has no unique categories
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code has no unique categories
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
46.4%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
31.0%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
22.6%
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
43.4%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
30.3%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
26.2%
Reviewers' Industry
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs
Computer Software
32.1%
Information Technology and Services
17.9%
Research
7.1%
Internet
6.0%
Higher Education
6.0%
Other
31.0%
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code
Computer Software
34.0%
Information Technology and Services
25.1%
Program Development
3.1%
Financial Services
2.7%
Computer & Network Security
2.3%
Other
32.9%
Alternatives
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs Alternatives
Notepad++
Notepad++
Add Notepad++
Sublime Text
Sublime Text
Add Sublime Text
gedit
gEdit
Add gedit
UltraEdit
UltraEdit
Add UltraEdit
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code Alternatives
Notepad++
Notepad++
Add Notepad++
Sublime Text
Sublime Text
Add Sublime Text
UltraEdit
UltraEdit
Add UltraEdit
Brackets
Brackets
Add Brackets
Discussions
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs Discussions
Monty the Mongoose crying
GNU Emacs has no discussions with answers
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code Discussions
Is Visual Studio code an IDE?
12 Comments
Yogesh S.
YS
Visual Studio Code is a code editor, not a full-fledged integrated development environment (IDE). Free to Use Beginner Friendly.Read more
What is Visual Studio Code used for?
8 Comments
Vivek S.
VS
Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. You can do any type of programming and scripting tasks easily on VS...Read more
Why is Visual Studio code so popular?
6 Comments
Yogesh S.
YS
Easy To use. Beginner Friendly. Many Extension to ease our Work. The user-interface is Easy and has Many customization.Read more