Link copied to clipboard

# Kate vs Visual Studio Code Comparison - What are their main differences?

Share
[
Export
](/compare/kate/visual-studio-code/export.csv)

KateVisual Studio Code[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Kate** [

4.3/5(14)

](https://www.g2.com/products/kate/reviews#reviews)

**Visual Studio Code** [

4.7/5(2,740)

](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Kate**
No pricing available

**Visual Studio Code**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Kate**
Not enough reviews yet

**Visual Studio Code**
2 months

Based on 64 responses

Return on Investment

**Kate**
Not enough reviews yet

**Visual Studio Code**
13 months

Based on 48 responses

Perceived Cost

**Kate**
Not enough reviews yet

**Visual Studio Code**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Kate**
Not enough reviews yet

**Visual Studio Code**
19%

Pros & Cons

**Kate**
Not enough data

**Visual Studio Code**
[
Ease of Use (112)
](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1430770&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Extensions (95)
](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1430742&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Extension Issues (67)
](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1429876&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Slow Performance (37)
](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1428647&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Kate**
Not enough data

**Visual Studio Code**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_0ef656e3330e2a5b8e59939185859257/1password.png "Product Avatar Image")

1Password

](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_500f006999599d70e6215663a9c124c4/amazon-q-developer.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Q Developer

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-q-developer/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_92678e42a1cad1b80e7d257e3636e25e/android-studio.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Android Studio

](https://www.g2.com/products/android-studio/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_98d4e0320aa8550aeeda473f45903fd3/angular.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Angular

](https://www.g2.com/products/angular/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/integrations)

Screenshots

**Kate**
No screenshot available

**Visual Studio Code**
 ![Visual Studio Code screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/44889/expirable-direct-uploads_2F646c36c5-06e5-4c48-9429-e56d7a29c718_2FVisual_Studio_Code_Screen_Shot_1.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Kate**

9.2

9.212

**Visual Studio Code**

9.3

9.32,224

Ease of Use

**Kate**

9.2

9.212

**Visual Studio Code**

9.2

9.22,246

Ease of Setup

**Kate**
Not enough data

**Visual Studio Code**

9.3

9.3646

Ease of Admin

**Kate**
Not enough data

**Visual Studio Code**

9.0

9.0232

Quality of Support

**Kate**

8.3

8.311

**Visual Studio Code**

8.7

8.71,838

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Kate**
Not enough data

**Visual Studio Code**

9.2

9.2203

Product Direction (% positive)

**Kate**

8.9

8.911

**Visual Studio Code**

9.6

9.62,148

Features

Text Editor[Hide 12 FeaturesShow 12 Features](javascript:void(0);)

9.1

11

9.1

1,880

Coding

Syntax highlighting

9.5(tied score)

10

9.5(tied score)

1654

Autocompletion

9.0(tied score)

8

9.0(tied score)

1659

Find and replace

9.2

10

9.3(won by 0.1)

1618

Code folding

9.1(tied score)

9

9.1(tied score)

1539

Editing

Collaborative editing

8.9(won by 0.3)

6

8.6

1262

Language Support

9.3(tied score)

7

9.3(tied score)

1597

Selection Methods

9.0(tied score)

8

9.0(tied score)

1479

Functionality

Extensibility

9.0

7

9.3(won by 0.3)

1616

Cross-platform support

9.0

10

9.2(won by 0.2)

1495

Plugins and integrations

9.4(won by 0.1)

8

9.3

1682

Security

9.2(won by 0.3)

8

8.9

1245

Agentic AI - Landing Page Builders

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

9.1(won by default)

166

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Kate](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_ff2cd02267b3f98640101aca8716ef82/kate.jpg "Kate")](https://www.g2.com/products/kate/reviews)

Kate

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

28.6%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

64.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

7.1%

[![Visual Studio Code](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_13aba37ae908d9cf29a2452925257ccc/visual-studio-code.jpeg "Visual Studio Code")](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews)

Visual Studio Code

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

44.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

29.8%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

25.5%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

28.6%

44.8%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

64.3%

29.8%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

7.1%

25.5%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Kate](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_ff2cd02267b3f98640101aca8716ef82/kate.jpg "Kate")](https://www.g2.com/products/kate/reviews)
Kate

Computer Software

35.7%

Building Materials

14.3%

Information Technology and Services

7.1%

Hospital & Health Care

7.1%

Financial Services

7.1%

Other

28.6%

[![Visual Studio Code](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_13aba37ae908d9cf29a2452925257ccc/visual-studio-code.jpeg "Visual Studio Code")](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews)
Visual Studio Code

Computer Software

34.6%

Information Technology and Services

25.0%

Program Development

3.3%

Financial Services

2.6%

Computer & Network Security

2.3%

Other

32.2%

FAQs

## Kate vs Visual Studio Code FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Visual Studio Code vs Kate?

Visual Studio Code stands out for its higher G2 rating, broader reviewer base, and stronger support experience compared to Kate.

| [Visual Studio Code](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews) | [Kate](https://www.g2.com/products/kate/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.7/5 (2731 reviews) | 4.3/5 (14 reviews) |
| — | — |
| 9.3 | — |
| 8.7 | 8.3 |
| Highly customizable with a vast extension ecosystem and integrated terminal | Lightweight, user-friendly, and strong find-and-replace features |

### How do the pricing models of Visual Studio Code and Kate compare?

Visual Studio Code is perceived as the stronger value, with reviewers consistently praising its free pricing and feature set.

- **Visual Studio Code:** In recent reviews, many highlight that Visual Studio Code is completely free and delivers excellent value for students, hobbyists, and professionals, with no pricing barriers for core features.
- **Kate:** Reviewers note that Kate is also free and available across platforms, making it a cost-effective choice for lightweight editing tasks.
- **Switching reasons:** Reviewers switching to Visual Studio Code cite its broader extension ecosystem and integrated development features as key value drivers.

### What are the best alternatives to Visual Studio Code and Kate?

The top 3 alternatives to Visual Studio Code and Kate are Notepad++, Sublime Text, and UltraEdit.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Visual Studio Code](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio-code/reviews) | 4.7/5 (2731 reviews) | — | Free for all users, praised for value | Highly customizable with a vast extension ecosystem and integrated terminal |
| [Kate](https://www.g2.com/products/kate/reviews) | 4.3/5 (14 reviews) | — | Free and cross-platform | Lightweight, user-friendly, and strong find-and-replace features |
| [Notepad++](https://www.g2.com/products/notepad/reviews) | 4.6/5 (2475 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Widely used for its simplicity and speed |
| [Sublime Text](https://www.g2.com/products/sublime-text/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1783 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Fast performance and strong multi-platform support |
| [UltraEdit](https://www.g2.com/products/ultraedit/reviews) | 4.7/5 (1124 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Robust editing features for large files |

### Which Text Editor features should I prioritize when comparing Visual Studio Code and Kate?

Buyers should prioritize extension ecosystem, cross-platform support, ease of setup, integration capabilities, and support experience when comparing Visual Studio Code and Kate.

- **Extension ecosystem:** Visual Studio Code is frequently praised for its vast extension marketplace and customization options; Kate supports plugins but with less reviewer emphasis.
- **Cross-platform support:** Both products are noted as cross-platform, with reviewers mentioning use on Windows, Linux, and macOS for Kate and Visual Studio Code.
- **Ease of setup:** Visual Studio Code scores 9.3 on Ease of Setup; Kate's score is not available, but reviewers describe it as easy to install and configure.
- **Integration capabilities:** Visual Studio Code is cited in 876+ reviews for Git integration and 254+ for GitHub integration; Kate reviewers mention plugin support but with less frequency and detail.
- **Support experience:** Visual Studio Code scores 8.7 for Quality of Support, while Kate scores 8.3, indicating a slight edge for Visual Studio Code.

### What are the pros and cons of Visual Studio Code vs Kate?

Visual Studio Code's headline strength is its extensive extension ecosystem and integrated development features, while Kate is valued for its lightweight, user-friendly design and strong find-and-replace capabilities.

- **Visual Studio Code strengths:** Highly customizable with a vast extension marketplace, integrated terminal, built-in Git and GitHub support, AI-assisted coding, and strong cross-platform compatibility.
- **Visual Studio Code trade-offs:** Performance can degrade with many extensions installed, initial setup and configuration may be complex for beginners, and some advanced features require additional extensions.
- **Kate strengths:** Lightweight and fast, user-friendly interface, strong find-and-replace and syntax highlighting, supports multiple tabs and split views, and is cross-platform.
- **Kate trade-offs:** Fewer integrations and plugins compared to Visual Studio Code, less automation and advanced development tooling, and some reviewers note the interface feels dated or lacks advanced customization.

### Is Visual Studio Code or Kate better for small businesses?

Visual Studio Code is the better fit for small businesses, with broader adoption and more extensive reviewer support for development workflows.

- **Visual Studio Code:** While no explicit segment share is provided, recent reviews highlight its use in small-business and startup environments, citing its free pricing, productivity features, and ease of onboarding.
- **Kate:** No segment share is available, but reviewers describe it as suitable for lightweight editing and small programming tasks, with less emphasis on business-scale workflows.

### Which Text Editor platform has better integrations?

Visual Studio Code is favored for integrations, with extensive reviewer-cited support for Git, GitHub, and Visual Studio.

- **Visual Studio Code:** 876+ G2 reviews mention Git integration, 254+ mention GitHub, and 1277+ mention Visual Studio, highlighting its strong integration ecosystem.
- **Kate:** Reviewers mention plugin support and some integration capabilities, but no specific third-party integrations are cited with significant frequency.

### How do Visual Studio Code and Kate compare on customer support?

Visual Studio Code and Kate are within 0.4 points on Quality of Support, with Visual Studio Code at 8.7 and Kate at 8.3, indicating near-parity in reviewer satisfaction.

- **Visual Studio Code:** Reviewers consistently praise the availability of documentation, community resources, and responsive support, with a Quality of Support score of 8.7.
- **Kate:** Reviewers describe support as helpful and responsive, with a Quality of Support score of 8.3, though with fewer recent reviews than Visual Studio Code.

### Which is easier to implement, Visual Studio Code or Kate?

Visual Studio Code leads on Ease of Setup with a score of 9.3, while Kate's setup experience is described positively in reviews but lacks a scored metric.

- **Visual Studio Code:** Reviewers consistently describe setup as straightforward, with a 9.3 Ease of Setup score and frequent mentions of easy onboarding and configuration.
- **Kate:** Reviewers note that installation and initial configuration are easy and quick, with positive sentiment around its lightweight setup process.

Alternatives

**Kate Alternatives**

 ![Notepad++](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566090/notepad.png "Notepad++")

[
Notepad++
](/products/notepad/reviews)

 ![Sublime Text](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566128/sublime-text.png "Sublime Text")

[
Sublime Text
](/products/sublime-text/reviews)

 ![gedit](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_cca7207cd1325c606b88900b1207f87f/gedit.png "gedit")

[
gEdit
](/products/gedit/reviews)

 ![GNU Emacs](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566090/gnu-emacs.png "GNU Emacs")

[
GNU Emacs
](/products/gnu-emacs/reviews)

**Visual Studio Code Alternatives**

 ![Notepad++](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566090/notepad.png "Notepad++")

[
Notepad++
](/products/notepad/reviews)

 ![Sublime Text](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566128/sublime-text.png "Sublime Text")

[
Sublime Text
](/products/sublime-text/reviews)

 ![UltraEdit](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0a47f56c0ae08c2bbc1cd48dbe10ab43/ultraedit.png "UltraEdit")

[
UltraEdit
](/products/ultraedit/reviews)

 ![Brackets](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_89f9b71139b003b6eafc8bfd35e08665/brackets.jpg "Brackets")

[
Brackets
](/products/brackets/reviews)