Visual Studio Code Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Visual Studio Code incredibly easy to use, making coding efficient for both beginners and advanced developers. (122 mentions)
Users admire the wide range of customizable extensions in VS Code, enhancing their coding experience and productivity. (95 mentions)
Users value the seamless Git integration in Visual Studio Code, enhancing their workflow and coding efficiency. (80 mentions)
Users love the productivity improvement VS Code offers, making coding efficient and highly customizable across languages. (77 mentions)
Users love the extension ecosystem of Visual Studio Code, enhancing productivity and flexibility for all coding tasks. (74 mentions)
Users experience extension issues that can lead to performance problems, conflicts, and a lack of timely support. (67 mentions)
Users experience slow performance under heavy loads and with multiple extensions, affecting overall productivity. (41 mentions)
Users experience performance issues with Visual Studio Code, especially when running heavy code or numerous extensions. (34 mentions)
Users experience plugin issues that can degrade performance and create conflicts, especially with multiple extensions installed. (33 mentions)
Users find the complexity of settings and extensions in Visual Studio Code can be overwhelming and frustrating. (28 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of Visual Studio Code

1. Ease of Use
Users find Visual Studio Code incredibly easy to use, making coding efficient for both beginners and advanced developers.
See 122 mentions

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GH

Garret H.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

It is a great code editor for software development and analysing large datasets. It is easy to use and works really well with all the programming lang

Mamoon K.
MK

Mamoon K.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy Onboarding with Helpful Tutorials and Documentation"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

It offers a very appealing level of ease of access for new users. The learning curve can be a bit difficult at first, but with the tutorials and the r

2. Extensions
Users admire the wide range of customizable extensions in VS Code, enhancing their coding experience and productivity.
See 95 mentions

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Lovepreet S.
LS

Lovepreet S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"A Blessing for PHP Coding: Extensions, Formatting, and Easy SQL Reading"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

i m a php developer, i use it as my code editor. i love this as we have options to add extensions to make work easy, formatting code and finding err

JC

James C.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

The code editor is really useful for development and code management. It supports all the coding languages making it easy to use it for different proj

3. Git Integration
Users value the seamless Git integration in Visual Studio Code, enhancing their workflow and coding efficiency.
See 80 mentions

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TamunoBelema  A.
TA

TamunoBelema A.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Powerful Yet Lightweight: VS Code Boosts Productivity with Extensions and IntelliSense"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

What I like most about Visual Studio Code is that it’s very powerful while still staying lightweight and easy to use. It launches quickly, runs smooth

RY

Ramavatar Y.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"LigLightweight, Powerful, and Highly Customizable Codeht, Flexible, and Feature-Rich"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

I like best about Visual Studio Code is its lightweight performance and flexibility. It starts very fast compared to traditional IDEs, and I can custo

4. Productivity Improvement
Users love the productivity improvement VS Code offers, making coding efficient and highly customizable across languages.
See 77 mentions

See Related User Reviews

GH

Garret H.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

It is a great code editor for software development and analysing large datasets. It is easy to use and works really well with all the programming lang

Verified User
U

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"VSCode Customization and Marketplace Supercharged My Productivity"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

VSCode exceeds my daily needs especially with all of the customization I can do and the extensive marketplace. My productivity has never been better

5. Features
Users love the extension ecosystem of Visual Studio Code, enhancing productivity and flexibility for all coding tasks.
See 74 mentions

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TT

Tyler T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

It is the best code editor out there, really easy to use. It support all the programming languages and has excellent extensions for all the required l

Lovepreet S.
LS

Lovepreet S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"A Blessing for PHP Coding: Extensions, Formatting, and Easy SQL Reading"

What do you like about Visual Studio Code?

i m a php developer, i use it as my code editor. i love this as we have options to add extensions to make work easy, formatting code and finding err

5 Cons or Disadvantages of Visual Studio Code

1. Extension Issues
Users experience extension issues that can lead to performance problems, conflicts, and a lack of timely support.
See 67 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Lovepreet S.
LS

Lovepreet S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"A Blessing for PHP Coding: Extensions, Formatting, and Easy SQL Reading"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

See as a developer its perfect, one -ve point is that when we try to install same on old pc say 2019, its not compatible, online download option is no

TamunoBelema  A.
TA

TamunoBelema A.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Powerful Yet Lightweight: VS Code Boosts Productivity with Extensions and IntelliSense"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While updates are generally a good thing, frequent updates can occasionally break extensions or require adjustments.

2. Slow Performance
Users experience slow performance under heavy loads and with multiple extensions, affecting overall productivity.
See 41 mentions

See Related User Reviews

GH

Garret H.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

It has few bugs and lags sometimes under heavy load, but overall it’s an amazing code editor no major issues

RY

Ramavatar Y.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"LigLightweight, Powerful, and Highly Customizable Codeht, Flexible, and Feature-Rich"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

One thing I dislike about Visual Studio Code is that it depends heavily on extensions for many advanced features. Sometimes managing multiple extensio

3. Performance Issues
Users experience performance issues with Visual Studio Code, especially when running heavy code or numerous extensions.
See 34 mentions

See Related User Reviews

JC

James C.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Visual Studio Code Review"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

This code editor has lag issues when running large edits and pipelines even after many years of updates. Also it doesn’t have many premium features in

Shahnawaz A.
SA

Shahnawaz A.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"The Perfect All-in-One IDE for Solo Founders"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While it is a fantastic editor, it can become quite resource heavy and slow down at times. When I am running multiple workspaces for Whistter along wi

4. Plugin Issues
Users experience plugin issues that can degrade performance and create conflicts, especially with multiple extensions installed.
See 33 mentions

See Related User Reviews

arghya s.
AS

arghya s.

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.5/5

"Lightweight, Powerful, and Infinitely Extensible—VS Code at Its Best"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

One drawback of Visual Studio Code is that performance can sometimes degrade with a large number of extensions installed. While the extension ecosyste

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"A Comprehensive Review of Visual Studio Code"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

Many advanced features rely on extensions. If an extension crashes or conflicts with another, it can disrupt the workflow.

5. Complexity
Users find the complexity of settings and extensions in Visual Studio Code can be overwhelming and frustrating.
See 28 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Mamoon K.
MK

Mamoon K.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Easy Onboarding with Helpful Tutorials and Documentation"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

The initial SSH setup was a bit difficult for beginners to understand, and the overall process could be streamlined. I also found the program somewhat

Aniket C.
AC

Aniket C.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Simple UI and Easy Extension Add-Ons"

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

Complex settings for a first time user in navigating all the settings

Visual Studio Code Reviews (2,567)

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Visual Studio Code Reviews (2,567)

View 6 Video Reviews
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Giancarlo A.
GA
Software Engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Flexible, Lightweight, and Fast: A Highly Efficient VS Code Experience"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

What I like most about Visual Studio Code is its flexibility and performance. It is lightweight, easy to use, and supports a wide range of programming languages through its extensive extension marketplace. The integrated Git support, debugging tools, and customizable interface make it a very efficient environment for development. I also appreciate how quickly it launches and how smoothly it handles most coding tasks. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

One drawback is that when many extensions are installed, performance can sometimes slow down or consume more system resources than expected. Additionally, some advanced features require installing and configuring extensions, which can take time to set up properly for new users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Beatriz P.
BP
Ingeniera de scada
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Lightweight, Fast IDE with a Powerful Extension Marketplace"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

It's super lightweight and fast compared to any other IDE I've used. The best part is the extension marketplace; you can pretty much customize it to fit any language or workflow. The integrated terminal and Git support are also top-notch, making daily tasks much smoother." Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

The constant updates can be a bit annoying sometimes, and if you install too many extensions, the performance starts to take a hit. Also, setting up the configuration files (like json) for debugging can be a bit confusing at first if you're coming from a more 'ready-to-go' environment Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Alan R.
AR
Site Reliability Engineer
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Flexible, Fast, and Perfect for Multi-Stack Development"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code is lightweight, fast, and extremely flexible. It supports a wide range of programming languages out of the box, and the extension marketplace makes it easy to customize the editor for almost any workflow. Whether it’s Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Git integration, or cloud tools, there’s usually a well-maintained extension available.

The built-in Git support is excellent and simplifies version control tasks directly inside the editor. The IntelliSense, debugging tools, and integrated terminal are also strong features that make development smoother and more efficient. It strikes a very good balance between being simple enough for quick edits and powerful enough for complex projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While VS Code is very flexible, managing too many extensions can sometimes slow it down or create conflicts. Performance can decrease slightly in very large projects or when multiple heavy extensions are installed. Additionally, since much of the power depends on extensions, the experience can vary depending on how well those extensions are maintained. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Lovepreet S.
LS
Graphic Designer and Software Tester
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A Blessing for PHP Coding: Extensions, Formatting, and Easy SQL Reading"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

i m a php developer, i use it as my code editor.

i love this as we have options to add extensions to make work easy,

formatting code and finding errors like pointing missing open/close of btacket help a lot.

on the other hand it also helps to read sql files in very understandable format. This is must have software if you are into coding.

Previously i used Notepad++,but Visual studio is blessing Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

See as a developer its perfect, one -ve point is that when we try to install same on old pc say 2019, its not compatible, online download option is not available and if we use older version, extensions and rest dont work properly.

we cant say this -ve point but it should be compatable Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Ishan S.
IS
Manager and Dietician at Chaitanya Homoeo Clinic, Medical Store Owner, Content Creator
Hospital & Health Care
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Easy and lightweight editor for notes and content work"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

I work as a Dietician & Nutritionist, manage a homeopathy clinic, and also create health education content. I use Visual Studio Code to prepare and edit health-related content and clinic notes in a simple way before saving or sharing them. It is easy to start using and I did not need any complicated setup.

I use it regularly while working on different health topics that are shared across different blogs, websites, and content platforms. I can keep more than one file open at the same time, which helps when I am updating drafts or checking older notes. The app feels light and smooth, even when I work on multiple files together.

It works well for both simple text notes and basic formatted content, so I can manage my work in one place without switching tools again and again. Overall, it fits well into my daily work because it is easy to use, quick to set up, and flexible enough for different types of content. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

did not face any major problems while using Visual Studio Code for my work. One small thing I noticed is that sometimes when I open many files together, it takes a moment to get back to the file I was working on. After a little time, I got used to the layout and it became easier to switch between files.

Other than this, it worked smoothly for my regular content and notes work. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Shahnawaz A.
SA
Founder
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"The Perfect All-in-One IDE for Solo Founders"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

As the founder of a tech startup, I need a lightweight yet powerful environment to manage my entire codebase. The best part about Visual Studio Code is its incredible library of extensions and the seamless integrated terminal. It allows me to write, debug, and instantly deploy my app code (like to Firebase) without constantly switching between different windows. It keeps my workflow extremely fast and organized. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While it is a fantastic editor, it can become quite resource heavy and slow down at times. When I am running multiple workspaces for Whistter along with heavy background extensions for debugging, it tends to hog a significant amount of RAM on my machine. A built-in performance feature to automatically sleep or suspend inactive extensions would be a great improvement for developers dealing with large projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

TamunoBelema  A.
TA
Junior Data Scientist
Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Powerful Yet Lightweight: VS Code Boosts Productivity with Extensions and IntelliSense"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

What I like most about Visual Studio Code is that it’s very powerful while still staying lightweight and easy to use. It launches quickly, runs smoothly, and never feels overwhelming. The interface is clean and highly customizable, which makes coding more comfortable and helps me work more efficiently.

One of its biggest strengths is the extension marketplace. It’s easy to add support for different programming languages, frameworks, themes, and tools, and that flexibility lets me tailor the editor to fit exactly what I need.

The feature I find most helpful is IntelliSense (smart code completion). It suggests code as I type, helps reduce errors, and speeds up development. The built-in Git integration is also extremely useful, since I can manage version control directly inside the editor without having to switch to another tool.

The integrated terminal is another major advantage. Being able to run commands, test code, and manage projects all in one place makes my workflow smoother and improves overall productivity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While updates are generally a good thing, frequent updates can occasionally break extensions or require adjustments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

akash m.
AM
Founder and Application developer
Information Technology and Services
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Efficient and Reliable Code Editor for Projects"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

I use VS Code daily for client web and SaaS projects. It starts fast, handles large codebases well, and supports most of the languages we work with (JavaScript, Python, PHP). The built-in Git support is convenient because I can review changes and commit without leaving the editor.

I also rely heavily on the integrated terminal and debugging tools when testing APIs or fixing frontend issues. Extensions are a big advantage , especially for formatting, linting, and framework support but I only install what’s necessary to keep performance smooth. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

The setup can take time in the beginning. To get the ideal workflow, you need to configure extensions, settings, and formatting rules. If too many extensions are installed, it slows down my system

Also, compared to full IDEs like IntelliJ, some enterprise-level features require additional plugins instead of being built-in. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

arghya s.
AS
Full Stack Engineer (Freelance)
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Lightweight, Powerful, and Infinitely Extensible—VS Code at Its Best"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

What I like best about Visual Studio Code is its balance of performance, flexibility, and extensibility. It’s lightweight yet incredibly powerful, making it suitable for everything from quick edits to full-scale development.

The extension ecosystem is a major strength. Whether it’s language support, debugging tools, Git integration, or productivity enhancements, VS Code can be customized to fit almost any workflow. The IntelliSense features, built-in terminal, and debugging capabilities significantly improve development efficiency.

I also appreciate the clean, intuitive interface and fast startup time. Despite being feature-rich, it remains responsive and easy to navigate.

Overall, VS Code provides a highly productive and adaptable development environment without feeling bloated. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

One drawback of Visual Studio Code is that performance can sometimes degrade with a large number of extensions installed. While the extension ecosystem is a major strength, excessive reliance on plugins can occasionally lead to slower startup times or increased memory usage.

Another challenge is that configuring certain workflows may require additional setup. Compared to more opinionated IDEs, VS Code’s flexibility can mean spending extra time selecting and managing extensions.

Additionally, some advanced IDE-like features depend heavily on third-party plugins rather than being fully native.

Overall, these are relatively minor trade-offs given the tool’s versatility, but they can impact heavy or highly customized setups. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Takkellapati S.
TS
Senior Software Engineer
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
"Lightweight, Fast, and Highly Customizable: Visual Studio Code at Its Best"
What do you like best about Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code is lightweight, fast, and highly customizable. Its extension marketplace makes it easy for developers to add tools for different languages, debugging, and various integrations as needed. Features such as IntelliSense, Git integration, and the built-in terminal help keep development efficient, organized, and smooth from day to day. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Visual Studio Code?

While Visual Studio Code is a powerful editor, it can sometimes take several extensions to properly support certain frameworks or more advanced features. When you end up managing a large number of extensions, it can slightly impact performance and, in some cases, lead to compatibility issues. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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Visual Studio Code