Visual Studio Code vs Sublime Text

by Gralio Feb 27, 2025

Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text are both powerful code editors catering to developers. VS Code excels in its extensibility and free access, while Sublime Text prioritizes speed and a clean interface. The best choice depends on individual preferences and project requirements.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 5635 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 7 hours, 48 minutes of reading.

Visual Studio Code

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Sublime Text

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About

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free code editor by Microsoft for building modern web and cloud applications. Available on Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows, it supports nearly every major programming language. VS Code features syntax highlighting, code refactoring, a built-in terminal, and version control integration. A vast library of extensions allows users to customize the editor for specific workflows and programming languages.

Sublime Text is a software program used for writing and editing code. It offers a streamlined interface, powerful features for navigating and manipulating code, and strong performance. Sublime Text is designed specifically for developers and is known for its speed, customizability, and extensive plugin ecosystem.

Summary

Main difference

Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source code editor with a vast extension library, making it highly customizable and adaptable to various programming languages and workflows. Sublime Text is a paid, proprietary code editor known for its speed, minimalist design, and powerful features for code manipulation, appealing to users who prioritize performance and a distraction-free environment.

Relative strengths of Visual Studio Code (compared to Sublime Text)

Free and open-source, offering a cost-effective solution with community support.
Extensive library of extensions provides wide-ranging customization and functionality enhancements.
Built-in debugger and IntelliSense enhance code development and troubleshooting.

Relative weaknesses of Visual Studio Code (compared to Sublime Text)

Can experience performance issues with larger projects or multiple extensions.
Frequent updates can be disruptive, requiring restarts and extension adjustments.
Initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming for new users.

Who should use Visual Studio Code VS. Sublime Text

Visual Studio Code is a versatile, free code editor suitable for developers of all skill levels. Its customizable interface, extensive extension library, and robust features like Git integration and built-in debugging are praised by users. However, some experience performance issues with larger projects. VS Code is ideal for individual developers and teams of all sizes in the software, IT, and telecommunications industries.

Sublime Text is a fast and customizable code editor loved for its minimalist interface and extensive plugin ecosystem. Developers praise its speed and versatility, but some find the plugin installation complex and dislike the occasional performance lags with larger files. It's ideal for developers of all skill levels seeking a streamlined coding experience.

Ideal for businesses of all sizes (1-1000+ employees).
Best fit for software, IT, and telecommunications companies.

Best for small to large businesses.
Excellent for Software, IT, and Telecommunications.

Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

IntelliSense-style code completion

Supported

VS Code supports IntelliSense for SQL with the mssql extension.

Partially supported

SQL IntelliSense is supported via plugins and Language Server Protocol integrations.
AI-Powered Code Editing

Supported

VS Code supports AI-powered code editing via GitHub Copilot, including generating, completing, and debugging assistance.

Partially supported

Sublime Text supports AI-powered code editing via the Pieces plugin.
Python API

Not supported

VS Code extensions are typically written in JavaScript or TypeScript, not Python.

Supported

Sublime Text offers a Python API for creating extensions and plugins.
Code snippets

Supported

VS Code supports code snippets natively and via extensions.

Supported

Sublime Text allows users to create, customize, and use code snippets to improve coding speed.
Autocompletion

Supported

VS Code supports autocompletion via its IntelliSense feature.

Supported

Sublime Text supports robust autocompletion capabilities that can be customized and extended through various settings and packages.
Code navigation

Supported

VS Code offers robust code navigation with features like Outline View, symbol search, and Go To Definition.

Supported

Sublime Text offers robust code navigation features, including "Goto Anything", symbol search, line navigation, and a project-wide sidebar for efficient codebase exploration. Users can further enhance navigation with custom plugins.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

No data
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

No data

No data
Reliability and Performance

No data

No data
Ease of Implementation

No data

No data
Scalability

No data

No data

Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text Pricing

Visual Studio Code is free to use. The source code is available under the MIT license agreement at https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/blob/main/LICENSE.txt.

User sentiment

Strongly positive

See full Pricing page

Sublime Text offers a free trial. A license can be purchased for continued use. Personal licenses are a one-time purchase and include 3 years of updates. Business licenses are on a tiered annual subscription basis.

Plans

User sentiment

Neutral

-0.14

See full Pricing page

Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text review insights

Users love

Extensive library of extensions provides wide-ranging customization and functionality enhancements.
User-friendly interface with customizable themes, keyboard shortcuts, and layout.
Excellent Git integration simplifies version control and collaboration.
Built-in debugging tools and IntelliSense enhance code development and troubleshooting.
Supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks.

Sublime Text is known for its speed and responsiveness, making it efficient for coding.
The minimalist interface provides a distraction-free environment, allowing for focused work.
Highly customizable with an extensive plugin ecosystem, empowering users to tailor the editor to their specific needs.
Supports a wide array of programming languages and file types, making it a versatile tool for various development tasks.

Users dislike

Performance issues, especially with larger projects or multiple extensions can cause slowdowns or crashes.
Occasional bugs and glitches with extensions can disrupt workflow.
Frequent updates can be disruptive, sometimes requiring restarts and extension adjustments.
Initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming for new users, especially regarding language support and extensions.

Occasional performance lags, especially with larger files.
Limited selection of themes available, could be more customizable.
Plugin installation can be complex and unintuitive for beginners.
The constant pop-up reminders to purchase a license can be disruptive.

Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text Ratings

G2

4.7/5

(2322)
Capterra

4.8/5

(1597)
TrustPilot

3.7/5

(1)

G2

4.5/5

(1741)

Company health

Employee growth

3% increase in the last year

20% decrease in the last year

Web traffic

11% decrease in the last quarter

No data

Financing

No data

How important is a built-in debugger for my team's workflow?

VS Code has a built-in debugger, while Sublime Text relies on extensions for debugging. If your team frequently debugs code, especially in Node.js, VS Code's built-in debugger could be a significant advantage, streamlining the debugging workflow and potentially saving time. If debugging isn't a core part of your workflow, the importance of a built-in debugger diminishes.

Which product’s extension ecosystem better suits our specific needs?

Both Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text offer extensive extension ecosystems. However, Visual Studio Code's vast library of extensions, covering a broader range of functionalities and integrations, makes it better suited for diverse development needs. While Sublime Text's plugin ecosystem is also powerful, it's generally considered less comprehensive than VS Code's.

What are the advantages of Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code is free, open-source, and cross-platform, offering wider accessibility compared to Sublime Text's paid license and limited OS support. VS Code also has a built-in debugger and broader IntelliSense support for various languages, enhancing the development workflow. Finally, VS Code benefits from stronger community support and more frequent updates, leading to continuous improvements and a wider range of extensions.

What are the disadvantages of Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code can suffer from performance issues, especially with larger projects or when numerous extensions are enabled, leading to slowdowns and occasional crashes. Users also report occasional bugs and glitches with extensions, which can disrupt workflow. The frequent updates, while beneficial, can also be disruptive, requiring restarts and adjustments to extensions. Finally, the initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming for new users, particularly when configuring language support and extensions.

Alternatives to Visual Studio Code and Sublime Text

PyCharm

PyCharm is a software development tool made by JetBrains for professional programmers using the Python language. It helps developers write, organize, test, and fix their code more efficiently. This is achieved through features like code completion suggestions, error highlighting, and integration with other tools. PyCharm is available in a free "Community" version, and a paid "Professional" version with more advanced capabilities.

Datalore

Datalore is a cloud-based platform designed for data science teams to collaborate on projects. It offers tools for writing code, connecting to databases, analyzing data, and creating visualizations. Teams can work together in real-time, making it easier to share insights and build data-driven solutions. While offering advanced features, Datalore also provides a user-friendly interface, making it accessible for team members with varying technical skills. Datalore can be hosted online or within your own IT environment.

TextPad

TextPad is a text editor designed for Windows computers. While easy to use for basic tasks, it also offers features that are helpful for experienced users working with plain text files. TextPad allows you to work on multiple files simultaneously and can handle large text files.

Eclipse Che

Eclipse Che is a cloud-based platform that lets you code and test software without needing to install anything on your computer. It offers a variety of pre-configured workspaces, so you can quickly start working with popular programming languages and tools. Eclipse Che is particularly well-suited for teams, as it allows multiple developers to collaborate on projects in real-time. It's designed to make software development faster and easier by removing the hassle of setting up complex development environments.

UEStudio

UEStudio is a powerful text editor designed for developers. It helps programmers write code in various languages like Java, PHP, C/C++, and Python. UEStudio offers intelligent code suggestions, tools to manage software projects, and integration with Git, a popular version control system. These features are designed to make programming more efficient and less prone to errors.

Notepad++

Notepad++ is a free text editor designed for Windows. Think of it as a powerful upgrade to your basic Notepad. It's especially helpful for programmers, as it color-codes code in different programming languages, making it easier to read and write. Notepad++ also offers handy features like auto-completion and the ability to handle large files, making it a popular choice for developers.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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