What is Zed?
Zed is a code editor built for speed and real-time collaboration. The homepage describes it as the world's fastest IDE, open source, with AI optional, and it is developed by Zed Industries, the team behind Atom and Tree-sitter. Its GPU-accelerated UI framework GPUI and the Tree-sitter parser are part of the same ecosystem.
Zed lets developers edit code together with others in a shared session, and it also offers an environment for coding with agents. The text shows the editor being used on real engineering work, such as tracing bugs and reviewing performance changes. AI features are optional: you can use Zed-hosted models, bring your own API keys from providers like Anthropic, OpenAI or Ollama, or turn AI off entirely.
Key features
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration in the same code
- GPU-accelerated editor built with GPUI
- Optional AI with Zed-hosted models or your own API keys
- Edit predictions as you type
- Environment for coding with agents
- Open source codebase
Who is it for
- Software developers
- Development teams doing pair programming
- Engineers who want a fast code editor without AI
Pros and cons
- Very fast performance, positioned as the fastest IDE
- Open source with AI fully optional
- Real-time multiplayer collaboration built in
- SSO, SAML and SCIM are planned but not yet available
- Business plan has no free trial
Zed pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | 0 USD | Free forever; 2,000 accepted edit predictions; unlimited use with your own API keys or external agents |
| Pro | 10 USD / month | Unlimited edit predictions; $5 of tokens included; usage-based billing beyond $5 at API list price +10%; 14-day free trial |
| Business | 30 USD / month | Per seat; org-wide AI model policies, data governance controls, unified spend visibility, unlimited edit predictions, role-based access controls; order forms available at 25+ seats |
Prices copied from Zed pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is Zed free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Personal plan is free forever with 2,000 accepted edit predictions and unlimited use with your own API keys or external agents. Pro includes a 14-day free trial with $5 of GPT-6 Luna usage and unlimited accepted edit predictions, no credit card required.
Zed alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 JetBrains Air | 100 EUR/yr | ? | Website & app builders |
 Replit | 20 USD/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 Lovable | 25 EUR/mo | yes | Website & app builders |
 Augment Code | 20 USD/mo | no | Website & app builders |
 Factory | 20 USD/mo | ? | Website & app builders |
 Amp | not listed | ? | Website & app builders |
FAQ
What is Zed used for?
High-performance, open-source multiplayer code editor with optional AI features, for developers who want a fast IDE.
Is Zed free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Personal plan is free forever with 2,000 accepted edit predictions and unlimited use with your own API keys or external agents. Pro includes a 14-day free trial with $5 of GPT-6 Luna usage and unlimited accepted edit predictions, no credit card required.
How much does Zed cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 10 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Zed alternatives?
Closest alternatives: JetBrains Air, Replit, Lovable, Augment Code, Factory.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (zed.dev).