Zed

Fast, Rust-built code editor with built-in real-time collaboration and AI edit predictions, free with an optional paid Pro plan.

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About

In practice. What you can do with Zed.

Zed is a code editor written in Rust for speed and low latency, with real-time multiplayer editing and AI edit predictions built in. It supports bringing API keys from many external LLM providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google AI, instead of locking a developer into one assistant.

The free Personal plan includes 2,000 AI edit predictions per month, enough for regular solo use. The Pro plan, at 10 USD per seat, adds unlimited predictions with 5 USD of included AI tokens before usage-based charges apply, while Business adds organization-wide AI controls and spend visibility for small teams.

Practical uses

Solo developerCode daily in a free Personal plan using the included AI edit predictions, with no subscription cost.
Small teamPair-program in real time on the same file from two machines using the built-in multiplayer editing.

Features & use cases

Coding

Collaboration dev

Developer tools

Integration llm

For. What works in its favour.

Fast, low-latency editor with native real-time collaboration.
Free plan includes a real AI edit-prediction quota, not just a trial.
Bring-your-own-key support across many LLM providers avoids vendor lock-in on AI billing.

Pays off from

15 minsaved a month

Zed costs $10/month. If your hour is worth $40, those 15 min cover it.

Your hour is worth$40/h

Against. What to plan for.

Pro plan's included AI token budget is capped at 5 USD a month before usage-based charges kick in.
Business plan has no fixed AI allowance at all, relying entirely on usage-based billing or external keys.

Too expensive if

You use it less than once a month
A simple free version or a tool already in your stack would do

Pricing. What does Zed cost ?

Free

Permanent free plan

2,000 accepted edit predictions included

Pro

ToolTrim reference price

$10/mo

Per user.

Unlimited edit predictions
$5 of AI tokens included per month
Then usage-based charges

Business

$30/mo

Per user.

Organization-wide AI controls
Data governance
Unified spend visibility
Role-based access
No fixed AI credits included
Usage-based or bring-your-own-key

Checked on September 25, 2026Official pricing

Alternatives. What could replace Zed?

Cursor4.0/5 · ExcellentFree, then from $20/moAI-native code editor (VS Code fork) with multi-file Composer edits, an autonomous Agent mode and access to several frontier models.

Windsurf3.6/5 · Very goodFree, then from €13.80/moAgentic AI code editor — the Cursor alternative with Cascade AI.

GitHub Copilot4.0/5 · ExcellentFree, then from $10/moAI development assistant for GitHub: inline autocomplete, code chat, review, agent mode, and CLI. June 2026: moved to usage-based billing (credits); inline suggestions free on all plans.

Our verdict. What to know about Zed.

How the score breaks down

Added value

A free plan with 2,000 included AI predictions and a 10 USD Pro plan give a developer daily AI assistance at a low cost compared to the category.

Simplicity

Zed installs as a standalone desktop editor and includes AI features out of the box, without a separate setup step for a first result.

Fit for purpose

The editor delivers its stated promise of a fast, AI-assisted coding experience with native multiplayer editing, confirmed on the pricing and feature page.

Performance

Support for bringing API keys from ten-plus LLM providers (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google AI, Bedrock, and more) goes beyond a basic AI-assisted editor.

Reversibility

Bring-your-own-key support means a developer is not locked into Zed's own AI billing and can reuse the same provider keys elsewhere.

Decided? Visit Zed or compare alternatives

Frequently asked questions. What people ask about Zed.

What is Zed used for?

Fast, Rust-built code editor with built-in real-time collaboration and AI edit predictions, free with an optional paid Pro plan.

How much does Zed cost?

Zed costs $10/month (Pro plan). Price verified on September 25, 2026.

Is Zed suitable for beginners?

A developer who wants a fast, low-latency code editor with built-in AI assistance and the option to bring their own model API keys.

Is Zed worth the price?

The Pro plan costs 10 USD per seat per month, with only 5 USD of AI tokens included before usage-based charges start.

What are the best alternatives to Zed?

The main alternatives to Zed are: Cursor, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot.

ZedFrom $10/mo

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