kitio.aiNew Relic vs Visual Studio Code
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while New Relic is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- SRE agent
- AI-assisted session replay
- AI and agentic monitoring
- Cloud cost visibility
- OpenTelemetry support
- Logs, metrics and traces
- AI agents that plan and code
- Model selection
- MCP support
- Extension marketplace
- Integrated terminal and debugger
- Web version
| Feature | New Relic | Visual Studio Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Observability platform with an SRE agent and AI monitoring | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | See pricing page | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | New Relic | Microsoft |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while New Relic is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- 100 GB data ingest per month
- Unlimited basic users
- One free full platform user
Standard
$0.40 / GB beyond 100 GB
- Pay-as-you-go data ingest
- Core users $49 each
- Full users priced per user
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Custom pricing
- Pro tier options
Prices in USD, checked Oct 29, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
New Relic
- 100 GB of free data ingest each month
- Monitors AI models and agents too
- Open OpenTelemetry support
- Free basic users
- Pricing mixes data and per-user fees
- Full platform seats are costly
- Can be complex to estimate
Visual Studio Code
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
- Heavier than lightweight editors
- AI features may need separate model access
- Extensions vary in quality
Which one should you choose?
Choose New Relic if you want:
- 100 GB of free data ingest each month
- Monitors AI models and agents too
- Open OpenTelemetry support
Watch out: pricing mixes data and per-user fees.
Choose Visual Studio Code if you want:
- Free and open source
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Runs on all major desktop systems
Watch out: heavier than lightweight editors.
New Relic vs Visual Studio Code FAQ
What is the difference between New Relic and Visual Studio Code?
New Relic: Observability platform with an SRE agent and AI monitoring. Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Both are coding tools.
Is New Relic or Visual Studio Code cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while New Relic is freemium.
Do New Relic and Visual Studio Code have free plans?
New Relic: Yes. Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free.
Who makes New Relic?
New Relic is made by New Relic, based in United States.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Which should I choose, New Relic or Visual Studio Code?
Choose New Relic if you value 100 gb of free data ingest each month and monitors ai models and agents too. Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem.