kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Butterfish
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Butterfish starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI agents that plan and code
- Model selection
- MCP support
- Extension marketplace
- Integrated terminal and debugger
- Web version
- AI prompts inside bash and zsh
- Shell history as context
- Command autocomplete from AI
- Goal mode agent
- Neovim plugin
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Butterfish |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Open-source shell wrapper that adds AI prompts to bash and zsh |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Microsoft | Peter Bakkum |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Butterfish starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
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
Butterfish
- Free and MIT licensed
- No copy and paste between tools
- Keeps your existing shell setup
- Needs your own OpenAI-compatible API key
- No Windows support
- Agent mode can run commands on your system
Which one should you choose?
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.
Choose Butterfish if you want:
- Free and MIT licensed
- No copy and paste between tools
- Keeps your existing shell setup
Watch out: needs your own openai-compatible api key.
Visual Studio Code vs Butterfish FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Butterfish?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Butterfish: Open-source shell wrapper that adds AI prompts to bash and zsh. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Butterfish cheaper?
Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Butterfish starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Visual Studio Code and Butterfish have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Butterfish: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Butterfish?
Butterfish is made by Peter Bakkum.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Butterfish?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Butterfish if you value free and mit licensed and no copy and paste between tools.