kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs exe.dev
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while exe.dev is free trial.
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
- SSH VMs with root access
- Persistent replicated storage
- LLM gateway for API keys
- Built-in auth and secrets
- Fast VM forking
- Multi-region deployment
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | exe.dev |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Persistent VMs for AI agents, with built-in LLM gateway and auth |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free trial |
| Starting price | Free | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | No, 7-day trial |
| Made by | Microsoft | exe |
| 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 exe.dev is free trial.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Personal
$15/mo
- 2 vCPUs and 4 GiB memory
- Up to 50 VMs
- 100 GiB filesystem
- 7-day free trial
Work
$75/mo
- Intro price for first 3 months
- 1,000 VMs per pool
- Unlimited pools in any region
Enterprise
Contact sales
- VPC support
- Dedicated support
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
exe.dev
- Real servers instead of short-lived sandboxes
- Keys stay out of the agent's VM
- Many VMs share one resource pool
- Requires comfort with SSH and servers
- Work plan costs more after intro months
- No permanent free tier
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 exe.dev if you want:
- Real servers instead of short-lived sandboxes
- Keys stay out of the agent's VM
- Many VMs share one resource pool
Watch out: requires comfort with ssh and servers.
Visual Studio Code vs exe.dev FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and exe.dev?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. exe.dev: Persistent VMs for AI agents, with built-in LLM gateway and auth. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or exe.dev cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while exe.dev is free trial.
Do Visual Studio Code and exe.dev have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. exe.dev: No, 7-day trial.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes exe.dev?
exe.dev is made by exe, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or exe.dev?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose exe.dev if you value real servers instead of short-lived sandboxes and keys stay out of the agent's vm.