kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Goose
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Goose 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
- Desktop app and CLI
- MCP extensions
- Shareable recipes
- Any LLM provider
- Permission controls
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Open-source local AI agent for code and other tasks |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Microsoft | Agentic AI Foundation (originally Block) |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Goose starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 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
Goose
- Free under Apache 2.0
- Runs fully local with Ollama
- Not limited to coding
- You pay for your own models
- Less guided than commercial agents
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 Goose if you want:
- Free under Apache 2.0
- Runs fully local with Ollama
- Not limited to coding
Watch out: you pay for your own models.
Visual Studio Code vs Goose FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Goose?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Goose: Open-source local AI agent for code and other tasks. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Goose cheaper?
Visual Studio Code starts at Free and Goose starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Visual Studio Code and Goose have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Goose: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Goose?
Goose is made by Agentic AI Foundation (originally Block), based in United States.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Goose?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Goose if you value free under apache 2.0 and runs fully local with ollama.