kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs OpenHands
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while OpenHands is freemium.
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
- Sandboxed agent runtime
- Web GUI and CLI
- Agent SDK
- Slack and Jira triggers
- Self-hosting
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | OpenHands |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Open platform for running AI coding agents locally or in the cloud |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $500/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | All Hands AI |
| 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 OpenHands is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Agent Canvas
Free
- Open source, runs locally
- Bring your own LLM
- Community support
Teams
$500/mo
- Up to 10 users (+$50/seat)
- Self-hosted with RBAC
- 5,000 sessions/month
- 30-day trial
Enterprise
Custom
- Unlimited organizations
- SLA-based support
- Customer success manager
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
OpenHands
- MIT-licensed core
- Runs fully local if needed
- Models at cost with no markup
- Setup takes more effort than SaaS agents
- Daily cap on the free cloud plan
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 OpenHands if you want:
- MIT-licensed core
- Runs fully local if needed
- Models at cost with no markup
Watch out: setup takes more effort than saas agents.
Visual Studio Code vs OpenHands FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and OpenHands?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. OpenHands: Open platform for running AI coding agents locally or in the cloud. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or OpenHands cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while OpenHands is freemium.
Do Visual Studio Code and OpenHands have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. OpenHands: Yes.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes OpenHands?
OpenHands is made by All Hands AI, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or OpenHands?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose OpenHands if you value mit-licensed core and runs fully local if needed.