kitio.aiVisual Studio Code vs Rivet
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Rivet 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
- Durable actors
- Agent memory across restarts
- Replayable workflows
- agentOS sandboxes
- Self-hosting and BYOC
| Feature | Visual Studio Code | Rivet |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding | Open-source orchestrator for running AI agents as durable actors |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $10/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Microsoft | Rivet |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Rivet is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Free
Free
- 1 control plane node
- Up to 1 actor node
- Community support
Hobby
$10/mo
- Up to 3 actor nodes
- Email support
Team
$120/mo
- 3 availability zones
- Up to 10 actor nodes
- Slack and email support
Enterprise
$900/mo
- Up to 50 actor nodes
- SSO and audit logs
- 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
Rivet
- Open source and self-hostable
- Runs inside your own network
- Free tier for prototypes
- Aimed at developers, not end users
- Extra actor nodes cost more
- Cloud runs only on Google Cloud
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 Rivet if you want:
- Open source and self-hostable
- Runs inside your own network
- Free tier for prototypes
Watch out: aimed at developers, not end users.
Visual Studio Code vs Rivet FAQ
What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Rivet?
Visual Studio Code: Free open-source editor with built-in AI agents for coding. Rivet: Open-source orchestrator for running AI agents as durable actors. Both are coding tools.
Is Visual Studio Code or Rivet cheaper?
Visual Studio Code is completely free, while Rivet is freemium.
Do Visual Studio Code and Rivet have free plans?
Visual Studio Code: Yes, fully free. Rivet: Yes.
Who makes Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Rivet?
Rivet is made by Rivet.
Which should I choose, Visual Studio Code or Rivet?
Choose Visual Studio Code if you value free and open source and huge extension ecosystem. Choose Rivet if you value open source and self-hostable and runs inside your own network.