kitio.aiZed vs Chainlit
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Chainlit is completely free, while Zed is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Agent panel
- Edit predictions
- External agents via ACP
- Real-time collaboration
- Bring your own key
- Chat UI for Python logic
- Agent step visualization
- OAuth authentication
- Slack, Discord and Teams bots
- LangGraph and LlamaIndex support
| Feature | Zed | Chainlit |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast Rust code editor with built-in AI agents and edit predictions | Open-source Python framework for building conversational AI apps |
| Category | Coding | Coding |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Zed Industries | Chainlit |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Chainlit is completely free, while Zed is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Personal
Free
- Free forever
- Use your own API keys or external agents
Pro
$10/mo
- Unlimited edit predictions
- $5 of tokens included
- Usage billing beyond $5
- 14-day free trial
Business
$30/mo
- Per seat
- Org-wide AI model policies
- Data governance controls
- Role-based access controls
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
Zed
- Very fast and light on memory
- Works with your own keys or local models
- Open-source editor core
- Smaller extension ecosystem than VS Code
- Hosted model usage is billed on top
Chainlit
- Free and open source
- Working chat app in a few lines
- Many deployment targets
- Python only
- Less flexible than a custom frontend
- Advanced UI changes need React work
Which one should you choose?
Choose Zed if you want:
- Very fast and light on memory
- Works with your own keys or local models
- Open-source editor core
Watch out: smaller extension ecosystem than vs code.
Choose Chainlit if you want:
- Free and open source
- Working chat app in a few lines
- Many deployment targets
Watch out: python only.
Zed vs Chainlit FAQ
What is the difference between Zed and Chainlit?
Zed: Fast Rust code editor with built-in AI agents and edit predictions. Chainlit: Open-source Python framework for building conversational AI apps. Both are coding tools.
Is Zed or Chainlit cheaper?
Chainlit is completely free, while Zed is freemium.
Do Zed and Chainlit have free plans?
Zed: Yes. Chainlit: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Zed?
Zed is made by Zed Industries, based in United States.
Who makes Chainlit?
Chainlit is made by Chainlit.
Which should I choose, Zed or Chainlit?
Choose Zed if you value very fast and light on memory and works with your own keys or local models. Choose Chainlit if you value free and open source and working chat app in a few lines.