Claude Code
Coding & Dev Tools
An agent that lives in your project folder, reading, writing and running code for you.
Zed
A fast, free code editor that plugs into Claude Code and other agents out of the box.
Open sourceWorks with Claude Code
Visit website What is it?
Zed is a code editor built from scratch for speed. It opens instantly, handles huge files without stuttering, and reached its 1.0 release in 2026 on Mac, Windows and Linux.
What makes it relevant here is agent support. Zed lets you run Claude Code and other coding agents inside the editor, so you get Claude Code's capabilities with a visual window onto what it is changing. You can bring your own AI subscriptions rather than paying Zed for them.
It is a newer editor with a smaller extension library than VS Code or Cursor, so some niche languages and tools are not as well supported yet.
Who it's for
Developers who want a fast editor and already pay for Claude or another AI provider.
Best for
- Running Claude Code inside an editor
- Speed on large projects
- Bringing your own AI subscription
- Pairing with teammates in real time
Why it made the list
The best free editor for running Claude Code with a proper visual interface, with no vendor lock-in.
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