What Is Zed?
Zed is a code editor written in Rust, built from the ground up for performance. Created by the team behind Atom (the GitHub-acquired editor that became the basis for VS Code), Zed is designed to be the fastest code editor available — exploiting multi-core CPUs and the GPU for rendering to achieve latencyLatencyThe delay between sending a request to an LLM and receiving the first token of the response, often measured as Time to First Token (TTFT).Learn more → that Electron-based editors like VS Code and its forks can't match. Zed launched publicly in early 2024 and added native AI features, branded as Zed AI.
The foundational bet behind Zed is that editor performance matters to experienced developers who notice input latency, slow file indexing, and sluggish scrolling in large codebases. Cursor and Windsurf are Electron-based (like VS Code) and carry those performance tradeoffs. Zed's native rendering and non-Electron architecture deliver a materially snappier experience on large files and projects.
Zed AI Features
Zed AI integrates the assistant panel for conversation-based AI assistance, inline editing (select code and ask AI to modify it), and recently added agentic capabilities for multi-file editing. The AI features use Claude by default through Anthropic's API, with support for OpenAI, local models via Ollama, and other providers. Zed handles model billing through its own subscription rather than requiring users to manage their own API keys for the default configuration.
The inline editing experience in Zed is notably smooth — you select code, press a keyboard shortcut, describe what you want, and the change appears with a diff view to accept or reject. The latency of this interaction is faster than Cursor or Windsurf in practice because Zed's rendering pipeline is faster, even though the AI request itself takes the same time.
Built-in Collaboration
Zed has native multiplayer collaboration — real-time co-editing similar to Google Docs, built into the editor without a plugin. This is technically rare in the developer tools space and is a genuine differentiator for teams that pair-program or want to collaborate synchronously without screen sharing. Combined with AI features, Zed enables a workflow where multiple developers can work with AI assistance in the same file simultaneously.
The collaboration feature is opt-in and requires creating a Zed account. Remote server editing, where Zed runs locally but edits files on a remote server via SSH, was added in 2024 and works smoothly for developers who run code on cloud machines.
Ecosystem Gaps
Zed's most significant limitation is its extension ecosystem. VS Code has tens of thousands of extensions; Zed has hundreds. Language server support is broadly good for popular languages, but niche languages, specialized linters, and custom tooling often don't have Zed extensions yet. Developers with complex VS Code setups — specific themes, workflow extensions, language tools — may find Zed missing things they rely on.
Zed is also macOS and Linux only — no Windows support as of mid-2025, though Windows support is actively in development. This eliminates it from consideration for Windows developers immediately.
Verdict
Zed AI is the most interesting alternative to Cursor and Windsurf for developers who prioritize editor performance, use macOS or Linux, and want AI built natively rather than as a Electron add-on. The speed difference is real and noticeable in large codebases. Its AI features are capable and improving rapidly.
The extension ecosystem gap is the main reason to stay on Cursor or Windsurf for most developers today. If your development workflow fits within Zed's current extension offering, it's worth trying seriously — it may become your primary editor. If you depend on specific VS Code extensions, check compatibility first before committing to a switch.