Head-to-head · Text Editors
Visual Studio Code vs UltraEdit
Visual Studio Code leads on 1 check, UltraEdit on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreVisual Studio Code · 9.4/10
- Free planonly Visual Studio Code
- Free trialonly UltraEdit
- Most featuresUltraEdit · 5 of 5
Visual Studio Code scores higher on our rubric for text editors: 9.4 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #11.
Visual Studio Code offers free plan; UltraEdit doesn't.
Visual Studio Code is the better fit for developers wanting the broadest free editor. UltraEdit is the better fit for professionals handling very large files.
- Visual Studio Code fits best
Developers wanting the broadest free editor
- UltraEdit fits best
Professionals handling very large files
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Side by side
| Feature | Visual Studio Code 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | UltraEdit 8.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.4 |
| Ranking | #1 in Text Editors | #11 in Text Editors |
| Best for | Developers wanting the broadest free editor | Professionals handling very large files |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | $94.96/user/yr |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs | Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Visual Studio Code 4/5 · UltraEdit 5/5 | ||
| Multi-cursor editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Macro recording | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Column editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large-file handling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Extension support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | web, windows, macos, linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | Visual Studio Code is a free, open-source source-code editor for developers working with individual files or complete projects. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web, making it suitable for people who move between desktop and… Read the review → |
UltraEdit is a commercial text, code, and hex editor for developers, data professionals, IT teams, system administrators, and power users. Its focus is broad but technically deep: large-file editing, multi-caret and column-based editing,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Visual Studio Code — where it wins
- Free, open-source access on desktop and in the browser
- Multi-cursor editing, IntelliSense, navigation, debugging, and testing
- Git, terminal, extensions, SSH, Dev Containers, and Codespaces support
Where it doesn't
- Focused on source-code work rather than general-purpose text editing
- Optional AI features and agent workflows are not the core editor experience
- Large files require confirmation and optimized handling
UltraEdit — where it wins
- Handles large files with disk-based file processing
- Combines macros, JavaScript scripting, and advanced search
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux with FTP and SSH connectivity
Where it doesn't
- No free plan is available
- Starting price is $94.96 per year with annual billing
- Advanced features may exceed the needs of basic text editing
- Visual Studio Code9.4/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source editor with broad development features across desktop and web.
Visit siteFull verdict → - UltraEdit8.4/10 · 7-day trial
A deep, large-file editor for professionals who need automation and remote connectivity.
Visit UltraEditFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Visual Studio Code vs Neovim
- Visual Studio Code vs GNU Emacs
- Visual Studio Code vs Notepad++
- Visual Studio Code vs Kate
- Visual Studio Code vs Vim
- Visual Studio Code vs Zed
- Visual Studio Code vs BBEdit
All text editors comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update