Softwr

Development Tools · head to head

ESLint vs Zed

ESLint logo

ESLint

Development Tools

Find and fix problems in JavaScript code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zed logo

Zed

Software Development

Code at the speed of thought

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ESLint slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome; Zed newer product with smaller ecosystem than established editors

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ESLint and Zed actually diverge.

Attributes where ESLint and Zed differ
AttributeESLintZed
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsBrowser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environmentmacOS, Linux, Windows
CategoryDevelopment ToolsSoftware Development
Founded20192023

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ESLint

Nothing recorded that Zed does not also cover.

Only in Zed

  • Real-time collaboration
  • AI code completion
  • Lightning-fast performance
  • Rust-based architecture
  • Multi-language support
  • Integrated terminal
  • Git integration
  • Vim keybindings

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ESLint

  • Statically analysing JavaScript and JSX to find problems before runtimenot Zed
  • Automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewritesnot Zed
  • Enforcing a consistent code style across a teamnot Zed
  • Running as a CI step to block non-conforming codenot Zed
  • Writing custom rules for project-specific conventionsnot Zed

Zed

  • Collaborative codingnot ESLint
  • High-performance editingnot ESLint
  • Real-time pair programmingnot ESLint
  • Systems programmingnot ESLint
  • Web developmentnot ESLint

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ESLint

  • Slow performance on large codebases compared to newer tools like Oxlint and Biome
  • Complexity in configuration from scratch, particularly for TypeScript support
  • Limited built-in TypeScript support, requiring separate parsers and coordination with new TypeScript features

Zed

  • Newer product with smaller ecosystem than established editors
  • Limited extensions and plugin marketplace compared to VSCode or Sublime Text

Pricing, plan by plan

ESLint

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ESLint review.

Zed

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Single-player editing
    • Local AI assistance
    • Fast performance
  • Plus$10/month
    • Multiplayer collaboration
    • Cloud AI assistance
    • Advanced features

Which should you pick?

Choose ESLint if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment.
ESLint review

Choose Zed if

  • You need real-time collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want ai code completion.
Zed review

Questions people ask

Is ESLint or Zed better?
Neither clearly leads. ESLint starts at Free and Zed at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ESLint or Zed?
ESLint starts at Free and Zed at Free.
Does ESLint or Zed run on more platforms?
ESLint runs on Browser-based JavaScript, Node.js, Any JavaScript environment. Zed runs on macOS, Linux, Windows.
Can I use ESLint for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ESLint best used for?
ESLint is most often used for statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime, automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites, enforcing a consistent code style across a team, running as a ci step to block non-conforming code. Of those, statically analysing javascript and jsx to find problems before runtime and automatically fixing issues with syntax-aware rewrites are not what Zed is typically brought in for.
What can ESLint do that Zed cannot?
Zed covers Real-time collaboration, AI code completion, Lightning-fast performance, Rust-based architecture.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ESLint: Does ESLint automatically fix code issues?

Many problems ESLint finds can be automatically fixed via the --fix flag. ESLint fixes are syntax-aware so you won't experience errors introduced by traditional find-and-replace algorithms.

Source
Zed: What platforms does Zed support?

Zed is available for macOS, Linux, and Windows, providing cross-platform support for developers.

Source
ESLint: How much does ESLint cost?

ESLint is completely free and open-source software maintained by the OpenJS Foundation. The project accepts voluntary donations from sponsors.

Source
Zed: Is Zed free to use?

Yes. Zed is open-source software available free to download and use. The editor and GPUI framework are available under open-source licenses (GPL for editor, Apache/MIT for GPUI).

Source
ESLint: Can I write custom ESLint rules?

Yes. You can develop custom rules that work alongside built-in functionality through ESLint's plugin system, allowing complete customization for your project needs.

Source
Zed: What makes Zed fast compared to other editors?

Zed is written in Rust and uses GPU-accelerated rendering to achieve startup times under 500ms and keystroke latency below 2ms.

Source
Zed: Does Zed support real-time collaboration?

Yes. Zed provides real-time collaborative editing and screen sharing capabilities, enabling multiple developers to work on the same code simultaneously.

Source
Zed: What AI models does Zed support?

Zed supports multiple AI models and agents for agentic editing, enabling human-AI collaboration during development.

Source
Zed: When was Zed 1.0 released?

Zed 1.0 was officially released on April 29, 2026, marking the stable production release.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on ESLint

More on Zed

Keep looking

Other head to heads