Softwr

Web Development · head to head

FastAPI vs Visual Studio Code

FastAPI logo

FastAPI

Web Development

A modern, fast, high-performance web framework for building APIs with Python

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Developer Tools

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FastAPI no built-in ORM, requires separate database libraries; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FastAPI and Visual Studio Code actually diverge.

Attributes where FastAPI and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributeFastAPIVisual Studio Code
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
CategoryWeb DevelopmentDeveloper Tools
FoundedUnknown2015

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 FastAPI

Nothing recorded that Visual Studio Code does not also cover.

Only in Visual Studio Code

  • IntelliSense
  • Debugging
  • Built-in Git
  • Extensions
  • Integrated terminal
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Code refactoring
  • Snippets

What people use each for

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

FastAPI

  • Building production-ready REST APIs with automatic validationnot Visual Studio Code
  • Serving machine learning model predictions as REST servicesnot Visual Studio Code
  • Building crisis management and orchestration platformsnot Visual Studio Code
  • Enabling real-time APIs with WebSocket connectionsnot Visual Studio Code
  • Rapid API development reducing boilerplate code significantlynot Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code

  • Code editingnot FastAPI
  • Web developmentnot FastAPI
  • Debuggingnot FastAPI
  • Version controlnot FastAPI
  • Remote developmentnot FastAPI

Where each one falls short

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

FastAPI

  • No built-in ORM, requires separate database libraries
  • Python-only, cannot build with other languages
  • Async/await learning curve for developers new to async programming
  • Production deployment requires separate ASGI server configuration

Visual Studio Code

  • Requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • Performance can degrade with very large codebases (100,000+ files)
  • Git integration is basic; requires extensions for advanced version control workflows

Pricing, plan by plan

FastAPI

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FastAPI review.

Visual Studio Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio Code review.

Which should you pick?

Choose FastAPI if

  • You want to start without paying.
FastAPI review

Choose Visual Studio Code if

  • You need intellisense.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
  • You also want debugging.
Visual Studio Code review

Questions people ask

Is FastAPI or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. FastAPI starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FastAPI or Visual Studio Code?
FastAPI starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does FastAPI or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
FastAPI runs on Web. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
Can I use FastAPI for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is FastAPI best used for?
FastAPI is most often used for building production-ready rest apis with automatic validation, serving machine learning model predictions as rest services, building crisis management and orchestration platforms, enabling real-time apis with websocket connections. Of those, building production-ready rest apis with automatic validation and serving machine learning model predictions as rest services are not what Visual Studio Code is typically brought in for.
What can FastAPI do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FastAPI: Is FastAPI free to use?

Yes. FastAPI is free and open-source under the MIT License. It costs nothing to download, use, or deploy in production. An optional paid service, FastAPI Cloud, offers one-command deployment for additional convenience, but the core framework is free.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes. Visual Studio Code is completely free to use under the MIT license. There are no subscription fees or paid tiers.

Source
FastAPI: Can I use FastAPI for commercial applications?

Yes. FastAPI's MIT License permits unrestricted commercial use, modification, and distribution. You can build and sell products powered by FastAPI without licensing fees or restrictions.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Can I use VS Code for remote development?

Yes. The Remote Development extension pack allows development on remote machines via SSH, in containers, or in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) while using the full VS Code feature set.

Source
FastAPI: Does FastAPI include a database or ORM?

No. FastAPI does not include a built-in database or ORM. You must add separate libraries like SQLAlchemy for database access. This gives flexibility to choose the database solution best suited to your project.

Source
Visual Studio Code: How many extensions are available?

The VS Code Marketplace contains thousands of extensions from Microsoft and the community for language support, debuggers, themes, formatters, and productivity tools.

Source
FastAPI: What Python versions does FastAPI support?

FastAPI supports Python 3.7 and later. Older Python versions are not compatible, so you must run at least Python 3.7 to use FastAPI.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Does VS Code support debugging?

Yes. VS Code includes built-in debugging for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, and supports debugging for Python, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Go, PHP, and other languages via extensions.

Source
Visual Studio Code: What operating systems does VS Code support?

VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with identical features and keybindings across all platforms.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on FastAPI

More on Visual Studio Code

Keep looking

Other head to heads