Development Tools · head to head
Fig vs Helix
Fig
Development Tools
IDE-style autocomplete for your existing terminal
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Helix
Development Tools
Post-modern modal text editor for the terminal, written in Rust
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Fig shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete; Helix no official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Fig and Helix actually diverge.
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 Fig
Nothing recorded that Helix does not also cover.
Only in Helix
- Multiple Selections
- Tree-sitter Syntax Trees
- Built-in LSP Support
- Fuzzy File Finder
- Project-wide Search
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Fig
No use cases recorded yet. See the Fig review.
Helix
- Editing code over SSH or in tmux sessionsnot Fig
- Working with syntax-aware selection and navigationnot Fig
- Getting IDE-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setupnot Fig
- Lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptopsnot Fig
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Fig
- Shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete
- The standalone desktop app is no longer available or supported
- The completion specs remain open source on GitHub, but the product that consumed them is gone
Helix
- No official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.
- Plugin ecosystem is far smaller than Vim's or Neovim's, limiting customization.
- Keybindings differ from both Vim and Kakoune, adding a learning curve for users of either.
- Configuration is more limited than Neovim's Lua-based extensibility.
Pricing, plan by plan
Fig
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fig review.
Helix
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor, no paid tiers
Which should you pick?
Choose Helix if
- You need multiple selections.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on linux, mac, windows.
- You also want tree-sitter syntax trees.
Questions people ask
- Is Fig or Helix better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fig starts at Free and Helix at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Fig or Helix?
- Fig starts at Free and Helix at Free.
- Does Fig or Helix run on more platforms?
- Fig runs on Web. Helix runs on linux, mac, windows.
- Can I use Fig for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Fig do that Helix cannot?
- Helix covers Multiple Selections, Tree-sitter Syntax Trees, Built-in LSP Support, Fuzzy File Finder.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Helix: Is Helix free to use?
Yes, Helix is free and open source, licensed under the Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0), with no paid tiers or subscriptions.
SourceHelix: How do I install Helix?
Install via your operating system's package manager, or download pre-built binaries from GitHub Releases; the nightly version requires building from source.
SourceHelix: Does Helix support plugins?
Not yet. Helix currently has no plugin system, though the project intends to add one eventually; it instead ships with built-in LSP and tree-sitter support out of the box.
SourceHelix: How do I configure Helix?
Helix ships with sane modern defaults requiring much less config-file fiddling than Vim, though settings can still be customized in a config.toml file.
SourceHelix: Where can I get help or support?
Support is community-driven via GitHub for code and issues, the Matrix chat for discussion, and OpenCollective for funding ongoing development.
SourceRelated pages
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