Development Tools · head to head
Helix vs Helm
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: Helix no official GUI application yet, so it requires comfort with terminal workflows.; Helm licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Helix and Helm actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Development Tools).
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 Helix
- Multiple Selections
- Tree-sitter Syntax Trees
- Built-in LSP Support
- Fuzzy File Finder
- Project-wide Search
Only in Helm
Nothing recorded that Helix does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Helix
- Editing code over SSH or in tmux sessionsnot Helm
- Working with syntax-aware selection and navigationnot Helm
- Getting IDE-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setupnot Helm
- Lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptopsnot Helm
Helm
No use cases recorded yet. See the Helm review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Helm
- Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose
Pricing, plan by plan
Helix
Free- FreeFree
- Full editor, no paid tiers
Helm
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.
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 Helix or Helm better?
- Neither clearly leads. Helix starts at Free and Helm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Helix or Helm?
- Helix starts at Free and Helm at Free.
- Does Helix or Helm run on more platforms?
- Helix runs on linux, mac, windows. Helm runs on Web.
- Can I use Helix for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Helix best used for?
- Helix is most often used for editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions, working with syntax-aware selection and navigation, getting ide-like completion and diagnostics without plugin setup, lightweight, low-resource code editing on laptops. Of those, editing code over ssh or in tmux sessions and working with syntax-aware selection and navigation are not what Helm is typically brought in for.
- What can Helix do that Helm 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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