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Design · head to head

Lunacy vs Visual Studio Code

Lunacy logo

Lunacy

Design

Free design software that keeps your flow

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Developer Tools

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Lunacy desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • They diverge on capability: Lunacy covers Vector editing, Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Lunacy and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributeLunacyVisual Studio Code
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools
Founded20162015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Lunacy

  • Vector editing
  • Auto layouts
  • Components
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Built-in photos & icons
  • AI background remover
  • AI upscaler
  • Sketch file support

Only in Visual Studio Code

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

Both cover

  • Desktop deployment

What people use each for

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

Lunacy

  • UI/UX designnot Visual Studio Code
  • Web designnot Visual Studio Code
  • Mobile app designnot Visual Studio Code
  • Icon designnot Visual Studio Code
  • Marketing graphicsnot Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code

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

Where each one falls short

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

Lunacy

  • Desktop application only, not cloud-based like Figma, limiting accessibility across different computers
  • Animation capabilities are basic, lacking timeline-based animation editing or spring physics available in modern design tools
  • Paid collaboration features, unlike Figma's free cloud-based team collaboration

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

Lunacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Lunacy review.

Visual Studio Code

Free

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Lunacy if

  • You need vector editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want auto layouts.
Lunacy 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 Lunacy or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. Lunacy 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, Lunacy or Visual Studio Code?
Lunacy starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does Lunacy or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
Lunacy runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
Can I use Lunacy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Lunacy best used for?
Lunacy is most often used for ui/ux design, web design, mobile app design, icon design. Of those, ui/ux design and web design are not what Visual Studio Code is typically brought in for.
What can Lunacy do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
Lunacy covers Vector editing, Auto layouts, Components, Real-time collaboration. Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions. Both handle Desktop deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Lunacy: Is Lunacy free to use?

Yes. Lunacy is absolutely free for personal and commercial use. There is no subscription required or trial period limitation.

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
Lunacy: Can Lunacy open and work with Sketch files?

Yes. Lunacy has smooth integration with Sketch files, allowing designers to import and collaborate on Sketch projects without requiring a Sketch subscription.

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
Lunacy: Does Lunacy require internet connection to work?

No. Lunacy can work offline, allowing designers to work without an internet connection. It is a desktop application that runs locally on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

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
Lunacy: What are Lunacy's hardware requirements?

Lunacy is not demanding on hardware and runs smoothly even on moderate laptops. It has minimal system requirements compared to resource-intensive design tools.

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
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