Technology · head to head
Vim vs Asana
Vim
Technology
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Vim configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings; Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- They diverge on capability: Vim covers Modal editing, Asana covers Multiple project views.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Vim and Asana actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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 Vim
- Modal editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin support
- Macro recording
- Split windows
- Syntax highlighting
- Search and replace
- Command history
Only in Asana
- Multiple project views
- Task dependencies
- Milestones
- Portfolios
- Goals & OKRs
- Workflow automation
- Resource management
- Reporting dashboards
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Vim
- Code editingnot Asana
- Configuration filesnot Asana
- System administrationnot Asana
- Remote editingnot Asana
- Terminal-based developmentnot Asana
Asana
- Project planning & trackingnot Vim
- Campaign managementnot Vim
- Product launchesnot Vim
- Event planningnot Vim
- Agile & Scrum managementnot Vim
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Vim
- Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
- Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
- Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
- Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity
Asana
- The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
- Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
- Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
- Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
- Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates
Pricing, plan by plan
Vim
Free- FreeFree
- Powerful text editing
- Extensive customization
- Plugin ecosystem
Asana
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Vim if
- You need modal editing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows.
- You also want extensive customization.
Choose Asana if
- You need multiple project views.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want task dependencies.
Questions people ask
- Is Vim or Asana better?
- Neither clearly leads. Vim starts at Free and Asana at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Vim or Asana?
- Vim starts at Free and Asana at Free.
- Does Vim or Asana run on more platforms?
- Vim runs on Linux, Unix, macOS, Windows. Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Vim for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Vim best used for?
- Vim is most often used for code editing, configuration files, system administration, remote editing. Of those, code editing and configuration files are not what Asana is typically brought in for.
- What can Vim do that Asana cannot?
- Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording. Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Vim: Is Vim free and open source?
Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.
SourceAsana: Does Asana have a free tier?
Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.
SourceVim: What platforms does Vim support?
Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.
SourceAsana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?
Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.
SourceVim: Who maintains Vim now?
Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.
SourceAsana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?
Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.
Source