Does VS Code Have Open Source?
By ToolVS Research Team ยท Last checked April 1, 2026
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PARTIAL
The core of VS Code (Code - OSS) is open source under MIT, but the Microsoft-distributed VS Code binary includes proprietary components.
What We Found
We checked this in April 2026 and here's what we found โ The VS Code source code is available on GitHub under the MIT license as "Code - OSS." However, the official VS Code binary distributed by Microsoft includes proprietary telemetry, marketplace access, and branding. For a fully open-source build, use VSCodium.
Limitations
- โ ๏ธ Official binary has proprietary additions
- โ ๏ธ Microsoft marketplace only in official build
- โ ๏ธ Telemetry included in official version
- โ ๏ธ VSCodium is the fully OSS alternative
Need Open Source? These Tools Have It
Try VS Code Yourself
See if open source meets your needs. Most tools offer a free trial or free plan to get started.
Try VS CodeFree โMore About VS Code
Does VS Code have free plan?โ
YESDoes VS Code have extensions support?โ
YESDoes VS Code have dark mode?โ
YESDoes VS Code have real-time collaboration?โ
YESDoes VS Code have offline mode?โ
YESDoes VS Code have open source?โ
YES
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VS Code have open source on mobile?
VS Code has limited open source support, and on mobile the experience may be even more restricted. We recommend checking their mobile app directly for current availability.
Is open source available on VS Code's free plan?
VS Code has limited open source support, and availability may depend on your plan tier. Free plans typically have more restrictions. Review their pricing page for details.
What are the best alternatives to VS Code for open source?
For open source, consider Cursor. These tools offer this feature and may better suit your needs. Check our comparison pages for detailed side-by-side analysis.
About this check: We verify feature availability by reviewing official documentation, testing the product directly, and monitoring changelog updates. Information was last verified on April 1, 2026. Features and pricing may have changed since our last check.Our methodology โ