Reviews for VSCodium
Login to ReviewOlivia Chen
Apr 19, 2026Privacy-First, But Sometimes a Hassle
I appreciate VSCodium for stripping out Microsoft's telemetry, which was my main reason for switching. The core editing and debugging experience is identical to VS Code, which is fantastic. However, finding and installing extensions can be cumbersome as you can't directly use the official marketplace, and I've occasionally hit compatibility snags that required extra troubleshooting.
Avery Moore
Apr 16, 2026Great for privacy, but extensions can be a headache
I love that VSCodium strips out all the Microsoft telemetry and tracking from VS Code - it's a major win for privacy. The core editor works flawlessly with the same debugging and customization features I'm used to. However, finding and installing extensions can be frustrating since you can't use the official marketplace directly, and some extensions have compatibility issues. It's a fantastic free tool, but requires more tinkering than I'd prefer.
Oliver Hall
Apr 16, 2026A Privacy-Focused VS Code Alternative That Just Works
As a developer who values privacy but doesn't want to sacrifice functionality, VSCodium has been perfect. It delivers the exact same smooth editing experience as VS Code, with all the extensions and debugging I need, but without any of Microsoft's telemetry. The installation was straightforward, and it runs just as reliably as the original.
Lisa Miller
Apr 15, 2026Privacy came at a frustrating cost
While I appreciate the commitment to removing telemetry, transitioning to VSCodium was more hassle than it was worth. The extension compatibility felt off, with some popular VS Code extensions either unavailable or behaving unpredictably. For a tool that's supposed to be identical, I spent more time troubleshooting minor issues than actually coding, which defeats the purpose of a streamlined editor.
Michael Walker
Apr 15, 2026Great Editor, But Extension Setup Can Be Tricky
I love the core experience of VSCodium—it's fast, clean, and it's reassuring to use an editor without Microsoft's telemetry. However, installing extensions isn't as seamless as in VS Code; you often have to manually download VSIX files or add custom repositories, which can be frustrating for less technical users. It's a fantastic, privacy-respecting tool, but that convenience trade-off is noticeable.
James Jackson
Apr 14, 2026A Privacy-Focused Powerhouse That Just Works
As a developer who values both functionality and privacy, VSCodium has been a perfect fit. It's essentially the full VS Code experience—debugger, extensions, Git integration—but without any of Microsoft's telemetry running in the background. Installation was straightforward, and it performs just as reliably as the official build for all my web and Python projects.
Cameron Harris
Apr 13, 2026The Privacy-Conscious Powerhouse
As a developer who values both functionality and data privacy, VSCodium has been a perfect find. It delivers the exact same, excellent development experience as VS Code—with all the powerful extensions, debugging, and customization I rely on—but without the Microsoft telemetry. It feels great to use a tool that respects my privacy while not compromising on features. The installation was straightforward, and it runs just as smoothly as the original.
Phoenix Harris
Apr 13, 2026Great Concept, Frustrating Execution
As a developer who values privacy, I was initially excited about VSCodium as a telemetry-free alternative to VS Code. However, I've found the extension ecosystem to be a major pain point; many official extensions either don't work or require manual tinkering to install, unlike the seamless marketplace in VS Code. While the core editor is solid, the constant friction in extending its functionality with the tools I need ultimately makes it more of a hassle than it's worth for my daily workflow.
Finley Anderson
Apr 12, 2026Disappointing Experience with VSCodium
While I appreciate the open-source, telemetry-free mission of VSCodium, my experience has been frustrating. The core editor is fine, but the hassle of managing extensions is a deal-breaker. Many popular VS Code extensions are unavailable in the open-source marketplace, and manually installing .vsix files is cumbersome. It lacks the polished, seamless experience I was hoping for as a drop-in replacement.
Sophia Lopez
Apr 09, 2026A privacy promise that comes with frustrating compromises
While I appreciate the removal of telemetry and tracking, VSCodium feels like a second-class citizen compared to VS Code. Extension compatibility issues pop up frequently, and I've had weird glitches with the debugger that just don't happen in the official version. The setup for some languages and tools is needlessly complicated compared to the seamless experience in VS Code.
Review Summary
Based on 29 reviews
Rating Distribution
VSCodium
VSCodium is an open source alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio Code editor. It is based on the same codebase as …
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