Reviews for VSCodium
Login to ReviewOlivia Harris
Mar 29, 2026Frustrating to get running right
The open source idea is great, but VSCodium has been a headache to set up. The main extensions marketplace is blocked, so you have to add it manually or scour for .vsix files, which is a huge hassle and breaks the workflow. The promise of a 'clean' VS Code is nice, but the setup and extension issues make it a frustrating alternative to the original.
Michael White
Mar 29, 2026A great, privacy-respecting VS Code alternative
As a developer, I need a stable, powerful code editor that respects my privacy. VSCodium has been the perfect open-source solution. It runs the latest VS Code features without connecting to Microsoft's telemetry or tracking servers. I can use all my favorite extensions and themes without compromise. The performance is just as good as VS Code, and everything works right out of the box without any telemetry or data collection.
Liam Lee
Mar 29, 2026Great editor with a few annoying quirks
As a developer who prioritizes privacy, I love that VSCodium offers the full VS Code experience without any telemetry. The performance and extensions are excellent, and it feels just as capable. However, setting up some extensions can be a hassle compared to the official build, and I occasionally miss the seamless Microsoft account sync for settings.
Dakota White
Mar 28, 2026Great Code Editor, But With Some Hiccups
VSCodium is a solid choice for developers who value privacy, offering the familiar VS Code experience without any telemetry. However, I've run into occasional issues with extensions not being fully compatible or updated as quickly as the official version. Overall, it's a good alternative, though the slight friction in extension management can be frustrating at times.
Avery Smith
Mar 24, 2026A fantastic open-source code editor with great performance and privacy
As a developer who is mindful of privacy, I was thrilled to find VSCodium. It has all the powerful features and extensions I loved from VS Code - the excellent IntelliSense, integrated terminal, and smooth Git integration - but without any of the analytics or telemetry. The performance is snappy, and I can work confidently, knowing my coding habits aren't being tracked. It's my daily driver for Python and web development, and it hasn't let me down.
Riley Moore
Mar 22, 2026Promising but Frustrating
I really wanted to love VSCodium for its no-tracking promise and open-source nature, which is why the persistent issues are such a letdown. The core editing experience is fantastic and feels identical to VS Code, but the extension marketplace is a major pain. Many extensions fail to install or don't appear in the marketplace at all, requiring manual installation, which defeats the purpose of a streamlined setup. It's a decent product hampered by the lack of official marketplace access, making it feel like a second-class citizen.
Skyler Hall
Mar 21, 2026A Clean and Ethical VS Code Experience
As a developer concerned with privacy, VSCodium has been a perfect solution. It offers all the powerful features of VS Code—like the excellent debugger and vast extension library—but without any telemetry or proprietary branding. The setup was straightforward, and it feels just as fast and reliable as the original. It's refreshing to use such a capable editor that fully respects user freedom.
Anna King
Mar 10, 2026The Privacy-Focused VS Code Alternative I've Been Looking For
As a developer who values both functionality and data privacy, VSCodium hits the perfect balance. It has all the powerful features I loved in VS Code—extensive extension support, excellent debugging tools, and deep customization—but without Microsoft's telemetry tracking. The installation was straightforward, and it runs just as smoothly as the original, making it my new daily driver for coding projects.
Sarah Hall
Mar 06, 2026I Wanted to Love This, But It's Just Not There Yet
I really wanted to like VSCodium for its privacy focus, but the experience has been consistently frustrating. While the core editing experience is solid, the extension support is a constant headache. Many popular VS Code extensions are simply unavailable or require complicated, unreliable workarounds, and the auto-update feature has broken my setup twice in the last year. It's great to see a commitment to open source, but the convenience and seamless experience of the official VS Code, with its integrated marketplace, is sorely missed.
Review Summary
Based on 31 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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