createaiagent.net

Comparing Trae and Zed: A Detailed Analysis

Alex Hrymashevych Author by:
Alex Hrymashevych
Last update:
25 Jan 2026
Reading time:
~ 2 mins

Trae: A Comprehensive Overview

Trae, developed by ByteDance, is a standalone tool offering extensive support across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. It is designed to work seamlessly with leading large language models such as Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o, providing a robust context window of 200k tokens. While it does not support local inference, Trae excels in multi-file agentic editing and offers full terminal access, making it a versatile choice for developers seeking predictive editing capabilities. The tool adheres to a standard privacy policy and boasts SOC2 Type II certification for enterprise users. Additionally, Trae offers a free tier with a seamless migration process, making it accessible to a broad range of users.

Pros

  • Supports major operating systems.
  • Integrates with leading LLMs.
  • Offers full terminal access.
  • Includes predictive editing.

Cons

  • No local inference capability.
  • Limited to standard privacy policy.

Zed: A Powerful Editing Solution

Zed is a versatile standalone tool developed by Zed, compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows. It supports a range of large language models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), and Zeta (open-source), along with local inference capabilities. Zed offers a substantial context window of 200k tokens and features multi-file agentic editing and full terminal access. It aligns with a standard privacy policy and is SOC2 Type II certified, ensuring enterprise-level security. While Zed provides a free tier, setup is required for migration. This tool is ideal for users prioritizing local inference and diverse LLM support.

Pros

  • Supports local inference.
  • Wide range of LLMs including open-source.
  • Full terminal access with predictive editing.

Cons

  • Requires setup for migration.
  • Limited to standard privacy policy.

Comparison Table

Feature Trae Zed
Architecture Type standalone standalone
Supported Os Windows, macOS, Linux macOS, Linux, Windows
Developer ByteDance Zed
Supported Llms Claude 3.5 Sonnet, GPT-4o Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source)
Context Window 200k tokens 200k tokens
Agentic Editing Yes, multi-file Yes, multi-file
Terminal Access Full Full
Privacy Mode Standard Privacy Policy Standard Privacy Policy
Certifications SOC2 Type II (Enterprise) SOC2 Type II (Enterprise)
About Price Free/Pro Free/Pro
Config File .traerc .zedrc
Migration Seamless Requires setup

Conclusion

Both Trae and Zed offer robust features tailored to developers’ needs, with Zed standing out for local inference and diverse LLM support, while Trae offers a seamless user experience with its straightforward migration process. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements for local capabilities and ease of setup.