WebStorm Overview
WebStorm, developed by JetBrains, is a robust standalone IDE designed for seamless coding across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports a wide range of large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, and Mistral Enterprise, providing extensive capabilities for AI-driven development. With a substantial context window of 1 million tokens, WebStorm offers impressive local inference capabilities and supports agentic editing across multiple files. Full terminal access and predictive edits enhance its usability for developers. Despite its lack of a free tier, the pricing ranges from $8 to $15 per month, making it a competitive option for professional developers. The tool complies with SOC2 Type II certifications, ensuring enterprise-level security and privacy measures.
Pros
- ✓ Supports multiple platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- ✓ Wide range of supported LLMs.
- ✓ Large context window of 1M tokens.
- ✓ Full terminal access with predictive edits.
- ✓ Enterprise-level security with SOC2 Type II certification.
Cons
- ✕ No free tier available.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
Zed Overview
Zed is a versatile standalone IDE compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows, catering to developers seeking a flexible and efficient coding environment. It supports a variety of language models, including Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, and Zeta, an open-source model, along with local Ollama inference. Zed offers a context window of 200k tokens, providing ample room for detailed analysis and coding tasks. With features like agentic editing across multiple files, full terminal access, and predictive edits, Zed is designed to enhance productivity and streamline workflows. Importantly, it offers a free tier, making it accessible for developers with varying budgets. Zed also adheres to SOC2 Type II standards, ensuring reliable security and privacy.
Pros
- ✓ Compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows.
- ✓ Offers a free tier for cost-effective use.
- ✓ Supports multiple LLMs, including open-source options.
- ✓ Full terminal access with predictive edits.
- ✓ High security with SOC2 Type II certification.
Cons
- ✕ Smaller context window of 200k tokens compared to competitors.
- ✕ Requires setup for migration.
Comparison Table
| Feature | WebStorm | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture Type | standalone | standalone |
| Supported Os | Windows, macOS, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| Developer | JetBrains | Zed |
| Supported Llms | GPT-5, Gemini 2.0, Llama 4, Mistral Enterprise | Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, Ollama (local), Zeta (open-source) |
| Context Window | 1M 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 | $8 – $15/mo | Free/Pro |
| Config File | .aicofig | .zedrc |
| Migration | Requires setup | Requires setup |
Conclusion
Both WebStorm and Zed offer compelling features for developers, with WebStorm prioritizing extensive LLM support and a large context window, while Zed provides flexibility with a free tier and diverse model options. The choice between these tools will largely depend on budget considerations and specific development needs.