Best VS Code extensions for developer productivity

Microsoft brought VS Code (short for Visual Studio Code) to the world in 2015, and since then it has exploded in popularity. Being a minimal text editor at its core, VS Code’s ease of use and flexibility make it the ideal choice for developers across many disciplines. 

Given its minimalist nature, VS Code thrives when functionality is added in the form of extensions, and these make it the powerhouse of productivity and collaboration it has become today.

Whether you’re new to VS Code or a seasoned pro, you want to squeeze the most power out of it. Here you will find a lengthy breakdown of the best VS Code extensions available for free on the Visual Studio Marketplace to improve your code, streamline your workflow, and connect with your team like never before.

What is VS Code?

VS Code is, essentially, a text editor that Microsoft has thrust into overdrive. Based on the original Electron text editor, VS Code was branded into a distinctly Microsoft product — albeit free and multi-platform — for the express purpose of enabling lightweight development. This matched the vision Microsoft was driving at the time: one of cross-platform friendliness and lighter frameworks.

VS Code extensions

The editing side of the tool is very powerful, including things like IntelliSense, built-in debugging, and Git integration. It also provides expansive customization options, like styling and keyboard shortcuts, allowing literally every element of the application to be styled and tweaked to the user’s desires. Arguably, the most powerful of these is the ability to download and install plugins — known as extensions — from the VS Code Marketplace.

Acquiring these extensions is quick and easy. Simply click the extensions icon in the left navigation bar of the app or by searching (at the top), scrolling through recommendations (at the bottom), or by visiting marketplace.visualstudio.com.

Extensions have become one of the strongest driving forces behind VS Code, enabling an impressive array of features and unexpected tools to become part of the editor.

What to consider when choosing your extensions

What makes a good extension?

Good extensions are easy to spot in the marketplace because they will typically have a high number (1M+) of downloads. Their reviews section will start off strong and continue in that direction, and once you try a good extension, you’ll realize you’ve been actively using it for ages as if it’s part of VS Code itself. (Pro tip: Go find the ```.vscode``` folder in your user profile so you can quickly restore your installed extensions if you ever need to reinstall VS Code!)

Security concerns, intellectual property, credential leaking

A quick browse of an extension’s reviews will often tell you if there are security concerns. Many are open source, which means you can check the code yourself if you have concerns, but a large number are not, so lean on the community if you have a particular concern.

Microsoft also publishes their security advisories for VS Code itself, so you can verify that the version you are on does not have any serious concerns.

Consider the permissions an extension asks for, check how often and recently it gets updated, and of course, if the extension’s marketplace page is simply not professional enough then it won’t have the right “smell” and you should steer clear.

The best VS Code extensions

Here, we present the 13 best actively maintained VS Code extensions broken down into productivity, AI, workflow and team efficiency, code quality and maintainability, and frontend and backend groups.

1. Developer productivity

AI extensions are great, but don’t overlook the simpler productivity tools like the ones below, as they can make your coding life all the better when using VS Code.

Peacock

• Installs: 3M

• What is it? Simple Chrome coloring for your editor, making each instance window stand out visually from each other. This makes it easy to identify the projects you have loaded in each one.

• What we like: Lets you assign colors to different VS Code workspaces. Ideal for distinguishing multiple projects or remote containers. Includes preset themes and allows favorites via command palette.

• What we don’t like: Limited to workspace-level color changes (title bar, status bar). Some users want per-file coloring or more visual cues. It requires a workspace (won’t color a single file window).

• What the community says: Generally loved by those who juggle many windows. User feedback notes it “solved” the confusion of multiple VS Code windows. They praise the docs and changelog. A few note that it’s a simple niche feature (by design).

Project Manager

• Installs: 6M

• What is it? VS Code lets you open folders to begin editing the files within, but it does not consider these as solutions or projects. This extension lets you view all of your project folders (whether loaded or not) from a simple list of favorites and load them at the click of a button. This extension will replace your (undoubtedly regular) use of File > Open Recent.

• What we like: Lets you save folders or workspaces as named projects and quickly switch between them. Auto-detects Git/SVN folders. Supports tagging projects for organization. Adds a status bar/project sidebar indicator.

• What we don’t like: Requires you to manage your own list; no automatic GitHub integration. The interface is somewhat basic. Cannot sync project lists across machines (no cloud).

• What the community says: Widely used to avoid constantly reopening folders. Users say it’s simple, yet effective (“Game-changer for freelancers with many clients”). A few wish for features like automatic shortcuts or better UI, but consensus is it “does exactly what it promises.”

2. AI

You can’t escape the rise of AI in daily life, especially in the developer’s life, so you may as well embrace it. These extensions are the best for using VS Code to improve your code, whether you want to talk about it or just use it for a spell check.

GitHub CoPilot

• Installs: 36M

• What is it? Basically what you imagine when you think of an AI chat bot in your code editor helping you code. Ask it to write code and execute commands and you can get a lot done in a short amount of time. This is beyond code completion and IntelliSense. Here is a tool that can build your apps for you, including managing scaffolding and Git commits.

• CoPilot actually installs two extensions: one to provide the inline code suggestions and one to provide the chat functionality.

• What we like: Provides inline AI code completions and suggestions tailored to your code, effectively acting as a “pair programmer.” Seamless integration into VS Code with a companion Copilot Chat extension.

• What we don’t like: Requires a (now largely free) subscription; may occasionally suggest incorrect or security-sensitive code and is limited to 50 chat requests a month. The AI can also be overly verbose at times.

• What the community says: Widely praised for accelerating development and improving code quality. Users note it “helps you write code faster and smarter.” Some mention it catches common patterns well, though a few warn of getting used to its suggestions.

Code Runner

• Installs: 33M

• What is it? Select a piece of code and it will run just that with the touch of a keyboard shortcut. Very handy.

• What we like: Runs code snippets or files in 40+ languages directly inside VS Code (Python, C++, Java, JavaScript, etc.). Quick Run button and output window make testing easy. Configurable compilers/interpreters. Very lightweight.

• What we don’t like: Output goes to a separate panel, which some find less integrated than a full debugger. No visual debugging or error highlighting — it just runs the code. Overlapping behavior with VS Code’s built-in “Code Runner” commands or the built-in terminal can be confusing.

• What the community says: Widely regarded as essential for quickly testing code. Many call it “indispensable for scripting languages.” Some users have reported rare bugs if other extensions intercept run commands, but generally it “just works” as advertised.

3. Workflow and team efficiency

These VS Code extensions are designed to streamline team workflows and improve code navigation. They help you work smarter, not harder.

GitHub Pull Requests

• Installs: 28M

• What is it? One GitHub integration missing from the out-of-the-box VS Code is pull requests. This extension adds a tidy little button to your source control panel that lets you create pull requests.

• What we like: Native integration for viewing, creating, and reviewing GitHub PRs/issues in VS Code. Shows PRs in a side pane, allows in-editor commenting, and even has issue creation from TODOs. Built-in sign-in flow connects to GitHub and GH Enterprise.

• What we don’t like: Only works with GitHub, so no GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps. Occasional delays in loading large PR lists. Some minor UI quirks (for example, not all GitHub features supported). Requires the GitHub Repositories extension for full remote repo support.

• What the community says: Praised for letting devs stay in VS Code for PR workflows. Many say it’s a huge time saver (“no more context-switching”). Some note that for very large repos it can be slow, and a few prefer command-line tools for bulk actions.

GitLens

• Installs: 41M

• What is it? Full-featured Git management tools like history viewing, lens (naming of code changes), blames, and graphs. A very solid and trusted extension, which is also now beginning to incorporate AI tools to aid in generating commit messages and explain changes.

• What we like: Rich Git integration: shows blame annotations, heatmaps, commit details on hover, inline code lens, history, etc. Provides visual commit graphs, repository explorer, and diffing tools. Optionally, you can pay to unlock the new GitLens Pro features (pull request home view, commit graph), which are very powerful.

• What we don’t like: Extremely feature-rich, so it can feel overwhelming. Consumes more memory than simpler Git extensions. Some users said it occasionally clashes with VS Code’s built-in Git or other Git views (but it’s rare). Many “should I disable it?” jokes exist when a beginner sees its complexity.

• What the community says: The consensus is that GitLens “supercharges” Git usage and is the Git extension to have. With 40M+ installs, it’s trusted by millions. Users love the in-line blame and command palette actions. The only criticisms are “too many features” or needing to pay for Pro for some advanced workflows.

Bookmarks

• Installs: 4.4M

• What is it? A simple extension that lets you place a bookmark on any line, in any file, to make finding those lines easier in the future.

• What we like: Simple, easy, and does exactly what it says it does.

• What we don’t like: Not particularly advanced and can break in certain situations, like the position of code moving between Git branches.

• What the community says: There’s a lot of love for this extension, with some claiming it should come built in. Some are a little frustrated, though happy that the developer actually responds in the comments and seems open to suggestions.

4. Code quality and maintainability

Many of the best VS Code extensions help to improve the readability of code, and these are no exception. They are absolute must-haves regardless of your development proclivities.

ESLint

• Installs: 42M

• What is it? This helps in catching the very human quality errors in JavaScript files. ESLint has been a staple of well-written code for many years now.

• What we like: Deep integration of ESLint in VS Code. Automatically validates JS/TS code as you write. Fixes can be applied on save and it supports all ESLint rules and plugins. Essential for web dev.

• What we don’t like: Requires a local or global ESLint install, which can confuse beginners. Error squiggles can overwhelm new users. Performance can lag on very large projects.

• What the community says: Nearly universally regarded as essential for JavaScript/TypeScript linting. Reviews and docs emphasize it “integrates ESLint JavaScript into VS Code.” Most users love it; the only gripe is the complexity of initial setup.

Prettier

• Installs: 56M

• What is it? This extension also formats your code, but this time with a plethora of languages under its belt.

• What we like: Opinionated code formatter that automatically enforces a consistent style. Supports most common languages (JS, TS, CSS, HTML, JSON, YAML, etc.). Integrates on save or via commands. Saves tons of formatting debates.

• What we don’t like: Its opinionated style can differ from team preferences (though, it’s configurable). Can conflict with other formatters if not set as default. Some extensions (like Beautify) are redundant if you are using Prettier.

• What the community says: Hugely popular — “Prettier or nothing” is a common sentiment. People say it “just works” and love that style issues vanish. Only complaints are rare merge diffs if Prettier versions differ, but generally, it’s a must-have.

5. Front end

Taking a broad view of frontend coding with VS Code, these extensions are best for those aiming to make beautiful frontend code.

NPM IntelliSense

• Installs: 9M

• What is it? A very popular and trusted frontender’s extension, this simply auto-completes NPM package names as you type them.

• What we like: Auto-completes NPM package names in import statements . As you type import ... from, it suggests installed modules. Saves a lot of typing and guesswork for module names.

• What we don’t like: Only shows packages already in node_modules (so not great for new projects). Doesn’t handle scoped packages very well. Occasional conflicts with other completion extensions.

• What the community says: Handy for JavaScript/TypeScript devs who frequently import many libraries. Many reviews call it “very useful” for speeding up imports. A few note it’s less needed with modern editor autocompletion improvements.

Pretty TypeScript Errors

• Installs: 1M

• What is it? Ever tried reading a TypeScript error? That’s why you need this extension. Throw in some syntax highlighting, and the prettier formatting adds meaning.

• What we like: Formats and highlights TypeScript compiler errors in a more readable way. Improves on VS Code’s default by reorganizing messages and pointing clearly to causes. Helps beginners make sense of complex TS errors.

• What we don’t like: Only affects error display, so it doesn’t fix code. Only works for TS (no JS support). Occasional version mismatches with new TS releases (though it is updated frequently).

• What the community says: Appreciated by TypeScript learners and devs who “hated squinting at error logs.” Many say it “makes errors way friendlier.” Some advanced users avoid it if they prefer raw compiler messages.

6. Back end

This final section focuses on the best VS Code extensions for those developing for the server side. VS Code is a Microsoft product, so we thought we’d highlight the .NET core and cloud-centric offerings that often get underrepresented in lists like this.

C# Dev Kit

• Installs: 9M

• What is it? Building on top of the original C# extension (installed along with this one), the Dev Kit provides everything a .NET developer requires, including debug support, syntax highlighting, code completion, and more. The closest you’ll get to the full features of classic Visual Studio in VS Code.

• What we like: Solution Explorer, NuGet management, and it improves project and test management right inside VS Code.

• What we don’t like: Still maturing. Some features (like the Solution Explorer) feel basic compared to full Visual Studio. Users report needing to manually install it in addition to C# (though now they auto-install together). It requires .NET 6+ for best experience.

• What the community says: Seen as the future direction of C# support in VS Code. People like having a built-in test runner and project view. Some mention that it’s occasionally buggy in early releases, but the pace of fixes is fast (it’s on monthly release cadence). Most are excited about its tighter Visual Studio parity.

Rest Client

• Installs: 5M

• What is it? Send API calls, including standard HTTP requests, directly from inside your code. Simply highlight the request you have added to your code and hit run. The response is displayed in a separate tab.

• What we like: Allows sending HTTP requests (REST, GraphQL, etc.) from inside VS Code and viewing formatted responses. Supports environments, variables, file history, cURL, and many auth methods. Essentially brings Postman-like features into the editor.

• What we don’t like: Only supports HTTP (no gRPC, for example). Some learning curve in the .http syntax (though documentation is good). Not ideal for very large response bodies (can slow down VS Code).

• What the community says: Extremely popular among API developers. Many say it replaces Postman/Insomnia for day-to-day work. Reviews praise how convenient it is to test APIs without leaving code. Some point out minor issues (like slow JSON pretty-print on huge payloads), but it’s almost universally loved.

7. Not extensions (built in)

While the above are all external integrations, a lot of developers miss some truly awesome features that are built right into VS Code itself. You may have used these without knowing, or missed them because they’re not turned on. Take a look and see if you can upgrade your coding experience without even installing anything.

Emmet

This powerful feature used to be an extension but has since been integrated into VS Code. And it’s easy to see why: it lets you enter a shortcut name for a code snippet, see a preview of what’s to be added, and insert the snippet directly with a keystroke.

To enable it, simply add "emmet.triggerExpansionOnTab": true to your settings.

Auto Rename Tag

This has VS Code automatically update the opposing HTML or XML tag when you rename one end of the element. For example, if you change <h1> to <h3>, VS Code will update the closing tag to </h3> for you. Just enable this in settings:

1. Go to File > Preferences > Settings

2. Search for “editor.linkedEditing”

3. Enable the "Linked Editing" option

Auto Close Tag

Automatically closes HTML and XML element tags. Just enable in settings:

1. Go to File > Preferences > Settings

2. Search for “auto closing tag”

3. Enable every option you want titled “Auto Closing Tags”

Where to go from here

Whether you are frontend or backend focused, or coding on your own or in a team, using the best VS Code extensions can contribute to a more focused flow state and help you stay in your tool of choice, writing better code faster.

The choice here is not whether you should use VS Code extensions, but which extensions you’ll use. Because if you are building applications, you need to make the best use of the technology.

When building your next Contentful-powered application, you can use the Git extensions mentioned above to securely host your code, the AI tools to help you build with frontend and backend libraries faster, and the VS Code productivity extensions to help your team collaborate more efficiently.

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