Warp vs Zed — terminal-first or editor-first
Prices checked on each vendor's pricing page in November 2026.
AI Tools Hub Editorial · published · updated
The short version
- Migrations, log spelunking, build failures — Warp
- Most of the day writing code — Zed
- Want the AI off, or your own key — Zed, free and unlimited on Personal
Pricing
| Warp | Zed | |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Terminal free, AI pay-as-you-go | Personal free forever, unlimited with your own key |
| Entry paid | Build $20/mo ($18 annually) | Pro $10/mo |
| Included usage | $20 of agent usage at API rates | $5 of tokens |
| Team | Business $50/user/mo | Business $30/seat/mo |
Warp bills included usage at API rates with no markup, so the number on the invoice is explicable. Zed's $10 Pro includes $5 of tokens, meaning half is a platform fee.
Design philosophies are opposed
Warp rebuilt the terminal around agents and added @Warp mentions from Slack, Linear and GitHub, so work can be started without being at the machine. Zed built an editor and made the AI optional — you can turn it off entirely and still have the fastest editor in the list.
The security conversation
Zed's default-off AI with bring-your-own-key is materially easier to take through an internal review than a tool where code leaves by default. That is a procurement advantage, not a feature.
FAQ
Can I use both?
Yes, they do not overlap. But paying for AI in both is $30 a month; pick where your work actually happens.