Overview
VS Code is the most popular editor for AI-assisted development. With the right LLM-powered extensions, you can get code completions, inline chat, test generation, and documentation help without leaving your editor. Here are the best AI extensions for developers.
Top AI Extensions
| Extension | Type | Price | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | Completion + Chat + Agent | Free tier / $10+/mo | Most popular, agent mode, PR integration |
| Codeium | Completion + Chat | Free unlimited | Fast completions, 70+ languages |
| Continue | Chat + Completion | Free (open-source) | Use any LLM, local model support |
| Cody (Sourcegraph) | Chat + Completion | Free tier | Codebase-aware, large repo support |
| Tabnine | Completion | Free tier / $12/mo | Privacy-focused, on-premise option |
Choosing an Extension
- •For maximum features: GitHub Copilot (completions + chat + agent mode)
- •For free unlimited completions: Codeium
- •For custom/local LLM models: Continue (open-source)
- •For large enterprise codebases: Cody by Sourcegraph
- •For privacy-sensitive environments: Tabnine with on-premise deployment
Specialized AI Extensions
Mintlify Doc Writer
Auto-generates JSDoc/TSDoc comments for functions. Saves time on documentation.
Error Lens + AI
Highlights errors inline with AI-suggested fixes. Great for quick debugging.
AI Test Generator
Generates unit tests from function signatures and implementations. Works with Jest and Vitest.