code-server vs OpenVSCode Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted ides & code editors options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
code-server
Run VS Code in the browser on your server
VS
OpenVSCode Server
Run VS Code in the browser on your own server
| Feature | code-server | OpenVSCode Server |
|---|---|---|
| Category | IDEs & Code Editors | IDEs & Code Editors |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 78,657 | ★ 6,144 |
| First released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaces | GitHub Codespaces | GitHub Codespaces |
Why pick each one
Choose code-server if…
- Code from anywhere
- Familiar VS Code experience
- Simple to run
Choose OpenVSCode Server if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is code-server or OpenVSCode Server better?
Neither is universally better. code-server has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are code-server and OpenVSCode Server free and open-source?
Yes. code-server is licensed under MIT and OpenVSCode Server under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run code-server and OpenVSCode Server with Docker?
code-server: yes. OpenVSCode Server: yes.