Brandwave

GitHub Codespaces vs Zed:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Codespaces had more branded searches than Zed among remote pair programming tools worldwide. GitHub Codespaces had about 60,500 branded searches, while Zed had 40,500. GitHub Codespaces made up 55.9% of all remote pair programming tool searches we track, and Zed accounted for 37.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about remote pair programming tools, Zed appeared in three of the five answers and GitHub Codespaces in two. Zed was mentioned before GitHub Codespaces in every answer that named either.

Among remote pair programming tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Codespaces, about 49% more searches than Zed

GitHub Codespaces 60.5K searchesZed 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Zed, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, GitHub Codespaces in 2

Zed in 3 of 5GitHub Codespaces in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Zed, named ahead of GitHub Codespaces in 3 of 3 answers

Zed first in 3GitHub Codespaces never first

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Top remote pair programming tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Zed was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GitHub Codespaces was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Zed was listed before GitHub Codespaces in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Tuple1st
  2. Live Share2nd
  3. Zed3rd
  4. CodeTogether4th
  5. Screen5th
  6. GitHub Codespaces6th
  7. Pop–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Live Share5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tuple5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • CodeTogether4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Zed3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • GitHub Codespaces2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Screen1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pop0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about remote pair programming tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is GitHub Codespaces or Zed more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Codespaces and Zed by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven remote pair programming tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

GitHub Codespaces and Zed among remote pair programming tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitHub Codespaces, Zed. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitHub CodespacesZedLive ShareCodeTogetherPopTupleScreen
Oct 202541.7%50.9%4.5%1.6%0.5%0.74%0.06%
Nov 202550%40.9%5.5%1.9%0.73%0.89%0.07%
Dec 202545.2%45.2%6%1.8%0.66%0.98%0.06%
Jan 202646.2%46.2%5%1.5%0.55%0.55%0.07%
Feb 202646.4%46.4%5.1%1.2%0.45%0.45%0.05%
Mar 202651.3%42%4.6%1.1%0.5%0.41%0.06%
Apr 202647%47%4.2%1%0.46%0.37%0.05%
May 202637.8%56.5%4.1%0.76%0.45%0.3%0.05%
Jun 202642.5%52%3.8%0.86%0.51%0.33%0.06%
Jul 202651.2%41.9%4.6%1%0.61%0.61%0.07%
Aug 202656%37.5%4.1%1.2%0.44%0.67%0.05%
Sep 202655.9%37.4%4.1%1.5%0.55%0.55%0.06%

How has the GitHub Codespaces and Zed comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: GitHub Codespaces took it in November 2025, Zed took it in May 2026, GitHub Codespaces took it in July 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Codespaces’ share of searches among remote pair programming tools worldwide moved from 41.7% to 55.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 60.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zed’s share of searches among remote pair programming tools worldwide moved from 50.9% to 37.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 40.5K.

How did search popularity change for remote pair programming tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Zed’s share of searches among remote pair programming tools worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 52% to 37.4% in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for GitHub Codespaces worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 49.5K to 60.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub Codespaces’ and Zed’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

GitHub Codespaces

1 branded search term

  • github codespaces

Zed

1 branded search term

  • zed editor

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among remote pair programming tools

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