VS Code VS Shutter

Compare VS Code VS Shutter and see what are their differences

Rating: 5.0 · 1 review
Pricing: Open source

Alternatives Is it good?

Rating: 0 reviews
Pricing: Open source

Alternatives Is it good?

AeroDataBox

Aviation and flight API tailored for SMBs and individual developers, offering flight status, schedules, aircraft and airport data, statistics, historical data and more. Seamless REST/web hook integration via API marketplaces at affordable rates. sponsored

The page you are looking for does not exist

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, VS Code seems to be a lot more popular than Shutter. While we know about 1216 links to VS Code, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Shutter.

social mentions: 1,216 vs 7
Text Editors popularity: 100% vs 0%
alternatives listed: 240+ vs 203

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

	VS Code	Shutter
Website	code.visualstudio.com	shutter-project.org
Pricing	Open source	Open source
Company	Startup from the United States	—
Listed in	Text Editors IDE Software Development Developer Tools +1	Screenshot Annotation Screenshots Image Annotation Screen Capture +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

VS Code 8 features

Shutter 5 features

Cross-platform
VS Code works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
Extensibility
A vast library of extensions allows users to add functionalities like debuggers, linters, and themes, making it highly customizable.
Integrated Git
Built-in Git integration makes it easy to manage version control tasks directly within the editor.
Performance
Lightweight compared to full-fledged IDEs, ensuring good performance even on systems with limited resources.
IntelliSense
Advanced code completion and refactoring tools help improve coding efficiency and reduce errors.
Community Support
A strong and active community provides extensive support, tutorials, and third-party extensions.
Debugging
Robust debugging tools for various languages and frameworks are available out of the box.
Free and Open-Source
VS Code is completely free to use and open-source, which is beneficial for both individual developers and organizations.

Possible disadvantages

Limited IDE Features
While extensible, it may lack some advanced features found in dedicated IDEs out of the box.
Extension Management
Managing and configuring a large number of extensions can become cumbersome and sometimes lead to performance issues.
Learning Curve
Although user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its numerous features and customization options.
Memory Usage
Despite being lightweight, it can consume a significant amount of memory when multiple extensions are installed.
Update Frequency
Frequent updates may sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new changes quickly.
Internet Dependency
Some features and extensions may require an internet connection to function optimally.
Telemetry
By default, VS Code collects usage data, which might be a concern for users sensitive about data privacy. However, this can be disabled.

Comprehensive Screenshot Options
Shutter provides a wide variety of screenshot options including full screen, window, selection, and even web page capturing, making it versatile for different user needs.
Built-in Editor
The built-in editor allows users to add annotations, shapes, and text to screenshots directly within Shutter, reducing the need for additional software.
User-Friendly Interface
Shutter features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and utilize its functions efficiently.
Plugin Support
Shutter supports various plugins to extend its functionality, such as uploading screenshots to image hosting sites or integrating with other software.
Cross-Platform Support
Shutter is available for multiple Linux distributions, making it accessible for a large number of Linux users.

Possible disadvantages

Limited to Linux
Shutter is only available for Linux platforms, which excludes users on Windows and macOS from using the software.
Outdated Dependencies
Some users have reported issues with outdated dependencies, which can cause compatibility problems with newer Linux distributions.
Development Stagnation
The development of Shutter has slowed down in recent years, leading to fewer updates and potentially lacking some modern features that users might expect.
Installation Complexity
Installing Shutter on certain Linux distributions can be complex and may require the user to manually resolve dependencies or add third-party repositories.
Heavy Resource Usage
Shutter can be resource-intensive compared to other lightweight screenshot tools, which might affect performance on older or less powerful systems.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

VS Code

Shutter

Overall verdict

Yes, VS Code is generally considered a good choice for developers due to its flexibility, efficiency, and strong community support. It is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, catering to both novice and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

VS Code, developed by Microsoft, is a widely popular and versatile code editor. It offers a robust extension ecosystem, which allows developers to customize their workflow and coding environment extensively. Additionally, VS Code supports numerous programming languages right out of the box and provides features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and a built-in terminal, making it a powerful tool for developers.

Recommended for

Web developers looking for a comprehensive yet lightweight coding environment.
Software developers who need an editor with extensive language support and customization options.
Beginner programmers who would benefit from a feature-rich editor that can grow with their skills.
Developers interested in an open-source tool with continuous updates and community-driven enhancements.

Overall verdict

Good

Why this product is good

Shutter is a feature-rich screenshot tool that provides a variety of options for capturing images, such as full screen, specific windows, or custom selections. It also includes an integrated editor for annotating screenshots, which can be handy for creating instructional content. Its user-friendly interface and ability to handle file uploads make it a practical choice for many users.

Recommended for

Shutter is recommended for users who need a versatile screenshot tool with editing capabilities, especially those creating tutorials, guides, or any visual content that requires annotations. It's also suitable for those who prefer an open-source solution available on Linux platforms.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

VS Code 2 videos + Add

Shutter 3 videos + Add

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100

VS Code

Shutter

100% 100%

Text Editors

0% 0%

Screenshot Annotation

100% 100%

IDE

0% 0%

Screenshots

100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using VS Code and Shutter. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

VS Code 5.0 · 1 review

Shutter no reviews yet

Choosing the Best SQL Server Tool in 2026
www.linkedin.com · Aug 2026

If you're a Windows DBA who mainly manages servers, SSMS is still hard to beat. SQL Server Data Tools makes the most sense for teams building database projects in Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code with the MSSQL...
Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
convesio.com · Nov 2023

Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich ecosystem of extensions and features like IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration, VS...
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
kinsta.com · Sep 2023

Finally, the Visual Studio Code website has numerous tabs for you to learn about the software. The documentation page walks you through steps like the setup and working with different languages. You’re also able to...

Top 13 Free Snagit Alternatives For 2021
screenrec.com · Dec 2020

Hey, Ubuntu /Linux users! Have we got an app for you! Shutter swings in to attempt to help you capture your computer screen. If you’re looking for a simple Linux screenshot tool , this could be it.

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

VS Code 1216 mentions

Shutter 7 mentions

Introducing MonoLisa for Visual Studio Code
While Visual Studio Code supports OpenType features for its code editor well, configuring those features can be complex as it relies on understanding related CSS syntax. On top of this, additional configuration may be required. Because... - Source: dev.to / 13 days ago
History of JavaScript: Browser wars, ECMAScript, Node.js, TypeScript, and React
Visual Studio Code, a code editor created by Microsoft, was first introduced on April 29, 2015, at the Build conference. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
How to Get Your First Tool Online
The step up from there is an editor with a built-in agent like Cursor, Google Antigravity, Windsurf, or VS Code with a coding extension. These are code editors with an AI agent living inside them, and the difference is the responsible... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago

What is the name of the default screenshot tool in PopOS?
Hey I use "shutter" https://shutter-project.org/ which has a nice blur option. Source: over 3 years ago
ShareX alternative for Linux?
I also used Flameshot and Shutter. Shutter was very feature rich, and I think it's the closest in terms of having the same workflow actions as ShareX -- I don't think it fully supports Wayland yet though and has a TON of dependencies.... Source: over 3 years ago
A app to take long/scrolling screenshots?
Maybe look into Shutter but it can only screenshot scrolling webpages no any other windows. Source: over 3 years ago

Alternatives to VS Code and Shutter

When comparing VS Code and Shutter, you can also consider the following products.

Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

Compare Sublime Text to VS Code or Shutter:

Sublime Text vs VS Code Sublime Text vs Shutter
Greenshot
Greenshot is a free and open source screenshot tool that allows annotation and highlighting using the built-in image editor.

Compare Greenshot to VS Code or Shutter:

Greenshot vs VS Code Greenshot vs Shutter
Vim
Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

Compare Vim to VS Code or Shutter:

Vim vs VS Code Vim vs Shutter
Snipping Tool
Use Snipping Tool to capture a screen shot, or snip, of any object on your screen, and then annotate, save, or share the image

Compare Snipping Tool to VS Code or Shutter:

Snipping Tool vs VS Code Snipping Tool vs Shutter
Node.js
Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

Compare Node.js to VS Code or Shutter:

Node.js vs VS Code Node.js vs Shutter
MWSnap
MWSnap is basically a free to use Windows snapping tools that are used for snapping any part of the screen that is currently displaying on the front of all opened programs and windows.

Compare MWSnap to VS Code or Shutter:

MWSnap vs VS Code MWSnap vs Shutter