Macaron vs Zed
Zed is a fast, open-source code editor with its own agent and a panel that runs Claude Code, Codex and others over the Agent Client Protocol. Macaron is a desktop app that runs Claude Code and Codex with undo for each turn, your checks before and after, and isolated computers.
Updated October 2, 2026 · Other products described as of October 2, 2026
Short answer. Pick Zed if you want a great editor where agents work in the same window, with per-hunk review and fine-grained tool permissions. Pick Macaron if you want agents on a machine that can't touch your files, your checks run before and after each change, and a board of every thread across projects.
At a glance
- What it is
- ZedA code editor written in Rust, for macOS, Linux and Windows
- MacaronA desktop app that runs coding agents beside the editor you already use
- Agents
- ZedZed's own agent; Claude Agent, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI and others as external agents over ACP; any CLI agent in a terminal thread
- MacaronClaude Code, Codex and Macaron's own agent
- Models and keys
- ZedZed-hosted models, your own keys, your ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot subscription, gateways or local models
- MacaronYour own keys or subscriptions: Anthropic, OpenAI, Bedrock or Vertex
- Where it runs
- ZedYour machine, or a server over SSH remote development; optional worktrees for parallel threads
- MacaronA folder on your Mac, or a Computer: an isolated Linux machine per agent, in Docker on your Mac or in the cloud
- Permissions
- ZedPer-tool confirm, allow or deny, with pattern lists; an optional OS sandbox for Zed's own agent
- MacaronClaude Code's and Codex's own permission modes, with each request shown in the thread to allow or deny
- Undo and review
- ZedRestore Checkpoint after each edit by Zed's agent; Review Changes to accept or reject each hunk
- MacaronEvery turn is a checkpoint with an undo button; Review for the diff; your checks before and after
- Price
- ZedFree for the editor, your own keys and external agents; Pro at $10 a month; open source (GPL-3.0)
- MacaronOne Macaron plan; models on your own keys at your provider's price; cloud machines billed by the hour
| Zed | Macaron | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A code editor written in Rust, for macOS, Linux and Windows | A desktop app that runs coding agents beside the editor you already use |
| Agents | Zed's own agent; Claude Agent, Codex, OpenCode, Gemini CLI and others as external agents over ACP; any CLI agent in a terminal thread | Claude Code, Codex and Macaron's own agent |
| Models and keys | Zed-hosted models, your own keys, your ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot subscription, gateways or local models | Your own keys or subscriptions: Anthropic, OpenAI, Bedrock or Vertex |
| Where it runs | Your machine, or a server over SSH remote development; optional worktrees for parallel threads | A folder on your Mac, or a Computer: an isolated Linux machine per agent, in Docker on your Mac or in the cloud |
| Permissions | Per-tool confirm, allow or deny, with pattern lists; an optional OS sandbox for Zed's own agent | Claude Code's and Codex's own permission modes, with each request shown in the thread to allow or deny |
| Undo and review | Restore Checkpoint after each edit by Zed's agent; Review Changes to accept or reject each hunk | Every turn is a checkpoint with an undo button; Review for the diff; your checks before and after |
| Price | Free for the editor, your own keys and external agents; Pro at $10 a month; open source (GPL-3.0) | One Macaron plan; models on your own keys at your provider's price; cloud machines billed by the hour |
How each works day to day
Zed
You code in Zed and open the Agent Panel beside your files. Zed's own agent edits and shows a Restore Checkpoint button after each change, and Review Changes lets you accept or reject each hunk. External agents such as Claude Agent and Codex come from the ACP registry; each handles its own sign-in and billing, and Zed doesn't charge for them.
Macaron
You keep Zed or any editor for writing code, and open the project in Macaron to run agents. Each turn ends in a card listing the files changed, with an undo button. Your checks run before and after, Review shows the diff, and the board view lays out every thread across projects.
Where code runs and what it can touch
Zed's agents run locally, or on a server through its SSH remote development. Its docs describe an optional OS sandbox for Zed's own agent that blocks writes outside the project, protects .git and asks before network access. That sandbox doesn't cover external agents or terminal threads, and checkpoints for external agents depend on each integration.
Macaron's Computers are Linux machines with no access to your Mac's files, keys or Docker socket, whichever agent you run. A sandbox copy of a folder works there, and Apply to Mac writes the result back only if it applies cleanly.
Pricing
As published on zed.dev/pricing on October 2, 2026.
- Personal
- Price$0
- IncludesThe editor, 2,000 accepted edit predictions, unlimited use with your own keys or external agents
- Pro
- Price$10 a month
- IncludesUnlimited edit predictions and $5 of hosted model usage, then usage at list price plus 10%
- Student
- PriceFree for a year
- IncludesPro with $10 a month of model usage, excluding some top models
- Business
- Price$30 a seat per month
- IncludesOrganization model policies, data governance, roles and consolidated billing
| Zed plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $0 | The editor, 2,000 accepted edit predictions, unlimited use with your own keys or external agents |
| Pro | $10 a month | Unlimited edit predictions and $5 of hosted model usage, then usage at list price plus 10% |
| Student | Free for a year | Pro with $10 a month of model usage, excluding some top models |
| Business | $30 a seat per month | Organization model policies, data governance, roles and consolidated billing |
One Macaron plan; models on your own keys at your provider's price; cloud machines billed by the hour.
Who should pick which
- You want a fast editor where agents work in the same window as your code: Zed.
- You want to accept or reject an agent's changes hunk by hunk: Zed.
- You pair with people in real time: Zed, with its multiplayer editing.
- You want any agent, including Claude Code and Codex, on a machine that can't touch your Mac: Macaron.
- You want your tests run before and after every change, and one board of every thread: Macaron.
Using both
They fit together. Write code in Zed, and open the same folder in Macaron to run long agent tasks on an isolated computer. Both work on an ordinary git repository, and Macaron keeps its checkpoints outside your branch history.
What Macaron doesn't do
No Slack integration, no mobile app, no hosted SLA, no multiplayer, and no visual browser testing of its own beyond the AI end-to-end tests. It also isn't an editor, and it doesn't speak the Agent Client Protocol.
Questions
Can Zed run Claude Code?+
Yes. Zed's docs describe installing Claude Agent from its ACP registry and signing in with an API key or with Claude Code. Zed doesn't charge for external agents.
Is Zed free?+
The editor is open source and free, including your own keys and external agents. Pro is $10 a month for hosted models and unlimited edit predictions.
Does Zed sandbox its agents?+
Zed's own agent has an optional OS sandbox for its terminal and fetch tools. Its docs say the sandbox doesn't apply to external agents or terminal threads.
Should I use Zed or Macaron?+
Often both: Zed as your editor, Macaron to run agents on an isolated computer with checks and per-turn undo.
Sources and dates
- zed.devzed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed pricingzed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed docs: external agentszed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed docs: agent panelzed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed docs: tool permissionszed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed docs: sandboxingzed.dev, read October 2, 2026
- Zed on GitHubgithub.com, read October 2, 2026
Facts about other products come only from these pages, on the dates shown; prices are as published that day. Macaron's own details are as shipped on October 2, 2026. Products change, so check their sites for the latest.