Spacemacs is a community Emacs configuration that pairs Vim keys from Evil with a mnemonic menu under the Space key. It still works and still gets commits. It has had no versioned release since 0.200.13 in January 2018. The Spacemacs README on GitHub says it relies on a rolling update scheme, marks the master branch as deprecated, describes the project as in beta, and requires Emacs 28.2 or above.
People move on for three reasons: slow startup with many layers, breakage after pulling develop, or a wish to leave Emacs entirely while keeping the SPC habit. The picks below start inside Emacs and then move to Vim-style editors that copy the leader-menu idea. For a broader look at modal editors, see our Vim alternatives guide.
Prices below are as of November 8, 2026. Our method is on How we review tools.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doom Emacs | Spacemacs users who want speed and fewer surprises | Free (MIT) | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| GNU Emacs with Evil | Building your own config from scratch | Free (GPL) | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Neovim with LazyVim | Leaving Emacs but keeping Space menus | Free (Apache-2.0) | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| VS Code with VSpaceCode | Spacemacs keys inside VS Code | Free | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Helix | Modal editing with no config to maintain | Free (MPL-2.0) | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Zed | A fast GUI editor with Vim mode and AI | Free; Pro $10/month | Linux, macOS, Windows |
Doom Emacs
Doom Emacs is the usual next stop for Spacemacs users. It keeps the parts people like, Vim emulation through evil-mode and an SPC leader for Evil users, and drops the heavy layer system for a leaner module setup. The Doom Emacs README lists startup and run-time performance as a priority and calls the project active and ongoing.
It supports GNU Emacs 27.1 to 31.1, recommends 31.1, and needs 29.1 or newer as a starter kit. Git 2.23 and ripgrep 11 are also required. A doom CLI handles installing, syncing and upgrading packages, which replaces Spacemacs' habit of fixing things on the next restart.
Best for: Spacemacs users who want the same Evil-plus-leader feel with faster startup.
Pricing:
- Free, MIT licence
Watch out for:
- Like Spacemacs, Doom has no numbered releases, so you update from a moving branch.
- Its module layout and keybindings differ from Spacemacs layers, so expect to relearn some SPC sequences.
Official site: Doom Emacs.
GNU Emacs with Evil
Some Spacemacs users end up writing their own init file, and plain Emacs makes that easier than it used to. The Emacs 30 FAQ entry covers what that release added, including which-key, the popup Spacemacs used to show the next keys. Emacs 31.1 followed on August 24, 2026.
Add the Evil package for Vim keys and evil-collection for buffers Evil does not cover, such as help, calendar and Eshell. A leader key takes a few lines with general.el or a plain keymap, and everything loads only because you asked for it.
Best for: People who want to understand and own every line of their Emacs setup.
Pricing:
- Free, open source (GNU Emacs and Evil are both GPL)
Watch out for:
- You give up the curated defaults. Language support, completion and project tools are yours to choose and wire up.
- Redo with C-r in Evil needs undo-redo from Emacs 28, undo-tree or undo-fu configured.
Official site: GNU Emacs with Evil. Our listing: GNU Emacs with Evil.
Neovim with LazyVim
LazyVim gives Neovim the thing Spacemacs users miss most: a Space-key menu that tells you what comes next. The LazyVim keymaps page says the default leader is Space and that which-key.nvim shows a popup of the keys that follow, so Space f f finds files and Space q q quits.
It is a Neovim setup built on the lazy.nvim plugin manager, licensed Apache-2.0, with 27.4k GitHub stars. It needs Neovim 0.11.2 or newer built with LuaJIT, Git 2.19 and a C compiler for tree-sitter. Neovim itself is at 0.12.6 from October 9, 2026, on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Best for: Spacemacs users who mainly used the Vim side and want a faster terminal editor.
Pricing:
- Free, open source (LazyVim Apache-2.0, Neovim free)
Watch out for:
- Org mode, Magit and other Emacs-only tools have no full equivalent, so heavy Org users lose the most.
- Configuration is Lua, not Emacs Lisp, so existing Spacemacs customizations do not carry over.
Official site: Neovim with LazyVim.
VS Code with VSpaceCode
VSpaceCode is built for exactly this search. The VSpaceCode Marketplace page describes it as Spacemacs-like keybindings for VS Code, with an action menu on the Space key for switching editor groups, changing the file language and checking Git status. It started as a VSCodeVim configuration and is now a bundled extension.
It suits teams where everyone else already uses VS Code. You keep the editor's debugger, remote development and extension catalogue, and you still reach most actions from SPC instead of the mouse.
Best for: Developers who want Spacemacs muscle memory inside VS Code.
Pricing:
- VS Code: free for private and commercial use
- VSpaceCode: free extension
Watch out for:
- The extension is still labelled Preview, has about 49,000 installs, and is maintained by volunteers in their free time.
- Vim emulation in VS Code is a layer, so Ex commands and some motions do not behave exactly as in Evil.
Official site: VS Code with VSpaceCode.
Helix
Helix is for people tired of maintaining any config at all. It is a terminal modal editor written in Rust with tree-sitter highlighting, LSP support and multiple selections built in. Its Space mode opens pickers for files, buffers, the jumplist and changed files, which feels familiar after years of SPC f and SPC b.
The editing model is selection first, borrowed from Kakoune, so you select text and then act on it, the reverse of Vim. Packages exist for Winget, Scoop and Chocolatey on Windows, Homebrew on macOS, and most Linux package managers.
Best for: Developers who want sensible modal editing with zero plugin setup.
Pricing:
- Free, open source (MPL-2.0)
Watch out for:
- There is no plugin system yet, and the latest release is still 25.07.1 from July 18, 2025.
- Its keys are not Vim keys, so Evil habits like dd or ciw need relearning.
Official site: Helix.
Zed
Zed is a GPU-accelerated editor written in Rust, and its Vim mode is turned on with a checkbox on the welcome screen. Tree-sitter text objects, surround and comment operators are built in, so much of what Spacemacs got from Evil add-ons works without plugins.
The editor is open source and free to use with your own AI keys or agents. The Zed pricing page lists Pro at $10 a month with unlimited edit predictions and $5 of tokens, and Business at $30 per seat per month.
Best for: Spacemacs users who want a modern GUI editor with Vim keys and optional AI help.
Pricing:
- Personal: $0 forever, bring your own keys
- Pro: $10 per month, includes $5 of tokens, 14-day trial
- Business: $30 per seat per month
Watch out for:
- The Vim command line is not fully emulated, and Ex commands take no arguments.
- It needs a DirectX 11 GPU on Windows and a Vulkan-capable GPU on Linux, so old machines and some VMs struggle.
Official site: Zed.
How to choose
| If you need | Pick |
|---|---|
| The closest thing to Spacemacs, only faster | Doom Emacs |
| Your own Emacs config with Vim keys | GNU Emacs with Evil |
| A terminal editor with a Space menu and which-key | Neovim with LazyVim |
| Spacemacs bindings in a team that uses VS Code | VS Code with VSpaceCode |
| Modal editing with nothing to configure | Helix |
| A fast GUI editor with Vim mode and AI | Zed |
When to stay with Spacemacs
Stay with Spacemacs if your setup is stable and you depend on layers for Org, Magit or a language you work in daily. Pin your packages, update develop on purpose rather than by habit, and keep Emacs at 28.2 or later as the README asks. Rebuilding years of muscle memory costs more than a slow startup.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spacemacs still maintained?
Yes, through the develop branch, which has more than 13,700 commits. There has been no versioned release since 0.200.13 in January 2018. Master is deprecated, and the project still calls itself beta.
Doom Emacs or Spacemacs, which is better?
Doom is faster to start and gives you more control, with a CLI for syncing packages. Spacemacs has more ready-made layers and suits people who want most choices made for them. Both use Evil and a Space leader.
Which Emacs version does Spacemacs need?
Emacs 28.2 or newer. Emacs 31.1, released in August 2026, is the current stable version.
Is there a Spacemacs for Vim or Neovim?
LazyVim is the closest. It uses Space as the leader and which-key.nvim to show the next keys. In VS Code, VSpaceCode copies Spacemacs bindings directly.
