Top VS Code Extensions Every Developer Should Install in 2025

September 10, 2025

Visual Studio Code has become the go-to code editor for developers worldwide, and much of its power comes from its extensive ecosystem of extensions. With over 45,000 extensions available in the marketplace, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the must-have VS Code extensions that every developer should consider installing in 2025. These extensions will enhance your coding experience, boost productivity, and make development more enjoyable.

Why VS Code Extensions Matter

VS Code extensions transform your editor from a simple text editor into a powerful IDE tailored to your specific needs. They provide:

Enhanced functionality: Additional features not available in the base editor
Language support: Syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and debugging for various languages
Productivity tools: Automated tasks, shortcuts, and workflow optimizations
Visual improvements: Better themes, icons, and UI enhancements
Integration capabilities: Connect with external services and tools

Essential Extensions for Every Developer

1. GitHub Copilot

Publisher: GitHub
Downloads: 10M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that has revolutionized how developers write code.

Key Features:

AI-powered code suggestions
Multi-language support
Context-aware completions
Code explanation and documentation
Chat interface for coding assistance

Why Install It:

Significantly speeds up coding
Helps learn new programming patterns
Reduces boilerplate code writing
Provides intelligent suggestions based on context

Best For: All developers, especially those working with multiple languages or learning new frameworks.

2. Prettier - Code Formatter

Publisher: Prettier
Downloads: 25M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5

Prettier automatically formats your code to ensure consistent styling across your projects.

Key Features:

Automatic code formatting
Support for 20+ languages
Configurable rules
Format on save option
Integration with ESLint

Configuration Example:

{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
  "prettier.singleQuote": true,
  "prettier.semi": false
}

Why Install It:

Maintains consistent code style
Saves time on manual formatting
Reduces code review discussions about formatting
Works seamlessly with team workflows

3. ESLint

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 22M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5

ESLint helps identify and fix problems in your JavaScript/TypeScript code.

Key Features:

Real-time error detection
Customizable rules
Auto-fix capabilities
Integration with popular frameworks
Team configuration sharing

Why Install It:

Catches bugs before runtime
Enforces coding standards
Improves code quality
Provides educational feedback

4. Live Server

Publisher: Ritwick Dey
Downloads: 20M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5

Live Server launches a local development server with live reload capability.

Key Features:

One-click server launch
Live reload on file changes
Custom port configuration
Support for any browser
HTTPS support

Why Install It:

Instant preview of web changes
No need for manual browser refresh
Perfect for frontend development
Easy testing across devices

5. GitLens

Publisher: GitKraken
Downloads: 15M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.6/5

GitLens supercharges Git capabilities inside VS Code.

Key Features:

Inline blame annotations
Code authorship insights
Commit history visualization
Repository analytics
Advanced Git commands

Why Install It:

Better understanding of code history
Improved collaboration insights
Advanced Git workflow support
Visual Git information display

Language-Specific Extensions

For JavaScript/TypeScript Developers

6. Auto Rename Tag

Publisher: Jun Han
Downloads: 10M+

Automatically renames paired HTML/XML tags.

Key Features:

Synchronous tag renaming
Works with JSX, TSX, HTML, XML
No configuration required
Instant updates

7. Bracket Pair Colorizer 2

Publisher: CoenraadS
Downloads: 8M+

Colors matching brackets for better code readability.

Note: This functionality is now built into VS Code natively, but the extension provides additional customization options.

For Python Developers

8. Python

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 85M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5

The official Python extension providing comprehensive Python support.

Key Features:

IntelliSense and syntax highlighting
Debugging support
Code formatting with autopep8, black
Jupyter notebook support
Testing framework integration

9. Pylance

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 45M+

Fast and feature-rich language support for Python.

Key Features:

Type checking
Auto-imports
Code completion
Signature help
Go-to definition

For Web Developers

10. HTML CSS Support

Publisher: ecmel
Downloads: 7M+

Provides CSS class name completion for HTML.

Key Features:

CSS class IntelliSense
Remote CSS file support
SCSS/LESS support
Workspace scanning

11. CSS Peek

Publisher: Pranay Prakash
Downloads: 4M+

Allows peeking at CSS definitions from HTML.

Key Features:

Go to CSS definition
Peek CSS rules
Symbol search
SCSS/LESS support

Productivity and Workflow Extensions

12. Todo Tree

Publisher: Gruntfuggly
Downloads: 2M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5

Displays TODO comments in a tree view.

Key Features:

Customizable keywords (TODO, FIXME, NOTE)
Tree view display
Highlighting in files
Quick navigation

Example Usage:

// TODO: Implement user authentication
// FIXME: Fix memory leak in this function
// NOTE: This needs refactoring

13. Bookmarks

Publisher: Alessandro Fragnani
Downloads: 2M+

Mark lines of code and navigate between them easily.

Key Features:

Toggle bookmarks
Navigate between bookmarks
List all bookmarks
Bookmark labels

14. Path Intellisense

Publisher: Christian Kohler
Downloads: 8M+

Autocompletes file paths in your code.

Key Features:

File path completion
Relative and absolute paths
Custom mappings
Works with imports

Visual and Theme Extensions

15. Material Icon Theme

Publisher: Philipp Kief
Downloads: 12M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5

Provides beautiful material design icons for files and folders.

Key Features:

File type recognition
Customizable colors
Folder themes
Angular and React variants

16. One Dark Pro

Publisher: binaryify
Downloads: 5M+

A popular dark theme for VS Code.

Key Features:

Easy on the eyes
Syntax highlighting optimization
Multiple variants
High contrast options

Advanced Development Extensions

17. Thunder Client

Publisher: Ranga Vadhineni
Downloads: 3M+
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5

A lightweight REST API client for VS Code.

Key Features:

Send HTTP requests
Environment variables
Collection management
Import/export support
No external dependencies

18. Docker

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 15M+

Manage Docker containers and images from VS Code.

Key Features:

Container management
Image operations
Dockerfile IntelliSense
Docker Compose support
Registry integration

19. Remote - SSH

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 12M+

Develop on remote machines via SSH.

Key Features:

Remote development
Port forwarding
File system access
Terminal integration
Extension synchronization

Testing and Debugging Extensions

20. Jest

Publisher: Orta
Downloads: 3M+

Comprehensive Jest testing support.

Key Features:

Test runner integration
Inline test results
Debugging support
Snapshot management
Coverage reports

21. Debugger for Chrome

Publisher: Microsoft
Downloads: 7M+

Debug JavaScript in Chrome from VS Code.

Key Features:

Breakpoint debugging
Variable inspection
Call stack navigation
Console integration
Source map support

Performance and Monitoring Extensions

22. Import Cost

Publisher: Wix
Downloads: 1M+

Displays the size of imported packages.

Key Features:

Real-time size calculation
Bundle size awareness
Performance optimization
Customizable display

23. Bundle Analyzer

Publisher: webpack
Downloads: 500K+

Analyze and visualize webpack bundle composition.

Key Features:

Bundle visualization
Size analysis
Dependency tracking
Performance insights

Configuration Tips

Setting Up Your Extensions

Sync Settings: Use VS Code's built-in settings sync to keep extensions consistent across devices
Workspace Recommendations: Create .vscode/extensions.json to recommend extensions for team projects
Extension Packs: Consider creating extension packs for specific project types

Sample Workspace Extensions Configuration

{
  "recommendations": [
    "ms-vscode.vscode-github-copilot",
    "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
    "ms-vscode.vscode-eslint",
    "ritwickdey.liveserver",
    "eamodio.gitlens"
  ]
}

Performance Considerations

Disable unused extensions: Keep only active extensions enabled
Use workspace recommendations: Install project-specific extensions only when needed
Monitor startup time: Use Developer: Startup Performance command to check impact

Extension Management Best Practices

1. Regular Updates

Keep extensions updated for latest features and security patches.

2. Read Reviews

Check user reviews and ratings before installing new extensions.

3. Check Maintenance

Prefer actively maintained extensions with recent updates.

4. Test Compatibility

Ensure extensions work well together and don't conflict.

5. Backup Settings

Export extension settings and sync them across devices.

Conclusion

The extensions listed above represent the cream of the crop for VS Code in 2025. While you don't need to install all of them, starting with the essential ones like GitHub Copilot, Prettier, ESLint, and GitLens will immediately improve your development experience.

Remember that the best extensions are those that solve your specific problems and fit your workflow. Start with a few essential extensions and gradually add more as you identify areas where you need additional functionality.

Quick Installation Commands

You can install these extensions via the command line:

# Essential extensions
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension ms-vscode.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens
code --install-extension ritwickdey.liveserver

# Language-specific
code --install-extension ms-python.python
code --install-extension ms-python.pylance

# Productivity
code --install-extension gruntfuggly.todo-tree
code --install-extension alefragnani.bookmarks

The VS Code ecosystem continues to evolve rapidly, with new extensions being developed regularly. Stay updated with the latest releases and don't hesitate to try new extensions that might enhance your specific development workflow.