Trae Review: AI-native IDE

Overview

Trae is an AI-native IDE that takes a different approach from Cursor and Windsurf. Instead of building on top of VS Code, Trae is built from scratch as an AI-first editor. This means it's not constrained by VS Code's architecture — the AI integration is deeper and more native — but it also means you lose VS Code's extension ecosystem.

Trae's AI capabilities center around an integrated agent that can read your codebase, make multi-file changes, run terminal commands, and iterate on results. The agent is always available in a sidebar, not something you invoke for specific tasks. This persistent presence makes Trae feel more like collaborating with an AI teammate than using a tool.

Trae also includes standard AI coding features: inline completions, chat, and code generation. But the agent is the headline feature — it's designed to handle complex, multi-step tasks that would require multiple interactions in other tools.

Key features

• Integrated AI agent — always-available agent in the sidebar for multi-file tasks
• Built from scratch — not a VS Code fork; AI integration is native, not bolted on
• Multi-file editing — agent can modify files across your project in a single task
• Terminal integration — agent runs commands, reads output, and iterates
• Inline completions — context-aware code suggestions as you type
• Chat with codebase — ask questions about your project with automatic context gathering
• Modern UI — clean, minimal interface designed for AI interaction
• Built-in git integration — visual diff viewer, branch management, commit history

How it fits your workflow

Trae's workflow centers around the persistent AI agent:

1. Open your project — Trae indexes your codebase. The agent is available in the sidebar from the start.
2. Code with completions — as you type, Trae suggests completions. Standard AI editor experience.
3. Delegate to the agent — for larger tasks, describe what you want in the agent panel. The agent plans, implements, runs tests, and shows diffs.
4. Agent works alongside you — the agent doesn't take over your editor. You can keep coding while the agent works on its task.
5. Review and merge — the agent presents changes as diffs. Accept, reject, or modify.

The persistent agent is the key workflow difference. In Cursor or Copilot, you invoke agent mode for specific tasks. In Trae, the agent is always there, always aware of what you're doing.

Pricing

Trae's pricing is not yet fully public as the product is relatively new:

• Free tier — available with limited usage
• Pro — expected to be in the $10-20/month range, competitive with Cursor and Copilot
• Team — expected custom pricing for organizations

Check Trae's website for current pricing — this is a fast-moving product and pricing may change.

Strengths

• Native AI integration — not constrained by VS Code's architecture
• Persistent agent — always available, always aware of context
• Clean, modern UI — designed for AI interaction from the ground up
• Agent works alongside you — doesn't block your editor while working
• Built-in git tools — visual diff viewer, no need for external git client
• Fresh approach — not trying to be "VS Code but with AI"

Limitations

• No VS Code extension support — you lose access to the entire VS Code ecosystem
• Newer and less mature — smaller community, fewer resources, more bugs
• Limited language support compared to VS Code-based editors
• Uncertain long-term viability — smaller company, less established than GitHub or Cursor
• Fewer integrations — no JetBrains version, no web version, limited plugin system
• Learning curve — different keybindings, different workflow, different everything

Who it's for

Trae is for developers who are willing to try a completely new editor in exchange for deeper AI integration. If you're frustrated by the limitations of VS Code-based AI tools and want an editor where AI is a first-class citizen, not an add-on, Trae is worth trying. It's also a good fit if you prefer clean, minimal interfaces over feature-rich environments. It's less suitable if you depend on VS Code extensions, need broad language support, or prefer to stick with established tools.

Verdict

Trae is the most interesting wildcard in the AI IDE space. Its from-scratch approach enables AI integration that VS Code-based editors can't match, but it comes at the cost of the VS Code ecosystem. For developers willing to make that trade, Trae offers a glimpse of what an AI-native editor can be. For everyone else, Cursor or Windsurf provide most of the benefits with none of the ecosystem sacrifice.