Fact checked by As a developer, you know the right VSCode themes can transform your coding experience and boost your productivity. But with so many choices, finding the perfect one can be a challenge.
That’s why I’ve found the 20 best VSCode themes in 2024. From dark to light, colorful to minimalist, these themes will help you code with style and focus.
Let’s dive in and find the one that fits your workflow.
Why Picking The Right VSCode Theme Matters
Finding the perfect VSCode theme isn’t just about looks — it’s about creating an environment that feels right for you.
The right theme can make coding more enjoyable, and more importantly, it can improve your focus and productivity.
Here’s why it matters:
- A well-designed theme can reduce eye strain with balanced colors and contrast, helping you code comfortably for hours.
- Consistency across your workspace can keep you organized and in the flow.
- If you’re a content creator, like a YouTuber or course instructor, the right theme can enhance the viewer’s experience and make your code easier to follow.
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20 Best VSCode Themes
I’ve handpicked these themes to help you create a coding environment that’s both visually appealing and optimized for productivity.
Whether you’re into bold, vibrant designs or prefer something clean and minimalist, there’s a theme here for you. And if you like shades of blue, make sure you check out the Hackr.io Theme!
So, let’s jump in and explore these beautiful and functional VSCode themes that will take your coding setup to the next level.
1. Dracula Official
Number of installs: 7.7M+ (As of Oct 2024) 
Dracula is a dark theme that’s perfect for long coding sessions, thanks to its high-contrast design that’s easy on the eyes.
Fun fact—many coding instructors use Dracula in their tutorials and courses for its clean, professional look.
With over 7.5 million installs, it’s a popular choice for developers who want a consistent, visually pleasant experience.
The theme uses high-contrast colors that make code elements easy to distinguish, and its syntax highlighting works well across a variety of languages. Everything from the sidebar to the status bar is seamlessly integrated.
2. Ayu
Number of installs: 2.6M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Ayu is one of those themes I turn to when I want something modern yet minimal.
The soft, subtle colors give your code a clean, graceful look without being overwhelming. With over 2.5 million downloads, it’s a popular pick for a reason.
It works well across different coding languages and offers three versions: Ayu Dark, Ayu Mirage, and Ayu Light. Fun fact—CodeWithMosh even uses it in his courses, so you know it’s got some solid street cred.
3. Hackr.io Theme
Number of installs: Just Released!
The Hackr.io Theme is my go-to choice when I want something professional yet calming.
The carefully chosen blue tones provide a balanced, sleek aesthetic that helps keep your focus during long coding sessions. It’s clean, modern, and designed to reduce eye strain without sacrificing readability.
Even with so many great themes out there, I still wanted one that felt perfectly tailored to my style and needs, so I made my own.
The Hackr.io Theme is the result—ideal for late-night coding or anyone who loves a minimalist, distraction-free workspace.
Whether you're working in Python, JavaScript, or any other language, the Hackr.io Theme enhances your workspace with just the right amount of contrast, giving your code the attention it deserves.
4. GitHub Theme
Number of installs: 14.4M+ (As of Oct 2024)
The GitHub Theme is one of my go-to choices, especially when I want my VSCode setup to feel like GitHub.
It comes with light, dark, and colorblind modes, which is a nice touch.
With over 14 million users, it’s clearly popular, and since it's open-source, you can even jump in and customize it if you’re feeling adventurous.
5. One Dark Pro
Number of installs: 9.9M+ (As of Oct 2024)
One Dark Pro is a sleek and elegant theme that’s become a go-to for many developers.
Its high-contrast color scheme boosts readability and keeps productivity high. Plus, it’s fully customizable, so you can tweak it to fit your style.
Supporting various languages and offering monthly updates, it’s reliable and always up to date. With nearly 10 million installs, it’s hard to believe it’s free.
If you’re looking for a modern, professional look, this theme delivers.
6. Noctis
Number of installs: 1.1M+ 
(As of Oct 2024)
Noctis is my go-to when I want a sleek, light theme that balances aesthetics and readability. Its modern design and carefully chosen colors make navigating through code a breeze.
It’s also a favorite among developers who want something both stylish and efficient. Noctis comes with three light variants—Lux, Lilac, and Hibernus—so you can switch things up depending on your mood.
With over a million installs, it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for both form and function.
7. Shades of Purple
Number of installs: 1.9M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Shades of Purple is one of those themes that really stands out, both visually and in popularity.
It uses bold, hand-picked shades of purple to give your editor and terminal an elegant, sophisticated look.
It’s free and open source, which is always a bonus, and with nearly 2 million users, it’s clear developers love it.
If you’re into vibrant, purple tones, this theme will add some serious flair to your coding setup.
8. Monokai Pro
Number of installs: 3.1M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Monokai Pro is a theme that’s all about elevating your coding experience with a carefully curated color scheme that keeps distractions to a minimum.
The pro version steps it up with customizable filters, updated colors, and pixel-perfect icons.
With over 3 million users, Monokai Pro brings both beauty and functionality to your workspace, making it an easy way to upgrade your coding environment.
9. Slack Theme
Number of installs: 440K+ (As of Oct 2024)
The Slack Theme holds a special place for me since I use Slack regularly, and I have a soft spot for its color schemes.
This theme brings that familiar look to VSCode, with options inspired by Slack’s default themes as well as some classic variations. You can even tweak the colors to make it your own.
With over 400k installs, it’s a great choice if you want to bring a bit of that Slack vibe into your coding environment.
10. Night Owl/Light Owl
Number of installs: 2.8M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Night Owl is a theme I love when I’m burning the midnight oil. It’s perfect for coding in low-light conditions, with colors that work well even for anyone and everyone.
The contrast makes it easy to read code for long stretches without straining your eyes. With nearly 3 million installs, it’s a solid choice, and if you prefer a lighter look during the day, there’s a Light Owl version too.
Plus, it’s available on other platforms like Hyper and Vim, which is a nice bonus.
11. Tokyo Night
Number of installs: 1.7M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Tokyo Night is one of those themes that just grabs your attention with its nod to the glowing lights of Downtown Tokyo. It’s clean and modern, with low-contrast UI elements that help you stay focused.
You can adjust the contrast settings to suit your needs, and its semantic highlighting dims variables inside functions, making your code easier to follow.
With over 1.5 million installs, it’s a popular pick, and it’s available across other platforms like iTerm and Vim, which is always a plus.
12. Winter is Coming
Number of installs: 3M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Winter Is Coming is a theme that brings a cool, modern look to your coding environment.
Inspired by Game of Thrones, this theme offers both dark and light variations, making it versatile for any coding setup.
The dark mode is perfect for late-night coding, while the light mode is clean and easy on the eyes during the day. It’s designed to minimize distractions while keeping your code readable and organized.
If you're looking for a theme with a touch of style and solid functionality, Winter Is Coming is a great choice.
13. Cobalt2
Number of installs: 1.5M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Cobalt2 is one of my favorites, created by Wes Bos, who’s well-known for his programming courses.
With over 1.5 million installs, it’s a sleek and visually appealing dark theme that really enhances your coding experience.
The low-contrast elements are carefully designed to reduce distractions, letting you stay focused on your code.
It’s not just for VSCode either—you can use it across platforms like Sublime Text and even Slack, which is a nice bonus.
14. Atom One Light
Number of installs: 1.1M+ (As of Oct 2024)
Atom One Light is a clean, modern theme based on the popular Atom code editor (which has since been sunsetted, RIP).
It’s perfect if you prefer a lighter look for your VSCode setup, offering a bright, minimalistic vibe while keeping code readability front and center.
The well-balanced color scheme and excellent syntax highlighting make it a favorite among developers who want a crisp, refreshing coding environment.
If dark themes aren’t your style, Atom One Light is definitely worth a try.
15. One Monokai
Number of installs: 2.3M+ (As of Oct 2024)
One Monokai is a popular variant of Monokai Pro, offering a similar sleek and colorful coding experience with a few unique tweaks.
It brings the same non-distracting, high-contrast design that Monokai is known for, but with its own distinct flair.
If you like the vibe of Monokai Pro but want something a little different, One Monokai is a great option.
It’s simple, visually appealing, and works beautifully across various coding languages, making it a solid choice for developers looking to freshen up their workspace.
16. Bluloco Light Theme
Number of installs: 400K+ (As of Oct 2024)
Bluloco Light is the bright and clean counterpart to the popular Bluloco Dark theme.
It keeps the same elegant design and attention to detail, offering a light, minimal look with well-balanced colors that improve readability.
If you’re a fan of the Bluloco Dark theme but prefer coding in a lighter environment, this is the perfect option.
It delivers the same sleek, professional feel, just with a fresh, light touch.
17. Bluloco Dark Theme
Number of installs: 400K+ (As of Oct 2024)
Bluloco Dark is a theme I turn to when I want something elegant and sophisticated for my VSCode setup.
It’s got a well-thought-out color palette that makes code readability a breeze, with consistent colors across syntax scopes.
With over 400k installs and being completely free, it’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a sleek, professional look.
The syntax highlighting, especially for comments, strings, and markup, is spot-on, and it even works seamlessly with Apple’s Nightshift Mode for those late coding sessions.
18. Snazzy Light
Number of installs: 130K+ (As of Oct 2024)
Snazzy Light is a vibrant and modern theme that brings a fresh pop of color to your VSCode setup.
It’s bright, clean, and designed to keep your workspace looking sharp without sacrificing readability.
If you’re looking for a theme that’s both fun and functional, Snazzy Light is a great choice.
Its bold colors and smooth design make coding a visually enjoyable experience while keeping everything easy to navigate.
19. Brackets Light Pro
Number of installs: 125K+ (As of Oct 2024)
Brackets Light Pro is a clean and professional theme inspired by the Brackets editor.
It offers a bright, minimalistic look that keeps your code readable and your workspace clutter-free.
If you’re after a light theme that brings simplicity and clarity to your VSCode setup, Brackets Light Pro is a solid choice.
Its straightforward design makes it a favorite for developers who want a fresh, no-nonsense coding environment.
20. Hop Light
Number of installs: 125K+ (As of Oct 2024)
Hop Light is a crisp and refreshing theme that brings a light, airy feel to your VSCode workspace.
With its soft color palette and clear syntax highlighting, it’s perfect for those who prefer a clean, distraction-free coding environment.
If you’re looking for a light theme that combines simplicity with functionality, Hop Light is a great pick to brighten up your setup.
What Are VSCode Themes?
VS Code themes are visual styles that change the look and feel of your code environment when you're using Visual Studio Code. They can modify code colors, fonts, and overall aesthetics to create a more comfortable and personalized coding environment.
Choosing the right theme can reduce eye strain, enhance focus, and make your coding time more enjoyable.
A well-designed theme also helps you differentiate code elements quickly and intuitively with enhanced readability.
These are not just new color schemes that are a type of eye candy (although they are nice to look at), but a productivity hack that can make it easier to spot variables and improve the user interface.
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What Are the Different Types of VS Code Themes
At a basic level, you can break down the best VSCode themes into three main categories.
Dark Themes are great for reducing eye strain during long coding sessions, thanks to their darker backgrounds and muted colors.
Light Themes bring brighter colors and can be ideal if you’re working in a well-lit space or just prefer a more vibrant look.
Theme Packages offer both light and dark options, often switching automatically based on your system preferences, so you get the best of both worlds.
No matter your style, there’s a theme out there to help you fine-tune your VSCode environment, boost your productivity, and make coding more enjoyable.
And speaking of productivity, adding an AI coding assistant extension can take your VSCode experience to the next level.
How to Install Themes in Visual Studio Code
If you’re unsure how to download and install your favorite VS Code themes, just follow the steps below.
- Open VS Code and click on the "Extensions" icon on the left-hand side of the window (or use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Shift + X" on Windows or "Cmd + Shift + X" on Mac).
- In the search bar at the top of the Extensions panel, type in "themes" and press enter.
- Browse through the list of available themes and click on the one you want to install.
- Click on the "Install" button to install it.
- To activate an installed theme, click on the gear(settings) icon in the bottom left corner of the window and select "Color Theme" from the menu. Then, select your desired theme from the list of available options.
Wrapping Up
The right VSCode theme can do wonders for your productivity and coding experience.
Whether you’re into dark, light, or something in between, there’s a theme that fits your style. I’ve shared some of the best VSCode themes for 2024—so explore, experiment, and find the one that works for you.
A well-chosen theme can make coding more enjoyable and help you stay focused.
Are you ready to use VSCode to level up your portfolio by building projects? Check out:
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FAQs
1. Which VS Code Theme Is Best?
The best VSCode theme 2024 varies from person to person. Some prefer dark themes like One Dark Pro and Dracula Official to help reduce eye strain, while others like light themes like Bluloco and Brackets light because of the vibrant interface. I'd also recommend our very own Hackr.io Theme.
2. What Is the Best Color Theme for VS Code?
The best VSCode color theme depends on your preferences, as each of the VSCode color themes has unique features. For example, some prefer dark themes with soft, dull colors like Firefly, but others prefer light themes with bright and vibrant colors like Snazzy Light. You could also choose a theme package to switch between dark and light.
3. What Is the Best VS Code Dark Theme?
Based on the number of downloads, One Dark Pro and Dracula Official are among the best Visual Studio Code themes, but we’d encourage you to check out each theme we’ve covered above to find the right fit for you.
4. How Do I Make VS Code Look Cool?
You can use many themes to make VS Code look more visually appealing, including Winter is Coming, Tokyo Night, Dracula Official, and Snazzy Light. But honestly, any of the themes we’ve covered above will make VS Code look cool, so check them all out and pick the one you find the coolest!
References
1. Friedman, N. Sunsetting Atom [Internet]. GitHub Blog; 2022 Jun 8 [cited 2024 Jan 15]. Available from: https://github.blog/2022-06-08-sunsetting-atom/
