Top 5 VS Code Extensions That Actually Save Time
Top 5 VS Code Extensions That Actually Save Time
Let’s be honest — the VS Code marketplace is flooded with flashy extensions. But how many of them actually save you time, day after day?
After years of working across frontend, backend, and devops projects, I’ve narrowed my toolbox to a handful of extensions that truly earn their keep.
These aren’t just cool — they’re practical. Here are the top 5 VS Code extensions that have genuinely boosted my productivity in 2025.
1. 🔍 GitLens
What it does: Supercharges the built-in Git capabilities of VS Code. See who last touched a line, explore commit history inline, and even blame with context.
Why it saves time:
No more digging through Git logs or running terminal commands to track down changes. I can see who introduced a bug (or saved my code) with a single hover.
Bonus: The inline blame and file history timeline are lifesavers during code reviews.
2. ⚡ TabOut
What it does: Allows you to tab out of quotes, brackets, and parentheses without deleting the closing character manually.
Why it saves time:
Sounds minor — but this is one of those “10 seconds here, 10 seconds there” quality-of-life features that adds up fast. Especially useful in JSX, JSON, and string-heavy code.
No more reaching for the arrow key or backspacing your way to freedom.
3. 🧠 CodeSnap
What it does: Instantly creates beautiful screenshots of your code, styled with your current theme.
Why it saves time:
If you blog, share snippets on Twitter/X, or write documentation, this beats screenshotting your entire screen and cropping it in another tool.
Just select the code, press a keybinding, and you’re done.
4. 🪄 REST Client
What it does: Lets you send HTTP requests directly from a .http or .rest file in VS Code.
Why it saves time:
No need to switch to Postman or curl for API testing. You write the request, hit send, and see the response — all inline.
Perfect for working with APIs during backend development or testing endpoints in isolation.
5. 🔐 Settings Sync
What it does: Syncs your VS Code settings, extensions, keybindings, snippets, and more across machines via GitHub or other services.
Why it saves time:
Whenever I set up a new laptop or jump into a cloud environment, I don’t have to start from scratch. My entire environment is just a few clicks away.
This one turns hours of setup into minutes.
Honorable Mentions
- Prettier – Format on save, keep your code clean.
- Error Lens – Highlights problems inline, not just in the Problems panel.
- Tailwind CSS IntelliSense – Autocomplete and docs for Tailwind users.
- Peacock – Color-code your workspace for multi-project sanity.
Final Thoughts
VS Code’s power lies in its extensibility — but not all extensions are worth the install. These five have saved me hours and improved my workflow across nearly every project I touch.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the marketplace, start here.
And if you have a must-have extension I missed, drop it in the comments — I’m always on the hunt for small tools that make a big impact.