👀Top 10 Must-Try VS Code Themes in 2024
Tags: ui, themes, vscode, recommendation
Published: 2024-05-04 03:19:34

Your coding environment plays a crucial role in your productivity and focus as a developer. Whether you're tackling a complex software project or a simple coding task, the right Visual Studio Code theme can help you stay organized, efficient, and inspired. While many developers prefer dark themes, there are numerous options available to customize your workspace according to your preferences and needs.

In this article, we'll explore some of the best Visual Studio Code themes to elevate your coding experience, regardless of your developer type.

## The Importance of Visual Studio Code Themes

With so many themes available, choosing a starting point can be challenging. That's why we've compiled a list of the top Visual Studio Code themes every developer should try. Choosing the right Visual Studio Code theme can help you:

- Reduce eye strain
- Increase productivity
- Make coding a more enjoyable experience

## 1. One Dark Pro - A Classic and Minimalistic VS Code Theme

[![One Dark Pro theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--7iKb6FZ9--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/rms0nv364fecpxlw1vi4.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--7iKb6FZ9--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/rms0nv364fecpxlw1vi4.png)

You've probably heard of the ATOM editor, one of the popular code editors. This theme is based on one of the iconic themes of ATOM. The [One Dark Pro](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=zhuangtongfa.Material-theme) has a well-balanced color palette with lower contrast between background and text. It features a dark gray background with multiple options, such as:

- One Dark Pro
- One Dark Pro Darker
- One Dark Pro Flat
- One Dark Pro Mix

It has over 7.2 million installs and is one of the most popular themes on the Visual Studio marketplace. It's created by Binaryify and offers customization for different colors, bold or italic texts, and options to enable or disable vivid colors.

One downside of this theme is that, sometimes, the gray background makes it hard to see different color texts. Additionally, the dark color scheme and bold syntax highlighting may overwhelm some users. However, this theme is an excellent choice if you like dark modes.

## 2. Dracula Official - A Dark and Mysterious VS Code Theme

[![Dracula Official theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--QbvtIp6a--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1vqu99mpfu9iok632e4g.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--QbvtIp6a--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1vqu99mpfu9iok632e4g.png)

The [Dracula Official](https://draculatheme.com/) theme is a popular Visual Studio Code theme featuring a purple background with a well-balanced color scheme. It offers two options:

- Dracula
- Dracula Soft

The theme is easy on the eyes and provides excellent contrast for syntax highlighting. With over 5 million downloads, it is highly popular among developers.

However, some users may find the Dracula Official theme too bold or overwhelming due to its bright colors and high contrast. It may not suit those who prefer lighter themes or have trouble viewing bright colors on a dark background. Nonetheless, it's an excellent choice for those wanting a bold and vibrant theme with excellent syntax highlighting and customization options.

## 3. GitHub Themes - GitHub-Like Light and Dark VS Code Theme

[![GitHub theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--xnoU15ue--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9n6x9au34w3xewxcutl6.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--xnoU15ue--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9n6x9au34w3xewxcutl6.png)

If you like GitHub's design, this theme is for you. The [GitHub Theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitHub.github-vscode-theme) is inspired by the popular code hosting platform. It offers a combination of light and dark theme options, such as:

- GitHub Dark
- GitHub Dark Colorblind
- GitHub Dark Default
- GitHub Dark Dimmed
- GitHub Dark High Contrast
- GitHub Light
- GitHub Light Colorblind
- GitHub Light Default
- GitHub Light High Contrast

This theme has over 8.4 million downloads on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. If you are not a fan of dark mode, this theme offers some of the best light theme options for Visual Studio Code. It's a sleek and modern theme with different shades of background, such as blue, dark gray, and white, making it a solid choice for developers who prefer lighter color schemes and a clean, minimalist design.

## 4. Night Owl - A Versatile VS Code Theme for Night Owls

[![Night Owl theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--Ww71zj7q--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7rtb072qqd7cy7e3xbmi.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--Ww71zj7q--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7rtb072qqd7cy7e3xbmi.png)

The [Night Owl](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sdras.night-owl) theme is ideal for low-light conditions. It has a unique design and is easy on the eyes, using muted colors with a blue background shade. This theme is designed for programmers who code at night. It offers options like:

- Night Owl
- Night Owl (No Italics)
- Night Owl Light
- Night Owl Light (No Italics)

With over 1.9 million downloads, it is recommended by many coding communities. It was created by Sarah Drasner. However, the light version of this theme features a white background, with syntax colors that aren't dark enough, making the code hard to read. Nonetheless, it's a great choice for programmers who prefer dark mode without high-contrast syntax colors.

## 5. Ayu - A Sleek Visual Studio Code Theme

[![Ayu theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--NxdY5bw3--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8k59mtzs06q2jjx9265p.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--NxdY5bw3--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8k59mtzs06q2jjx9265p.png)

The [Ayu](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/itemsitemName=teabyii.ayu) theme has over 1.8 million downloads on the Visual Studio marketplace. It offers a mix of light and dark themes, including:

- Ayu Dark
- Ayu Dark Bordered
- Ayu Light
- Ayu Light Bordered
- Ayu Mirage
- Ayu Mirage Bordered

It features an excellent color scheme for the dark theme, with high-contrast colors for syntax and a darker background. The Mirage version offers a fog-like background, making it slightly dimmer than the Dark version. However, the Light version falls short, as the contrast between the syntax and background colors is not well-balanced. Overall, this theme is a solid choice for developers who prefer high-contrast syntax colors and a darker background. It also offers bordered or borderless options.

## 6. Moonlight - A Dark and Elegant VS Code Theme for Improved Productivity

[![screenshot of Moonlight theme](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--aofcvF3Z--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2w34wh2zbkc252apipge.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--aofcvF3Z--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2w34wh2zbkc252apipge.png)

The [Moonlight](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=atomiks.moonlight) is one of my favourite themes. It was created by Atomiks, and It has over 132k downloads on the VS code marketplace and 550+ stars on GitHub; the one thing I like about this theme is the soothing colours of the syntax that match the background shade. It also has the option to change the syntax colour to high-contrast colours. It has different options, such as,

- Moonlight
- Moonlight II
- Moonlight Italic
- Moonlight II Italic

**Moonlight** theme may not be suitable for users who prefer high-contrast themes. Overall, it is a stylish and modern theme that's easy on the eyes and offers great syntax highlighting and a unique look and feel, making it a great choice for developers.

## 7. 2077 - A Futuristic Visual Studio Code Theme

[![2077 theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--YkZQTY9o--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/shqczzzvlhxpquhtmdaq.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--YkZQTY9o--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/shqczzzvlhxpquhtmdaq.png)

The [2077](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Endormi.2077-theme) theme is perfect for developers seeking a futuristic, cyberpunk-inspired theme. Based on the popular game "Cyberpunk 2077," it features a dark background with neon-like colors. Created by Endormi, it has over 254,000 downloads on the Visual Studio marketplace and boasts a 5-out-of-5 rating.

This theme has a dark navy blue background with unique and bright colors easily distinguishable from one another. However, it may overwhelm developers who prefer more subtle colors. Overall, it's a unique and bold theme that offers a futuristic look to your code editor.

## 8. Noctis - A Minimalistic and Intuitive VS Code Theme

[![Noctis theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--pqXxGu9d--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1bqnmlirxriodaw9zgqt.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--pqXxGu9d--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1bqnmlirxriodaw9zgqt.png)

I found one of the best light themes in this collection. The [Noctis](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=liviuschera.noctis) theme offers a collection of light and dark themes with a blend of warm and cold contrast colors. It features muted teals, blues, purples, and grays. It includes many variants, such as:

- Noctis
- Noctis Azureus
- Noctis Bordo
- Noctis Hibernus
- Noctis Lilac
- Noctis Lux
- Noctis Minimus
- Noctis Obscuro
- Noctis Sereno
- Noctis Uva
- Noctis Viola

Noctis has over 800,000 downloads on the Visual Studio Code marketplace and over 440 stars on GitHub. It's a solid choice for developers wanting a clean, minimalist theme that's easy on the eyes.

## 9. Shades of Purple - A Vibrant VS Code Theme for Creative Coders

[![Shades of Purple theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--t_NSyJSJ--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zn0ce3lejkz4jups0g9y.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--t_NSyJSJ--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zn0ce3lejkz4jups0g9y.png)

The [Shades of Purple](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ahmadawais.shades-of-purple) theme is popular among Visual Studio Code users, with over 1.4 million downloads. If you love the color purple, this theme is for you. It features a purple background and offers two options:

- Shades of Purple
- Shades of Purple (Super Dark)

With high-contrast syntax colors, this theme is bold, with a lot of contrast between the dark background and the text. If you prefer low-contrast themes, this may not suit you. Overall, it's a unique theme with excellent syntax highlighting and bold colors.

## 10. City Lights - A Modern and Sophisticated VS Code Theme

[![City Lights theme screenshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--jm6jVQod--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/peheot8awk6fn9tg9jy2.png)](https://res.cloudinary.com/practicaldev/image/fetch/s--jm6jVQod--/c_limit%2Cf_auto%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto%2Cw_800/https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/peheot8awk6fn9tg9jy2.png)

The [City Lights Theme](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Yummygum.city-lights-theme) was created by Yummygum Design Agency. It's a visually pleasing theme with a bright, colorful design, high contrast, and bold typography. The color palette stands out from other themes, featuring soothing light colors with a low contrast. While it doesn't provide many options, you should still try this theme.

With over 210,000 downloads on the Visual Studio marketplace and a 4.9 out of 5 rating, the City Lights theme is great for developers wanting a visually striking and modern theme with excellent syntax highlighting and customization options. However, it may not be suitable for everyone, so it's worth trying to see if it meets your needs.

## Conclusion

Choosing the right Visual Studio Code theme is essential for developers looking to improve their coding experience. Whether you prefer a dark or light background, or a minimalist or colorful design, countless options are available to help you customize your workspace and boost your productivity. From the popular One Dark Pro to the elegant City Lights and the futuristic 2077, each of these themes offers unique advantages and features to enhance your coding workflow. So why not try them out for yourself and see which one suits your style and needs the best?