Compare software

Prelude vs Spacemacs: catalog facts
Prelude	Spacemacs
Free Free, with source code published on GitHub.	Free Free, community-maintained configuration for Emacs.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Ready-to-use Emacs setup with optional modules Separate personal directory for your own settings	Vim key bindings on top of the Emacs package ecosystem Mnemonic, consistent key bindings with a live key hint display
Requires Emacs 29.1 or newer Its defaults may conflict with an existing Emacs configuration	Requires Emacs to be installed separately Large configuration can make startup and troubleshooting slower
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.