Both editors can meet the requirement to edit Markdown on macOS and Windows without a mandatory paid AI subscription. My conditional recommendation is **VS Code for a group that wants a documented built-in Markdown preview**; Zed is also a viable free-editor candidate, subject to a device and document trial.

Access and price snapshot: **2026-09-07 UTC**. Region: **user's country unspecified**; this comparison uses the public English-language sites, not a verified country-specific checkout. Zed displays dollar prices; currency code, local taxes and regional eligibility were not established by the retrieved page. Prices and allowances may change.

| Dimension | Visual Studio Code | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Core editor access | Free on macOS and Windows; core editing needs no account. AI can be skipped. [Setup overview, redirected to Get started](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/overview) | Personal is listed at $0, and AI can be disabled. The page describes it as suitable for users who do not want AI. [Pricing](https://zed.dev/pricing) |
| Platform eligibility | macOS and Windows installers are documented; exact supported OS versions and hardware need checking for the group's devices. [Get started](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/overview) | Both platforms supported. macOS page specifies 10.15.7+ and Intel/Apple Silicon. Windows page offers stable builds and requires a DirectX 11 compatible GPU. [macOS](https://zed.dev/docs/macos), [Windows](https://zed.dev/docs/windows) |
| Markdown workflow | Built-in Markdown editing and live side-by-side preview; spell checking needs an extension. [Markdown documentation](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/markdown) | Native Markdown support, list continuation and optional Prettier formatting. Default trailing-whitespace removal can affect Markdown hard breaks; configure it if needed. Preview parity was not established by this page. [Markdown documentation](https://zed.dev/docs/languages/markdown) |
| Optional hosted AI | GitHub sign-in connects Copilot. The setup page describes a Free plan with monthly suggestions and AI credits, but gives no numerical allowance or paid-plan price. These are not a core editor charge. [Get started](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/overview) | Personal lists 2,000 accepted edit predictions, with reset period not stated there. Optional Pro is $10/month, includes $5 tokens and unlimited predictions; additional hosted use is API list price +10%. [Pricing](https://zed.dev/pricing) |
| Other AI access and exclusions | Own API keys are possible; that is not a promise of free provider usage. Some Copilot-dependent features are excluded from own-key access. [Get started](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/overview) | Personal permits own keys/external agents; separate provider charges may apply. Pro's two-week trial has $20 credits; Claude Fable, Claude Opus and GPT Pro are excluded. Business is separate at $30/seat/month, without fixed LLM credits. [Pricing](https://zed.dev/pricing) |

Evidence notes: I read the requested [Zed documentation landing page](https://zed.dev/docs/) and pricing page, then the linked platform and Markdown pages. The requested VS Code setup URL redirects to the cited Get started page. The requested [VS Code FAQ](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/supporting/faq) timed out twice, so I have not claimed to verify its contents. All linked pages above were accessed on 2026-09-07; these are documentation observations, not hands-on performance measurements.

Unknowns that matter before adopting a policy: exact VS Code OS/hardware support for the group's machines (official system requirements); Zed's minimum Windows version (installation requirements); current Copilot numerical limits and paid pricing (GitHub's official Copilot plans); Zed prediction reset period (plans/billing documentation); and country-specific AI availability, currency and tax treatment (vendor terms and regional billing information). No nonprofit discount or special eligibility was verified. Zed's listed trial does not substitute for enduring free core access, and own-key usage does not eliminate provider costs.

If the priority is straightforward Markdown editing and preview with no AI budget, start with VS Code and leave optional AI unused. If the group prefers Zed's interface, test representative Markdown files on one Mac and one Windows machine, especially whitespace preservation and preview needs, before standardizing. The sources establish viable access paths; they do not establish which interface your volunteers find easier. No purchase was made.