CLion AlternativesTop IDEs and other similar apps like CLion

CLion is described as 'The intelligent cross-platform C/C++ IDE. CLion is a new IDE that helps you be more productive while developing apps with C and C++ for Windows, Linux and OS X. Take advantage of proven JetBrains expertise in code quality, efficient code navigation, smart code completion' and is a popular IDE in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to CLion for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and Flathub apps. The best CLion alternative is Eclipse, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like CLion are Microsoft Visual Studio, Apache NetBeans, Code::Blocks and Qt Creator.

CLion iconCLion
  53
  • IDE
  • Free PersonalProprietary
  • ...

The intelligent cross-platform C/C++ IDE. CLion is a new IDE that helps you be more productive while developing apps with C...

More about CLion
CLion alternatives page was last updated May 10, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Eclipse icon
     1145 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Eclipse is an extensible development platform with runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Many people know Eclipse as a Java IDE, but it is much more than that- Eclipse actually consists of over 60...

    147 Eclipse alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Top Eclipse Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  C++
    4.  Refactoring
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Portable
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Code Formatting
    10.  Batch Editing
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Spell Checking

    Eclipse VS CLion

     
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to CLion
    Most Recent Comment
    ezpat
    Positive Oct 13, 2020
    2

    Eclipse flavored with CDT provides best free-of-charge experience regarding AST Indexing (and AST storage/caching), instant code completion, smart renaming and most advanced refactoring options unfamiliar in another Open-Source editor.

    Guest
    Negative Jan 9, 2020
    -19

    Eclipse is only similar in the fact that it is an IDE; it does not support C or C++, which is the entire point of CLion. Clearly the high number of upvotes is due to uninformed consumers or a distasteful publicity move by Eclipse.

    Guest
    Negative Mar 11, 2020
    -12

    CLion is an IDE specifically for C/C++, languages which Eclipse does not support.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    CLion Icon
    Eclipse icon
    • Some users think Eclipse is a great CLion alternative, some don't.

    • Eclipse is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to CLion.

    • Eclipse is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to CLion.

    • Eclipse is Free and Open SourceCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for building diverse digital solutions. It supports over 36 programming languages, includes a code editor with IntelliSense, a debugger, and designers for GUI, web, and databases. The Community edition is free and integrates with GitHub Copilot.

    105 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • .NET Framework

    Top Microsoft Visual Studio Features

    1.  Code Completion
    2.  Embedded debugger
    3.  NET Support
    4.  Nuget
    5.  VB.NET support
    6.  NET Framework
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Autocompletion
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required

    Microsoft Visual Studio VS CLion

     
    Comments about Microsoft Visual Studio as an Alternative to CLion
    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Nov 9, 2018
    1

    It has the same Language (C/C++) as CLion and comparable functions.

    Guest
    Negative Dec 23, 2020
    -2

    Only C#, VB and F#.NET supported. There is no C++ support at all in Microsoft VS for Mac. Cannot be called an alternative for Mac.

    olexiykutsenko
    Positive Mar 12, 2018
    -3

    Clion is Visual Studio for Linux

    CLion Icon
    Microsoft Visual Studio icon
    • Most users think Microsoft Visual Studio is a great CLion alternative.

    • Microsoft Visual Studio is the most popular Web-based alternative to CLion.

    • Microsoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and ProprietaryCLion is also Free Personal and Proprietary
  3. Apache NetBeans icon
     739 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers. You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and...

    99 Apache NetBeans alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Top Apache NetBeans Features

    1.  Java IDE
    2.  Refactoring
    3.  Code Formatting
    4. Git icon  Git Support
    5.  Embedded debugger
    6.  Built-in terminal emulation
    7.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Simple installation
    10.  Code Completion
    11.  PHP IDE
    12.  Multiple languages

    Apache NetBeans VS CLion

     
    Comments about Apache NetBeans as an Alternative to CLion
    Guest
    Negative Jul 31, 2017
    0

    Different coding languages.

    CLion Icon
    Apache NetBeans icon
    • Most users think Apache NetBeans is a great CLion alternative.

    • Apache NetBeans is Free and Open SourceCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
  4. Code::Blocks icon
     253 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Code::Blocks is a free C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users. It is designed to be very extensible and fully configurable.

    59 Code::Blocks alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Code::Blocks Features

    1.  C++
    2.  C support
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Portable
    6.  Support for scripting
    7.  Leadfeeder integration

    Code::Blocks VS CLion

     
    Comments about Code::Blocks as an Alternative to CLion
    Guest
    Negative Jul 13, 2016
    -1

    Wildly different capabilities in code completion and code jumping

    Guest
    Positive Apr 23, 2017
    -3

    EASY FOR BEGINNERS ! NO EXTRA DOWNLOADS

    CLion Icon
    Code::Blocks icon
    • Most users think Code::Blocks is a great CLion alternative.

    • Code::Blocks is Free and Open SourceCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
  5. Qt Creator icon
     109 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Qt Creator is a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) built for the maximum developer experience. Qt Creator runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS desktop operating systems and allows developers to create software across desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms.

    130 Qt Creator alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FI flagFinland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Qt Creator Features

    1.  Autocompletion
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Code Formatting
    6.  C++
    7.  QT Based
    8.  Visual studio intergration
    9.  Debugging
    10.  Refactoring

    Qt Creator VS CLion

     
    Comments about Qt Creator as an Alternative to CLion
    Translator5
    Positive Nov 12, 2021
    1

    One of the best and serious IDE's!

    CLion Icon
    Qt Creator icon
    • Almost everyone thinks Qt Creator is a great CLion alternative.

    • Qt Creator is the most popular commercial alternative to CLion.

    • Qt Creator is Paid and Open SourceCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
  6. KDevelop icon
     79 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A cross-platform IDE for C, C++, Python, QML/JavaScript and PHP.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Dark Mode
    3. KDE Plasma icon  KDE Plasma integration
    4.  C support
    5.  C++

    KDevelop VS CLion

     
    Comments about KDevelop as an Alternative to CLion
    Guest
    Positive Feb 27, 2020
    2

    Opensource, free, supports C/C++ very well, supports cmake, git, gdb and llvm, lightweight and lowsized

    CLion Icon
    KDevelop icon
    • Most users think KDevelop is a great CLion alternative.

    • KDevelop is Free and Open SourceCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • KDevelop is LightweightCLion is not according to our users
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Embarcadero Dev-C++ is a new and improved fork (sponsored by Embarcadero) of Bloodshed Dev-C++ and Orwell Dev-C++. It is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and code editor for the C/C++ programming language.

    20 Embarcadero Dev-C++ alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Embarcadero Dev-C++ Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No registration required
    3.  C++
    4.  C support
    5.  Debugging

    Embarcadero Dev-C++ VS CLion

     
  8. Cevelop icon
     12 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    The C++ IDE for professional developers.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Cevelop Features

    1.  C++
    2.  Refactoring
    3.  Coding

    Cevelop VS CLion

     
  9. CodeBrew icon
     3 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Unleash the power of Java coding on your iPhone or iPad with CodeBrew - the ultimate Java Integrated Development Environment designed for developers on the go. Dive into the world of seamless coding, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your programming journey.

    56 CodeBrew alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad

    CodeBrew Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Java IDE

    CodeBrew VS CLion

     
    • CodeBrew is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to CLion.

    • CodeBrew is Freemium and ProprietaryCLion is Free Personal and Proprietary
9 of 17 CLion alternatives