Microsoft Visual Studio AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Code Editors

The best Code Editor alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio is Visual Studio Code, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio and many of them are Code Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Code Editor alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are Eclipse, VSCodium, Apache NetBeans and PyCharm.

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Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly Code Editors but may also be IDEs or Text Editors. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Visual Studio.
Microsoft Visual Studio iconMicrosoft Visual Studio
  938
  • IDE
  • Free Personal • Proprietary
  • ...

Microsoft Visual Studio is an IDE used to create programs, apps, websites, and web services using various frameworks. It supports multiple languages and offers tools for coding, debugging, and design.

More about Microsoft Visual Studio
More about Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives page was last updated Feb 27, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1314 likes
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    Free and extensible code editor with built-in Git support, smart IntelliSense, integrated debugger, 30,000+ extensions, works offline, supports markdown and syntax highlighting for numerous languages.

    205 Visual Studio Code alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Autocompletion
    3.  Built-in terminal emulation
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Code Completion
    6.  Multiple languages
    7. Git icon  Git Support
    8. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Supports Python
    11.  Multiple Cursors
    12.  C++

    Visual Studio Code VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Comment summary: There is a consensus that Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is primarily a code editor rather than a full-fledged IDE like Microsoft Visual Studio. While it is lighter and more nimble, several users point out that it lacks certain capabilities of an IDE. However, others highlight its strengths, like being open-source and offering numerous extensions, making it versatile for smaller projects. Despite disagreements, some appreciate its plugin system which can expand its functionality significantly.
    Top Positive Comment
    Ola Johansson
    May 29, 2019
    8

    It's maybe not as capable as the real VS. But it's still a great environment and with a couple of extensions it can do a lot of things VS can.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Jul 2, 2018
    27

    Visual Studio Code is a text editor based on electron.js just like Atom.

    Most Recent Comment
    alfonsomozkoh
    Negative •Aug 5, 2020
    0

    Visual studio Code is not a IDE (Integrated Development Environment), it's a text and code editor. So it's more an alternative to Sublime text or Atom.

    Show more comments
    3 of 12 comments
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    • Some users think Visual Studio Code is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Visual Studio Code is the most popular free alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Visual Studio Code is Free and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Visual Studio Code is CustomizableMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  2. Eclipse icon

    Eclipse

     1143 likes
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    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...

    154 Eclipse alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    eclipse on windows 10

    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 Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Most Recent Comment
    maurosoft391
    Negative •Aug 19, 2022
    2

    hard to use and poorly designed

    Guest
    Positive •Dec 1, 2018
    8

    Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too

    Guest
    Negative •Jul 29, 2016
    -38

    One is for Java and the other is for C#

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Eclipse icon

    • Most users think Eclipse is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • Eclipse is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Eclipse is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  4. VSCodium icon

    VSCodium

     345 likes
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    This repository contains a build file to generate FLOSS release binaries of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code - Open Source ("Code - OSS") project, the open source core of the proprietary Visual Studio Code.

    195 VSCodium alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes
    4.  Lightweight
    5.  Clean design

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Prevent telemetry
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Autocompletion
    7.  MIT License
    8.  Dark Mode
    9. Git icon  Git integration
    10.  Syntax Highlighting
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Minimap

    VSCodium VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Positive •Nov 22, 2020
    3

    its the same but without the useless features that cause more harm than good

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    VSCodium icon

    • Most users think VSCodium is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • VSCodium is Customizable and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    WeBuilder icon
    WeBuilder

    This all-inclusive code editor is tailored for web developers, boasting fast startup and extensive features. It supports a wide range of languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python, and offers intelligent code completio...

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  6. Apache NetBeans icon

    Apache NetBeans

     739 likes
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    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...

    103 Apache NetBeans alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Editor

    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 Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about Apache NetBeans as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Top Positive Comment
    brandomettout
    Jun 3, 2017
    1

    Free and Open Source Software. Changing leadership from Oracle to Apache Foundation.

    Top Negative Comment
    Kris Regina
    Feb 27, 2025
    0

    It's not for dotNET languages.

    Most Recent Comment
    gnusensei
    Positive •Feb 5, 2022
    0

    Netbeans includes built-in GUI designer with drag and drop ability to create desktop applications and they can run on Windows as well as GNU/Linux and macOS.

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Apache NetBeans icon

    • Most users think Apache NetBeans is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • Apache NetBeans is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  7. PyCharm icon

    PyCharm

     287 likes
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    Cross-platform IDE for Python and Django with refactoring capabilities, code completion, VCS integration, deployment, issue tracking, remote debugging, and Community Edition, though lacking database support and web technologies.

    61 PyCharm alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PyCharm screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Code Completion
    2.  Python IDE
    3.  Refactoring
    4.  Code Formatting
    5.  Embedded debugger
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  No registration required
    10. Git icon  Git Support
    11.  File Versioning
    12. Git icon  Git integration

    PyCharm VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about PyCharm as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Positive •Oct 13, 2022
    0

    It supports proper Python.

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    PyCharm icon

    • Some users think PyCharm is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.

    • PyCharm is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • PyCharm is Privacy focused and LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  8. IntelliJ IDEA icon

    IntelliJ IDEA

     427 likes
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    IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains IDE for pro development in Java and Kotlin. Built for your comfort, it unlocks productivity, ensures quality code, supports cutting-edge tech, and protects your privacy.

    57 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    IntelliJ IDEA interface overview: the Project tool window (left) outlines the code structure and the Editor (right) is used to read, write, and explore the source code.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Code Completion
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Real time collaboration
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Autocompletion
    9.  Spell Checking
    10.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    11.  No registration required
    12.  WYSIWYG Support

    IntelliJ IDEA VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Negative •Jan 4, 2018
    10

    This is only designed for Java not .net.

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    IntelliJ IDEA icon

    • Some users think IntelliJ IDEA is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.

    • IntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  10. WebStorm icon

    WebStorm

     132 likes
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    JetBrains WebStorm is a commercial IDE for JavaScript, CSS & HTML built on JetBrains' IntelliJ IDEA platform.

    58 WebStorm alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WebStorm screenshot 1

    WebStorm Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Support for Javascript
    3.  Secure File Sharing

    WebStorm VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
7 of 32 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives