Microsoft Visual Studio AlternativesOnly Free apps categorised as Code Editors

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

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Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly IDEs but may also be Code Editors 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
  931
  • IDE
  • Free Personal • Proprietary
  • ...

Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft. It is used to develop computer programs for Microsoft Windows, as well as web sites, web applications and web services.

More about Microsoft Visual Studio
More about Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives page was last updated Nov 8, 2024
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  1. Visual Studio Code icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1292 likes
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    Visual Studio Code is a free and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.

    212 Visual Studio Code alternatives
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 2
    +2
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 3

    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.  C++
    12.  Source code debugging
    Visual Studio Code iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Visual Studio Code VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Visual Studio Code a good alternative to 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.
    Ola Johansson

    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 positive comment •May 29, 2019
    8
    Guest

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

    Top negative comment •Jul 2, 2018
    27
    alfonsomozkoh

    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.

    Negative comment •Aug 5, 2020
    0
    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 icon

    Eclipse

     1138 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...

    162 Eclipse alternatives
    eclipse on windows 10

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    eclipse on macOS

    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.  Works Offline
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  Code Formatting
    12.  Batch Editing
    Eclipse iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Eclipse VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Eclipse a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    maurosoft391

    hard to use and poorly designed

    Negative comment •Aug 19, 2022
    2
    Guest

    Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too

    Positive comment •Dec 1, 2018
    8
    Guest

    One is for Java and the other is for C#

    Negative comment •Jul 29, 2016
    -38
    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 icon

    VSCodium

     323 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.

    201 VSCodium alternatives
    VSCodium screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron

    Properties

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

    Features

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

    VSCodium VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is VSCodium a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Nov 22, 2020
    3
    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. Apache NetBeans icon
    Apache NetBeans icon

    Apache NetBeans

     737 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...

    109 Apache NetBeans alternatives
    Editor

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Trees
    Windows
    +2
    Linux

    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 iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Apache NetBeans VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Apache NetBeans a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about Apache NetBeans as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
       
    Kristopher Kalish

    NetBeans is an IDE, but it doesn't work for .NET languages so it's hard to call it a viable alternative.

    Negative comment •Jan 4, 2019
    4
    brandomettout

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

    Positive comment •Jun 3, 2017
    1
    gnusensei

    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.

    Positive comment •Feb 5, 2022
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 4 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
  6. PyCharm icon
    PyCharm icon

    PyCharm

     282 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.

    74 PyCharm alternatives
    PyCharm screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    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.  Works Offline
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Syntax Highlighting
    10. Git icon  Git Support
    11.  Real time collaboration
    12. Git icon  Git integration
    PyCharm iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    PyCharm VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is PyCharm a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about PyCharm as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    Guest

    It supports proper Python.

    Positive comment •Oct 13, 2022
    0
    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
  7. IntelliJ IDEA icon
    IntelliJ IDEA icon

    IntelliJ IDEA

     420 likes
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    IntelliJ IDEA, a JetBrains IDE, is the leading integrated development environment that makes Java and Kotlin development a more productive and enjoyable experience. It helps you produce high-quality code more efficiently, provides everything you need out of the box, and takes...

    60 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
    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.

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Inspections help find probable bugs and dead code, detect performance issues, and improve the overall code structure by providing quick-fixes for any code that contains potential concerns.
    In the Search Everywhere window, you can search for files, actions, classes, symbols, settings, UI elements, and anything in Git, all from a single entry point.
    +1
    IntelliJ IDEA provides first-class support for leading frameworks with dedicated assistance for Jakarta EE, JPA, Reactor, Spring and Spring Boot, and other popular frameworks.

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Code Completion
    2.  Java IDE
    3.  Auto Correction
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Autocompletion
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  Code Formatting
    12. Git icon  Git Support
    IntelliJ IDEA iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    IntelliJ IDEA VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is IntelliJ IDEA a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    Guest

    This is only designed for Java not .net.

    Negative comment •Jan 4, 2018
    9
    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
  9. Aide IDE icon
    Aide IDE icon

    Aide IDE

     12 likes
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    Open-source code editor, enhancing VS Code with AI tools for chat-edit flow, proactive linter suggestions, AI completions, and AST navigation. Integrates with swebench-lite, empowering intelligent development with an inline AI widget and smart agents.

    55 Aide IDE alternatives
    Aide IDE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Aide IDE screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Code Completion
    8.  VSCode
    9.  Linting
    10.  AI-Powered
    Aide IDE iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Aide IDE VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Aide IDE a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
7 of 25 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives