Free Microsoft Visual Studio Alternatives

The best free 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 loads of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are Eclipse, VSCodium, MonoDevelop and Apache NetBeans.

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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 Sep 8, 2024
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  1. KDevelop icon
    KDevelop icon

    KDevelop

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

    53 KDevelop alternatives
    Main window

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE
    KDevelop in focus mode (tool views hidden).
    KDevelop with a dark theme

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  C++ support
    3. KDE Plasma icon  KDE Plasma integration
    4.  C support
    5.  C++
    KDevelop iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    KDevelop VS Microsoft Visual Studio

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

    Its easy to use but syntax highlighting might be weird sometimes.

    Positive comment •May 27, 2020
    1
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    KDevelop icon

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

    • KDevelop is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • KDevelop is LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  2. Xcode icon
    Xcode icon

    Xcode

     153 likes
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    Xcode 14 includes everything you need to develop, test, and distribute apps across all Apple platforms. Leverage the simplicity and power of Swift and SwiftUI with a new multiplatform app experience, code faster with enhanced editor features, and start testing and deploying from...

    61 Xcode alternatives
    Xcode screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Top Xcode Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Code Formatting
    4.  Portable
    5. Git icon  Git Support
    6.  Support for MarkDown
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Support for scripting
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Autocompletion
    12.  Full-Text Search
    Xcode iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Xcode VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Xcode a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
  4. Phoenix Code icon
    Phoenix Code icon

    Phoenix Code

     5 likes
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    Phoenix Code is a text editor designed to make coding as intuitive and fun as playing a video game - specially crafted for web developers, designers, and students.

    30 Phoenix Code alternatives
    Phoenix Code screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Live Preview
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Syntax Highlighting
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  No registration required
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  No Coding Required
    10.  Dark Mode
    Phoenix Code iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Phoenix Code VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Phoenix Code a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     

    • Phoenix Code is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Phoenix Code is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Phoenix Code is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  5. Arduino IDE icon
    Arduino IDE icon

    Arduino IDE

     75 likes
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    Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

    26 Arduino IDE alternatives
    Arduino IDE screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Arduino IDE Features

    1.  Arduino
    Arduino IDE iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Arduino IDE VS Microsoft Visual Studio

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

    Arduino IDE is intended towards electronics prototyping. Whereas MSVS is for software development in general.

    Negative comment •May 29, 2022
    1
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Arduino IDE icon

    • This alternative is disputed. Arduino IDE is a legitimate Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • Arduino IDE is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  6. Project IDX icon
    Project IDX icon

    Project IDX

     4 likes
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    Project IDX is an entirely web-based, integrated development environment. IDX can help you build and deploy applications in various tech stacks without the tedium of setting up development environments for yourself and others on your team.

    56 Project IDX alternatives
    Project IDX screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Project IDX screenshot 1
    Project IDX screenshot 2
    +1
    Project IDX screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Support for scripting
    3.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    4.  Batch Editing
    5.  Code Formatting
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Support for MarkDown
    10. Git icon  Git Support
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Live Preview
    Project IDX iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Project IDX VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Project IDX a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
  7. CodeLite icon
    CodeLite icon

    CodeLite

     64 likes
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    CodeLite is an open-source, cross platform IDE for the C/C++/PHP and Node.js programming languages. CodeLite is known to work on various OSs including:

    51 CodeLite alternatives
    CodeLite screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • wxWidgets

    CodeLite Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  C++
    4.  Virtual filesystem
    CodeLite screenshot 1
    CodeLite screenshot 2
    +9
    CodeLite screenshot 3
    CodeLite iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    CodeLite VS Microsoft Visual Studio

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

    Excellent development environment, continuously updated, clear vision, active support.

    Positive comment •Nov 13, 2015
    0
    rgk_rgk_01rgk

    For me and my enterprise is the best alternative, intellisense very good, dynamic library linkage is very similar to VS, automatically creates a makefile. Very good class wizards! Debug and subversion / GIT and SFTP inegrated in the environment.

    Positive comment •Sep 18, 2015
    0
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    CodeLite icon

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

    • CodeLite is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  9. Bloodshed Dev-C++ icon
    Bloodshed Dev-C++ icon

    Bloodshed Dev-C++

     73 likes
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    Bloodshed Dev-C++ is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the C/C++ programming language. It uses Mingw port of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) as it's compiler. Dev-C++ can also be used in combination with Cygwin or any other GCC based compiler.

    45 Bloodshed Dev-C++ alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Bloodshed Dev-C++ Features

    1.  C++
    Discontinued

    No longer developed. Last version, 5 Beta 9.2 (4.9.9.2), released on February 21th 2005, is still downloadable, but a maintained version of Dev-C++ with updated code is Orwell Dev-C++ icon Orwell Dev-C++

    Bloodshed Dev-C++ iconMicrosoft Visual Studio Icon

    Bloodshed Dev-C++ VS Microsoft Visual Studio

    Is Bloodshed Dev-C++ a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?
     
    Comments about Bloodshed Dev-C++ as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
     
    Guest

    It is one of the best C/C++ IDEs out there, I've been using it for 2 years now and it has yet to dissapoint me.

    Positive comment •Aug 28, 2015
    1
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Bloodshed Dev-C++ icon

    • Most users think Bloodshed Dev-C++ is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • Bloodshed Dev-C++ is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
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