Microsoft Visual Studio AlternativesOnly Free apps categorised as IDEs

Alternatives list

1. 

   

   Visual Studio Code

    1407 likes

   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.

   216 Visual Studio Code alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Proprietary (MIT)

   Application types

   • Code Editor
   • IDE

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Online
   • Chrome OS
   • Snapcraft

   

   

   

   +2

   

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   Is Visual Studio Code a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?

    

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   Visual Studio Code vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   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

   Some Random Guy

   Apr 28, 2025

   3

   VSCode is a code editor, Visual Studio is a full-fledged IDE. Sure, it's a good program, but not a good alternative.

   coyoteconscious

   Negative comment•May 7, 2026

   0

   Just because it has visual in the name and does code does not make it an alternative to a visual programming tool. VSC is a text-based IDE, not a visual programming tool.

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   3 of 14 comments

   

   

   • 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

    1152 likes

   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...

   150 Eclipse alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application types

   • IDE
   • Code Editor

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD

   

   

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   4comments

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   Eclipse vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   maurosoft391

   Negative comment•Aug 19, 2022

   2

   hard to use and poorly designed

   Guest

   Positive comment•Dec 1, 2018

   8

   Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   coyoteconscious

   Negative comment•May 7, 2026

   0

   Eclipse is a text-based IDE, not a visual programming tool.

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   3 of 4 comments

   

   

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

   

   VSCodium

    431 likes

   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.

   205 VSCodium alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (MIT)

   Application types

   • Code Editor
   • IDE

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • Flathub
   • Electron
   • Snapcraft
   • Homebrew
   • Chocolatey

   

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   VSCodium vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   Guest

   Positive comment•Nov 22, 2020

   1

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

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   coyoteconscious

   Negative comment•May 7, 2026

   0

   VSCodium is a text-based IDE, not a visual programming tool.

   

   

   • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
   • VSCodium is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
5. 

   

   Apache NetBeans

    746 likes

   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...

   98 Apache NetBeans alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

   Application types

   • IDE
   • Code Editor

   Origin

   • United States

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD

   

   

   

   +2

   

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   Apache NetBeans vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   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.

   coyoteconscious

   Negative comment•May 7, 2026

   0

   Apache Netbeans is a text-based IDE, not a visual programming tool.

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   3 of 6 comments

   

   

   • Apache NetBeans is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
6. 

   

   Code::Blocks

    255 likes

   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.

   60 Code::Blocks alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Free
   • Open Source

   Application type

   • IDE

   Origin

   • International

   Platforms

   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD

   

   More about Code::Blocks  

   

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   4comments

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   Code::Blocks vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   maurosoft391

   Negative comment•Aug 19, 2022

   0

   windows forms are missing and it's poorly designed

   Guest

   Negative comment•Sep 7, 2020

   0

   Code::Blocks has 0.1% of the functionality of VS. It looks ugly as well.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   gnusensei

   Positive comment•Feb 5, 2022

   0

   Faster, smaller, and able to make graphical desktop applications by adding GUI designer plugin wxSmith for C++ language and wxWidgets framework. Also, CodeBlocks is cross platform.

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   3 of 4 comments

   

   

   • Code::Blocks is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
7. 

   

   PyCharm

    299 likes

   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.

   58 PyCharm alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

   Application types

   • IDE
   • Code Editor

   Origin

   • Czechia
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux
   • BSD

   

   

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   PyCharm vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   Guest

   Positive comment•Oct 13, 2022

   0

   It supports proper Python.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • PyCharm is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
   • PyCharm is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
9. 

   

   IntelliJ IDEA

    444 likes

   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.

   65 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives

   Cost / License

   • Freemium
   • Open Source (Apache-2.0)

   Application types

   • IDE
   • Code Editor

   Origin

   • Czechia
   • EU

   Platforms

   • Mac
   • Windows
   • Linux

   

   

   

   +1

   

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   1comment

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   IntelliJ IDEA vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

    

   Guest

   Negative comment•Jan 4, 2018

   10

   This is only designed for Java not .net.

   Review by a new / low-activity user.

   

   

   • IntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
   • IntelliJ IDEA is Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
10. 

    

    JetBrains Rider

     34 likes

    JetBrains Rider is a powerful integrated development environment (IDE) designed specifically for developing .NET applications. With its intuitive and feature-rich interface, Rider provides developers with a seamless coding experience across multiple platforms, including Windows...

    13 JetBrains Rider alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    • IDE
    • Code Editor

    Origin

    • Czechia
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    

    

    More about JetBrains Rider  

    

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    3comments

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    JetBrains Rider vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

     

    Ola Johansson

    Positive comment•May 1, 2023

    0

    The most similar to VS. Actually better at many things, and real cross-platform.

    Guest

    Positive comment•Nov 8, 2019

    3

    Rider is Resharper... but as a standalone IDE. It is a full blown IDE voor C# and .NET, complete with extensive code completion, peek (decompile) and refactoring

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    Guest

    Positive comment•Feb 11, 2020

    0

    Though Rider costs money it has been a great development tool for my team.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    

    

    • JetBrains Rider is Free Personal and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visual Studio is also Free Personal and Proprietary
11. 

    

    Lazarus

     132 likes

    Lazarus is a cross-platform IDE for the Free Pascal compiler. It tries to offer a Delphi-like programming experience through its own 'Lazarus Component Library' and supporting many platforms like Windows, OSX, Linux, BSD, Android, iOS and more.

    33 Lazarus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • IDE

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • OpenSolaris

    

    

    

    +2

    

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    Lazarus vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

     

    Guest

    Positive comment•Jul 9, 2020

    3

    Because of license agreement, you can create unlimited codes by using Lazarus but VS has limits in license agreement

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    gnusensei

    Positive comment•Feb 5, 2022

    1

    Lazarus GUI designer is nice and easy to use. Drag and drop works without much hassles about layouting.

    Guest

    Positive comment•Nov 3, 2016

    5

    Open Source done entirely in an independent language very like TurboPascal (Delphi).

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

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    • Lazarus is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Lazarus is LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
12. 

    

    CLion

     55 likes

    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...

    17 CLion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    • IDE

    Origin

    • Czechia
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft

    

    Is CLion a good alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio?

     

    |

    3comments

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    CLion vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments

     

    Greenskid

    Positive comment•Mar 24, 2018

    1

    Its cross platform and bring the benefits of the JetBrains IDE platform which is well polished and powerful.

    Guest

    Positive comment•Aug 31, 2017

    1

    For its young age it is well matured and a very powerful IDE with great CMake Support and other goodies like great refactoring tools and a sophisticated code-completion system.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    Guest

    Positive comment•Jan 20, 2021

    0

    Is actually designed for the same use cases as Visual Studio, while improving on VS's code completion, plugin support, and build and deployment features.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.

    

    

    • CLion is Free Personal and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visual Studio is also Free Personal and Proprietary
    • CLion is CustomizableMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
13. 

    

    WebStorm

     134 likes

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

    56 WebStorm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    • IDE
    • Code Editor

    Origin

    • Czechia
    • EU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    

    

    

    +3

    

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14. 

    

    RStudio

     134 likes

    RStudio™ is an integrated development environment (IDE) for R. RStudio combines an intuitive user interface with powerful coding tools to help you get the most out of R.

    59 RStudio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    • IDE

    Origin

    • United States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Xfce

    

    

    

    +1

    

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