Microsoft Visual Studio AlternativesOnly apps from the EU

The best alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio is Qt Creator. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try PyCharm or IntelliJ IDEA. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio and 18 are so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are JetBrains Rider, CLion, WebStorm and KDevelop.

filter to find the best alternatives

Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly IDEs, but if you're looking for Code Editors or Text Editors you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to 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 24, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Qt Creator icon

    Qt Creator

     110 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.

    129 Qt Creator alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FI flagFinland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Qt Creator screenshot 1

    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 Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about Qt Creator as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Jan 22, 2017
    3

    Found everything in Qt Creator for Linux that is in VS for Windows.

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Positive Feb 5, 2020
    1

    It has A lot of really use full tools and you can install many extensions and even support for other programming languages then python,c++ etc

    ichimitch
    Negative Mar 31, 2019
    -5

    Does not support C# as they believe "it is not widely used enough" pfft

    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Qt Creator icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Qt Creator is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • Qt Creator is the most popular commercial alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Qt Creator is Paid and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  2. JetBrains Rider icon

    JetBrains Rider

     33 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    JetBrains Rider screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  C#
    2.  Syntax Highlighting
    3.  NET Support
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Dark Mode
    6. Git icon  Git Support
    7.  Autocompletion
    8.  Automatic content formatting

    JetBrains Rider VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about JetBrains Rider as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Most Recent Comment
    Ola Johansson
    Positive May 1, 2023
    0

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

    Guest
    Positive 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

    Guest
    Positive Feb 11, 2020
    0

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

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    JetBrains Rider icon

    • Almost everyone thinks JetBrains Rider is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.

    • JetBrains Rider is Free Personal and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visual Studio is also Free Personal and Proprietary
  4. PyCharm icon

    PyCharm

     290 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    57 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
  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...

    https://www.webuilderapp.com
    Learn More
  6. IntelliJ IDEA icon

    IntelliJ IDEA

     431 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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.

    55 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
  7. CLion icon

    CLion

     53 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  C support
    2.  Code Completion
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    5.  Autocompletion
    6.  Code generation
    7.  Built-in terminal emulation
    8.  C++
    9.  Automatic Indentation

    CLion VS Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about CLion as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Most Recent Comment
    Greenskid
    Positive Mar 24, 2018
    1

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

    Guest
    Positive 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.

    Guest
    Positive 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.

    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    CLion icon

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

    • CLion is Free Personal and ProprietaryMicrosoft Visual Studio is also Free Personal and Proprietary
  8. WebStorm icon

    WebStorm

     132 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    54 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

     
  10. KDevelop icon

    KDevelop

     80 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

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

    52 KDevelop alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

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

    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 Microsoft Visual Studio

     
    Comments about KDevelop as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Positive May 27, 2020
    1

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

    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
7 of 18 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives