Microsoft Visual Studio Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best Windows alternative 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 loads of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are VSCodium, Eclipse, Apache NetBeans and IntelliJ IDEA.

Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly IDEs but may also be Code Editors or Text Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Visual Studio.

Microsoft Visual Studio

918

Free Personal • Proprietary
IDE

Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft. It is used to develop computer...

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Visual Studio Code
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
193 Visual Studio Code alternatives
Visual Studio Code is a free and extensible code editor for building web, desktop, and mobile applications, using any programming language and framework.
- - 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.
Suggest and vote on features
Visual Studio Code Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVisual Studio Code can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionVisual Studio Code can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. Syntax HighlightingVisual Studio Code supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. Git SupportVisual Studio Code supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
5. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Visual Studio Code.
6. Dark ModeVisual Studio Code supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
7. Support for MarkDownVisual Studio Code supports MarkDown for document formatting.
8. WYSIWYG HTML EditorVisual Studio Code allows you to make and preview changes to an application or website in real time, without needing to know code.
9. WYSIWYG SupportVisual Studio Code integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Customizable
Built-in terminal emulation
Code Completion
Multiple languages
GitHub integration
Supports Python
C++
Source code debugging
Graphical User Interface
Auto Update
Comments about Visual Studio Code as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Most users think Visual Studio Code is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
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 •
6

Guest
Still powerful tool with so much smaller size.
Top positive comment •
1

Guest
VSC is a text editor and not a solid IDE
Top negative comment •
21

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 •
0

Guest
As others have stated, it's merely a text editor, apparently with intrusive telemetry built in by default.
Negative comment •
-1

Show more comments ▾
5 of 12 comments
VSCodium
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Code Editor
Text Editor
IDE
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
184 VSCodium alternatives
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.
- - VSCodium is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.
Suggest and vote on features
VSCodium Features
1. No TrackingVSCodium will not track you or use your personal data.
2. Privacy focusedVSCodium is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsVSCodium can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Works OfflineVSCodium can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. AutocompletionVSCodium can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in VSCodium without registration.
7. Syntax HighlightingVSCodium supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
8. Dark ModeVSCodium supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
9. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of VSCodium.
Prevent telemetry
Customizable
Git integration
MIT License
Minimap
Lightweight
Clean design
Support for MarkDown
Code navigation
Git Support
Comments about VSCodium as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Most users think VSCodium is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.
Guest
its the same but without the useless features that cause more harm than good
Positive comment •
3
Eclipse
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Code Editor
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
156 Eclipse alternatives
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...
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Eclipse Features
1. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsEclipse can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
2. AutocompletionEclipse can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
3. Syntax HighlightingEclipse supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
4. PortableEclipse can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Eclipse without registration.
6. Works OfflineEclipse can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Spell CheckingEclipse can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
8. Code FormattingEclipse supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
9. Batch EditingEclipse allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
Java IDE
C++
Refactoring
Debugging
Ruby
Ad-free
Dark Mode
SCM Integration
Java based
Support for Themes
Comments about Eclipse as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Most users think Eclipse is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.
maurosoft391
hard to use and poorly designed
Negative comment •
2

Guest
Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too
Positive comment •
8

Guest
One is for Java and the other is for C#
Negative comment •
-38
Apache NetBeans
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
105 Apache NetBeans alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
Apache NetBeans Features
1. Code FormattingApache NetBeans supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
2. Git SupportApache NetBeans supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsApache NetBeans can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Syntax HighlightingApache NetBeans supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
Java IDE
Refactoring
Embedded debugger
Built-in terminal emulation
Simple installation
Code Completion
PHP IDE
Multiple languages
Compiled Language
Support for FTP
Comments about Apache NetBeans as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Most users think Apache NetBeans is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.
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 •
4

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 •
0

brandomettout
Free and Open Source Software. Changing leadership from Oracle to Apache Foundation.
Positive comment •
1

Guest
It's for MS-Windows, MacOSX and Linux too! You can make projects independent of the OS.
Positive comment •
-1
IntelliJ IDEA
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
IDE
Code Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
55 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives
IntelliJ IDEA 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 care of routine...
Suggest and vote on features
IntelliJ IDEA Features
1. AutocompletionIntelliJ IDEA can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
2. Dark ModeIntelliJ IDEA supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. Full-Text SearchIntelliJ IDEA lets you search for specific words or phrases from inside a document or database.
4. Syntax HighlightingIntelliJ IDEA supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
5. Spell CheckingIntelliJ IDEA can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of IntelliJ IDEA.
7. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsIntelliJ IDEA can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in IntelliJ IDEA without registration.
9. WYSIWYG SupportIntelliJ IDEA integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Code Completion
Java IDE
Auto Correction
Go to definition
Language/SDK agnostic
Java Support
Static analysis
Graphical User Interface
Real time collaboration
Ad-free
Comments about IntelliJ IDEA as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Some users think IntelliJ IDEA is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.
Guest
This is only designed for Java not .net.
Negative comment •
10
PyCharm
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
IDE
Code Editor
Text Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
73 PyCharm alternatives
Python and Django IDE with refactorings, code completion, on-the-fly code analysis and other features, including version control integration, deployment, integration with issue trackers, and remote debugging.
Suggest and vote on features
PyCharm Features
1. Code FormattingPyCharm supports code formatting for multiple languages and code styles.
2. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in PyCharm without registration.
3. Git SupportPyCharm supports Git, a free and open source distributed version control system.
4. File VersioningPyCharm has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
5. Support for LaTeXPyCharm supports LaTeX for text and math equation formatting.
6. Syntax HighlightingPyCharm supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages.
7. Support for scriptingPyCharm supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
8. Command line interfacePyCharm either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
9. Spell CheckingPyCharm can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Code Completion
Python IDE
Refactoring
Embedded debugger
Compare Source Code
WYSIWYG Support
Ad-free
Live Preview
Dark Mode
WYSIWYG HTML Editor
Comments about PyCharm as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Some users think PyCharm is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.
Guest
It supports proper Python.
Positive comment •
0
Code::Blocks
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
IDE
Windows
Linux
BSD
60 Code::Blocks alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Code::Blocks Features
1. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Code::Blocks without registration.
2. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsCode::Blocks can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
3. PortableCode::Blocks can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. Support for scriptingCode::Blocks supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
C++
C support
Leadfeeder integration
Comments about Code::Blocks as a Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
Most users think Code::Blocks is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative.
Guest
Code::Blocks has 0.1% of the functionality of VS. It looks ugly as well.
Negative comment •
0

DayOS
It is faster than VS and the plugins make it a little better, but it doesn't look as good visually.
Positive comment •
-2

maurosoft391
windows forms are missing and it's poorly designed
Negative comment •
0

gnusensei
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.
Positive comment •
0