Category · 39 tools · 36 comparisons
IDEs & code editors
Build, edit, debug and manage code in desktop and cloud development environments.
At a glance
- Tools tracked
- 39
- Entry plans
- $4–$300/mo
- Typical entry plan
- $10.90/mo
- Free plan
- 32 of 39
- Cheapest paid
- JDoodle, $4/mo
- Best value score
- Apache NetBeans, 10/10
Every tool we cover
Price tracker →| Tool | Score | From | Top listed plan | Free plan | Trial | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Visual Studio CodeVisual Studio Code | 8.1 | Free | — | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 IntelliJ IDEAIntelliJ IDEA | 7.9 | $16.58/mo* | $81.58/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 PyCharmPyCharm | 7.8 | $10.90/mo* | $81.58/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Sublime TextSublime Text | 7.8 | $5.42/mo* | $5.42/mo | No | Yes | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Visual StudioVisual Studio | 7.8 | $45/mo | $499.92/mo | Yes | — | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 VSCodiumVSCodium | 7.8 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 JDoodleJDoodle | 7.7 | $4/mo | $20/mo | Yes | — | Review |
 WebStormWebStorm | 7.6 | $6.58/mo* | $16.58/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 BBEditBBEdit | 7.6 | $4.17/mo* | $4.17/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Apache NetBeansApache NetBeans | 7.6 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 GeanyGeany | 7.6 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 ZedZed | 7.5 | $10/mo | $30/mo | Yes | 14 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 CotEditorCotEditor | 7.5 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 SpyderSpyder | 7.3 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 JetBrains RiderJetBrains Rider | 7.2 | $14.08/mo* | $64.92/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricing |
 TeXstudioTeXstudio | 7.2 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 StackBlitzStackBlitz | 7.0 | $18/mo | $55/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CodeSandboxCodeSandbox | 6.8 | $9/mo* | $119/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CLionCLion | 6.8 | $9.08/mo* | $81.58/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 PlatformIOPlatformIO | 6.8 | $10/mo* | $10/mo | Yes | — | Review |
 XMLSpyXMLSpy | 6.8 | Custom* | — | No | 30 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 CoderCoder | 6.7 | Free* | — | Yes | Yes | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 JSitorJSitor | 6.7 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 BluefishBluefish | 6.7 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 TextPadTextPad | 6.6 | Custom* | — | No | Yes | ReviewAlternatives |
| GitpodGitpod | 6.4 | $20/mo* | $20/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 UltraEditUltraEdit | 6.4 | $7.91/mo | $10/mo | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 PlayCodePlayCode | 6.4 | $17/mo | $83/mo | Yes | — | Review |
 CodePenCodePen | 6.2 | $8/mo | $26/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 TextMateTextMate | 6.2 | Free* | — | Yes | — | Review |
 Code::BlocksCode::Blocks | 6.0 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 PowerBuilderPowerBuilder | 6.0 | $74.58/mo | $2,083.33/mo | No | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 LiveCodeLiveCode | 6.0 | $36.67/mo | $55/mo | No | — | Review |
 Qt CreatorQt Creator | 5.8 | $51.50/mo* | $90.83/mo | Yes | 10 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 PowerShell StudioPowerShell Studio | 5.7 | $300/mo* | — | No | 45 days | ReviewAlternatives |
 ReSharperReSharper | 5.6 | $12.42/mo* | $32.42/mo | Yes | 30 days | ReviewPricingAlternatives |
 Eclipse IDEEclipse IDE | 5.4 | Free* | — | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CodeshareCodeshare | 5.3 | $49/mo* | $49/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
 CodeanywhereCodeanywhere | 2.0 | $9.60/mo* | $23/mo | Yes | — | ReviewAlternatives |
* Lower confidence: the vendor's pricing page couldn't be read directly or didn't list every price, so the figure was compiled from other public sources and may be incomplete. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head
Visual StudiovsVisual Studio CodeVisual Studio vs Visual Studio Code
Sublime TextvsVisual Studio CodeSublime Text vs Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio CodevsZedVisual Studio Code vs Zed
Visual Studio CodevsVSCodiumVisual Studio Code vs VSCodium
Visual Studio CodevsWebStormVisual Studio Code vs WebStorm
PyCharmvsSpyderPyCharm vs Spyder
CLionvsVisual StudioCLion vs Visual Studio
JetBrains RidervsVisual StudioJetBrains Rider vs Visual Studio
Visual StudiovsPyCharmVisual Studio vs PyCharm
SpydervsVisual Studio CodeSpyder vs Visual Studio Code
CLionvsVisual Studio CodeCLion vs Visual Studio Code
ZedvsSublime TextZed vs Sublime Text
Eclipse IDEvsApache NetBeansEclipse IDE vs Apache NetBeans
IntelliJ IDEAvsApache NetBeansIntelliJ IDEA vs Apache NetBeans
JetBrains RidervsVisual Studio CodeJetBrains Rider vs Visual Studio Code
BBEditvsSublime TextBBEdit vs Sublime Text
Visual Studio CodevsCoderVisual Studio Code vs Coder
PyCharmvsCoderPyCharm vs Coder
CotEditorvsVisual Studio CodeCotEditor vs Visual Studio Code
Eclipse IDEvsIntelliJ IDEAEclipse IDE vs IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEAvsVisual Studio CodeIntelliJ IDEA vs Visual Studio Code
IntelliJ IDEAvsJetBrains RiderIntelliJ IDEA vs JetBrains Rider
IntelliJ IDEAvsPyCharmIntelliJ IDEA vs PyCharm
Qt CreatorvsVisual StudioQt Creator vs Visual Studio
ReSharpervsVisual Studio CodeReSharper vs Visual Studio Code
IntelliJ IDEAvsWebStormIntelliJ IDEA vs WebStorm
ReSharpervsVisual StudioReSharper vs Visual Studio
Apache NetBeansvsPyCharmApache NetBeans vs PyCharm
JetBrains RidervsReSharperJetBrains Rider vs ReSharper
Visual Studio CodevsPyCharmVisual Studio Code vs PyCharm
IntelliJ IDEAvsVisual StudioIntelliJ IDEA vs Visual Studio
GeanyvsPyCharmGeany vs PyCharm
CLionvsIntelliJ IDEACLion vs IntelliJ IDEA
Code::BlocksvsIntelliJ IDEACode::Blocks vs IntelliJ IDEA
CLionvsPyCharmCLion vs PyCharm
PlatformIOvsQt CreatorPlatformIO vs Qt Creator
Highest scored
Visual Studio CodeVisual Studio Code
A capable editor at $0, with flexibility that can mean extra setup.
IntelliJ IDEAIntelliJ IDEA
A capable Java and Kotlin IDE; free access is appealing, but paid plans have important limits.
PyCharmPyCharm
Strong Python tooling and a free edition, offset by paid-seat costs and mixed reports on performance.
IDEs & code editors: quick answers
How much do ides & code editors cost?
Paid plans for the 39 ides & code editors we track start between $4 and $300 a month, and the typical entry plan is about $10.90 a month. 32 of them have a free plan. XMLSpy and TextPad don't publish a starting price. Prices are the vendors' own, checked Nov 7, 2026; most quote the per-month price when billed annually.
Which ides & code editor is the cheapest?
Which ides & code editors have a free plan?
Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, Visual Studio, VSCodium, JDoodle, WebStorm, BBEdit, Apache NetBeans, Geany, Zed, CotEditor, Spyder, JetBrains Rider, TeXstudio, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, CLion, PlatformIO, Coder, JSitor, Bluefish, Gitpod, PlayCode, CodePen, TextMate, Code::Blocks, Qt Creator, ReSharper, Eclipse IDE, Codeshare and Codeanywhere have a free plan. Sublime Text, XMLSpy, TextPad and PowerShell Studio offer a free trial instead. Free plans are usually capped on usage, seats or features; each review lists the limits.
Which ides & code editor scores highest in our reviews?
Visual Studio Code scores highest at 8.1/10. A capable editor at $0, with flexibility that can mean extra setup. On value for money alone, Apache NetBeans rates best (10/10).