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Paid plans start at $45/mo. There's also a free plan.
Visual Studio pricing starts at $45 per user per month for Professional monthly, while Visual Studio Community and Visual Studio Code are free. Annual standard subscriptions are listed at $99.99 per user/month for Professional and $499.92 for Enterprise, with a one-time annual payment. The catch is renewal pricing: after year one, the listed rates rise to $66.59 and $214.09 per user/month, respectively. Choose based on whether you need a paid IDE and Azure DevOps features, not just a code editor.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Community | — | $0 | .NET and C++ developers on Windows |
| Visual Studio Code | — | $0 | JavaScript and web developers |
| Enterprise standard | $499.92 | — | Large teams with enterprise development needs |
| Professional standard | $99.99 | — | Commercial development in small businesses |
| Enterprise monthly | — | $250 | Teams needing month-to-month Enterprise access |
| Professional monthly | — | $45 | Teams needing month-to-month Professional access |
Add-ons and overages
- GitHub Enterprise bundle available with an Enterprise Agreement; price not published
- Visual Studio Professional standalone one-time purchase; price not published
What a team pays per month
| Plan | 1 seat | 5 seats | 10 seats | 25 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise standard | $499.92 | $2,499.60 | $4,999.20 | $12,498 |
| Professional standard | $99.99 | $499.95 | $999.90 | $2,499.75 |
| Enterprise monthly | $250 | $1,250 | $2,500 | $6,250 |
| Professional monthly | $45 | $225 | $450 | $1,125 |
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Annual payment upfront
Standard subscriptions require a one-time annual payment. The listed $99.99 and $499.92 per user/month rates are not monthly billing options.
Higher renewal rates
After the first year, Professional standard renews at $66.59/user/month and Enterprise standard at $214.09/user/month.
Unpublished add-on prices
The GitHub Enterprise bundle requires an Enterprise Agreement, and its price is not published. A standalone Professional one-time purchase is also listed without a price.
Plan details differ
Standard plans list Azure credits and dev/test software. Those items are not listed among the inclusions for the monthly plans.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Windows .NET or C++ developers | Visual Studio Community | It is free and includes the Windows IDE for .NET and C++ development. |
| Web developers needing an editor | Visual Studio Code | It is a free standalone editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. |
| Small businesses needing a paid IDE | Professional standard | It includes Visual Studio Professional and Azure DevOps Basic; the listed rate is $99.99 per user/month, billed annually. |
04Is Visual Studio worth the money?
Visual Studio is worth considering when Windows development, debugging and integrated testing matter more than cross-platform reach. Community covers free Windows .NET and C++ development, while Code is the free cross-platform editor. Paid plans add Visual Studio Professional or Enterprise and Azure DevOps features, but standard subscriptions require an annual payment and renew at higher rates after year one. Check the renewal price against your expected usage before choosing a standard plan.
Visual Studio pricing FAQ
Is Visual Studio free?
There are two free options in the pricing list: Visual Studio Community, a Windows IDE for .NET and C++ developers, and Visual Studio Code, a standalone editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. The paid Professional and Enterprise subscriptions are separate plans.
How much does Visual Studio cost per month?
The lowest paid listed rate is $45 per user/month for Professional monthly. Enterprise monthly is $250 per user/month. Standard subscriptions are listed at $99.99 for Professional and $499.92 for Enterprise per user/month, but require a one-time annual payment.
Does Visual Studio offer monthly billing?
The pricing list includes Professional monthly at $45 per user/month and Enterprise monthly at $250 per user/month. Standard subscriptions are different: they require a one-time annual payment, even though their prices are displayed per user/month.
What happens when a standard subscription renews?
The listed renewal rates after the first year are $66.59 per user/month for Professional standard and $214.09 per user/month for Enterprise standard. The pricing information does not specify a renewal rate for the monthly plans.