Microsoft Visual Studio AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Text Editors

The best Text Editor alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio 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 12 are Text Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Text Editor alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are Eclipse, VSCodium, PyCharm and WebStorm.

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Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly Code Editors, but if you're looking for Text Editors or IDEs you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Linux, Mac, Open Source, Android, Android Tablet and iPad. 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.
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Alternatives list

  1. Visual Studio Code icon

    Visual Studio Code

     1376 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.

    202 Visual Studio Code alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Snapcraft
    Visual Studio Code screenshot 1
     
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    13
    87
    Comments about Visual Studio Code as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Comment summary: There is a consensus that Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is primarily a code editor rather than a full-fledged IDE like Microsoft Visual Studio. While it is lighter and more nimble, several users point out that it lacks certain capabilities of an IDE. However, others highlight its strengths, like being open-source and offering numerous extensions, making it versatile for smaller projects. Despite disagreements, some appreciate its plugin system which can expand its functionality significantly.
    Top Positive Comment
    Ola Johansson
    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
    3

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

    alfonsomozkoh
    Negative
    0

    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.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 13 comments
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Visual Studio Code icon

    • Some users think Visual Studio Code is a great Microsoft Visual Studio alternative, some don't.

    • 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.

    • 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 icon

    Eclipse

     1147 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...

    147 Eclipse alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    eclipse on windows 10
     
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    3
    128
    Comments about Eclipse as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    maurosoft391
    Negative
    2

    hard to use and poorly designed

    Guest
    Positive
    8

    Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -38

    One is for Java and the other is for C#

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    Eclipse icon

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

    • Eclipse is the most popular Open Source alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

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

    VSCodium

     402 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.

    196 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    VSCodium screenshot 1
     
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    1
    12
    Comments about VSCodium as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Positive
    1

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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Microsoft Visual Studio Icon
    VSCodium icon

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

    • 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. PyCharm icon

    PyCharm

     297 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.

    57 PyCharm alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    PyCharm screenshot 1
     
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    1
    12
    Comments about PyCharm as an Alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It supports proper Python.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    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 Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  6. WebStorm icon

    WebStorm

     134 likes

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

    55 WebStorm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WebStorm screenshot 1
     
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    8
  7. Phoenix Code icon

    Phoenix Code

     10 likes

    Phoenix Code is a text editor designed to make coding as intuitive and fun as playing a video game - specially crafted for web developers, designers, and students.

    36 Phoenix Code alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Phoenix Code screenshot 1
     

    • Phoenix Code is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft Visual Studio.

    • Phoenix Code is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Phoenix Code is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  9. Wing Python IDE icon

    Wing Python IDE

     11 likes

    Wing is a highly customizable Python IDE that uses both static and runtime code analysis to provide auto-completion, call tips, code documentation, goto-definition, find uses, refactoring, and many other features.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Wing Python IDE screenshot 1
     
  10. Graviton Editor icon

    Graviton Editor

     17 likes

    Graviton Code Editor is a minimalist, cross-platform editor focused on speed, customization and productivity.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Graviton Editor screenshot 1
     
  11. Code Writer icon

    Code Writer

     2 likes

    Code Writer is a free text and code editor app for the Windows platform, downloadable from the Windows Store. Use it as a replacement for Notepad and other quick edit apps.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Code Writer screenshot 1
     
  12. scriptcs icon

    scriptcs

     3 likes

    scriptcs makes it easy to write and execute C# with a simple text editor.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  13. NVU icon

    NVU

     30 likes

    Nvu (pronounced N-view, for a "new view") is a complete Web Authoring System that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web page editing. Nvu is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    NVU screenshot 1
     
  14. DrPython icon

    DrPython

     3 likes

    DrPython is a highly customizable text editor geared towards writing programs in Python quickly and easily. It is written in Python using the wxPython toolkit (which makes use of the Scintilla text control internally).

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Main Window
     
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