CLion alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave CLion: commercial use needs a subscription, and indexing large C++ projects is slow. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces CLion, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Visual Studio Code currently ranks first.
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Show all 5 alternativesThe best CLion alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best CLion alternative for most people
Visual Studio CodeFree and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE.
Best CLion alternative for a free option
NeovimFree terminal editor that gets C++ IDE features through clangd.
Best CLion alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
Visual StudioThe standard C++ IDE on Windows, with a free Community edition.
Best CLion alternative for open source
Code::BlocksFree, open-source and lightweight C and C++ IDE for simpler projects and teaching.
Best CLion alternative for Mac
XcodeFree and native if you write C, C++ or Objective-C for Apple platforms.
Best CLion alternative for Windows
Visual Studio CodeFree and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE.
Best CLion alternative for Linux
Visual Studio CodeFree and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE.
Best CLion alternative for working in the browser
Visual Studio CodeFree and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE.
CLion alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to CLion?
Visual Studio Code ranks first right now. Free and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE. Neovim and Visual Studio follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to CLion?
Yes. Visual Studio Code (free), Neovim (open source), Visual Studio (free plan + paid) and Code::Blocks (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to CLion?
Yes: Visual Studio Code, Neovim and Code::Blocks.
Which CLion alternatives work on Linux?
Visual Studio Code, Neovim and Code::Blocks run on Linux.
Why do people switch from CLion?
The complaints we hear most: commercial use needs a subscription; indexing large C++ projects is slow; uses a lot of memory.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces CLion, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.