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JetBrains Rider alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave JetBrains Rider: commercial use requires a subscription, and fewer visual designers than Visual Studio for Windows desktop apps. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces JetBrains Rider, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Visual Studio Code currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Visual Studio Code logoVisual Studio CodeFreeYesWindows, macOS, Linux +13 of 379.8
  1. Visual Studio Code logo

    1. Visual Studio CodeTop pick

    Best for: Developers who want a free, extensible editor for any language

    FreeOpen sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Web

    79.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from JetBrains Rider

    Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

    Pros

    • Free with a huge extension marketplace
    • Excellent remote development
    • Fast and lightweight for an IDE

    Cons

    • Microsoft builds include telemetry
    • Heavy extension use can slow it down
    Visit Visual Studio Code Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Visual Studio Code a good JetBrains Rider alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source core
    Yes (Code - OSS, MIT)
    Checked Oct 24, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, web
    Checked Oct 24, 2026code.visualstudio.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best JetBrains Rider alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for most people

Visual Studio Code

Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for a free option

Visual Studio Code

Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

Visual Studio logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Visual Studio

Microsoft's own .NET IDE, with a free Community edition and the deepest Windows tooling.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for open source

Visual Studio Code

Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

Cursor logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for Mac

Cursor

AI-first VS Code fork for .NET developers who want agents to do more of the work.

CLion logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for Windows

CLion

JetBrains' C and C++ IDE, for engine work outside Unreal projects.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for Linux

Visual Studio Code

Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

Visual Studio Code logo

Best JetBrains Rider alternative for working in the browser

Visual Studio Code

Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS.

JetBrains Rider alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to JetBrains Rider?

Visual Studio Code ranks first right now. Free and light, with the C# Dev Kit for .NET work on any OS. Visual Studio and Cursor follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to JetBrains Rider?

Yes. Visual Studio Code (free), Visual Studio (free plan + paid), Cursor (free plan + paid) and CLion (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to JetBrains Rider?

Yes: Visual Studio Code.

Which JetBrains Rider alternatives work on Linux?

Visual Studio Code, Cursor and CLion run on Linux.

Why do people switch from JetBrains Rider?

The complaints we hear most: commercial use requires a subscription; fewer visual designers than Visual Studio for Windows desktop apps; heavy memory use on big solutions.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces JetBrains Rider, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.