CLion

JetBrains' C and C++ IDE, with CMake support and free non-commercial use.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About CLion

CLion is JetBrains' IDE for C and C++. It opens CMake, Makefile and compilation-database projects and picks up the toolchain you already use, then adds code analysis, refactorings, a debugger front end for GDB and LLDB, unit test runners, profiling and remote development on Windows, Linux and macOS. Embedded developers get tools for microcontrollers, peripheral views and RTOS debugging. Since 2025 CLion has been free for non-commercial use, such as learning, hobby and open-source projects; commercial use needs a subscription after a 30-day trial. AI assistance and coding agents can be connected but are optional. It suits developers who want an IDE that understands large C++ codebases without hand-tuning an editor setup. The usual JetBrains trade-offs apply: it is heavy, indexing a big project takes a while, and teams on Windows doing MSVC-centred work may still find Visual Studio more natural.

Best for: C and C++ developers who want IDE-level analysis across CMake and embedded projects.

What works

Works with existing CMake, Makefile and compilation-database projects
Free for non-commercial use
Good embedded and remote development support

Why people leave

Commercial use needs a subscription
Indexing large C++ projects is slow
Uses a lot of memory

Top CLion alternatives

See all 5

1
Visual Studio Code
Free and lighter, with extensions covering most languages, for people who don't need a full IDE.
79.8
2
Neovim
Free terminal editor that gets C++ IDE features through clangd.
72.2
3
Visual Studio
The standard C++ IDE on Windows, with a free Community edition.
66.5
4
Code::Blocks
Free, open-source and lightweight C and C++ IDE for simpler projects and teaching.
59.6
5
Xcode
Free and native if you write C, C++ or Objective-C for Apple platforms.
55.3

Why people left CLion

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CLion: common questions

Is CLion free?

CLion has a free plan and paid plans.

Is CLion open source?

No, CLion is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Visual Studio Code, Neovim and Code::Blocks.

What platforms does CLion run on?

CLion is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to CLion?

The highest-ranked CLion alternatives right now are Visual Studio Code, Neovim and Visual Studio. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 CLion alternatives

CLion facts

3 of 3 verified

Non-commercial use: Free; Checked Oct 25, 2026jetbrains.com(opens source in a new tab); “CLion Free for non-commercial use”
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS; Checked Oct 25, 2026jetbrains.com(opens source in a new tab); “on Windows, Linux, and macOS – including remote development and unit testing as part of the core workflow.”
Project formats: CMake, Makefile, compilation database; Checked Oct 25, 2026jetbrains.com(opens source in a new tab); “Open your existing CMake project, Makefile, or compilation database, and CLion picks up your toolchain.”