17 Best IDEs to Boost Your Productivity in 2026

Most Popular and Best IDEs Developers Use Today

Choosing the right IDE can make a big difference in your development workflow. Whether you’re coding in Python, Java, or JavaScript, there’s an option here to suit your needs.

Below are some of the most widely used and trusted IDEs that developers rely on across various languages and platforms.

1. Eclipse

Eclipse is one of the best IDEs available; it is a modular IDE using a plugin architecture where developers can compose toolchains. It includes core components like a Java-based editor, workspace/project management, an integrated build system (via Ant or Maven), and a plugin ecosystem that supports language tooling, UI design, and code analysis.

Key features:

• Plugin Architecture: Modular OSGi-based system enabling runtime extension.
• Workspace & Project Management: Organizes projects into workspaces with multi-language support via plugins.
• Editor Utilities: Syntax coloring, code completion, refactoring, code analysis, and quick-fix suggestions.
• Build Tool Integration: Supports Ant, Maven, and CMake, with the capability to use Maven pom.xml as project descriptor.

2. IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA earns its place among the best IDEs for both JVM and non-JVM development. With features like AST-driven code insight, real-time error checking, built-in decompiler, bytecode viewer, version control integration, and run/debug configurations for multiple environments.

Key features:

• Context-Aware Coding Tools: Code completion, navigation, refactoring, and inspections driven by AST.
• Integrated Build Systems: Built-in support for Maven, Gradle, sbt.
• Database Connectivity: Embedded database tools in the Ultimate edition via DataGrip components.
• Version Control Support: Git, Mercurial, SVN, with additional Perforce in Ultimate.
• Plugin Ecosystem: Thousands of plugins via JetBrains Marketplace across both Community and Ultimate editions.

3. Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a full-featured IDE with a project system that supports solutions, editors for multiple languages, integrated build tools (MSBuild), visual designers (for UI, forms), debugging with watch windows and live code analysis, and extensions via the Visual Studio Marketplace, making it one of the best IDEs for comprehensive development needs.

Key features:

• Solution & Project System: Manages multi-project setups via .sln and .csproj files.
• Language Editors: Supports C#, VB.NET, C++, and F# with syntax highlighting and IntelliSense.
• MSBuild Integration: Builds and compiles code via MSBuild project files.
• Visual Designers: Offers drag-and-drop interfaces for forms, WPF, and web pages.
• Debugger and Live Analysis: Enables breakpoint-based debugging, watch windows, and live code insights.
• Extension Framework: Expands IDE through Visual Studio Marketplace plugins.

4. PyCharm

PyCharm is powered by the IntelliJ Platform and ranks among the best IDEs for Python with features such as an intelligent code editor, integrated Python REPL, virtual environment and package management interface, interactive debugger, dedicated test runners, and Jupyter notebook file support.

Key features:

• Python Language Support: Syntax highlighting, error detection, quick fixes, and context-sensitive code completion.
• Code Navigation & Refactoring: Go-to symbols, extract method/variable, rename, and more.
• Built-in Debugger and Test Runner: Inline debugging, breakpoints, integrated pytest, unittest, and coverage via Coverage.py.
• Toolchain Integration: Virtualenv, package managers, Docker, Vagrant, SSH, remote interpreters.
• VCS and Database Tools: Support for Git/Mercurial/Subversion/Perforce, unified VCS UI, plus SQL editing for Pro edition.
• Terminal and Console: Embedded terminal and interactive Python consoles.

5. Arduino IDE

Arduino IDE is a lightweight GUI with a text editor and basic code folding, a serial monitor for device communication, a board and port configuration manager, and a one-click compile-and-upload button for handling microcontroller code deployment.

Key features:

• Minimalist Code Editor: Offers basic text editing with simple code folding.
• Serial Monitor: Connects and interacts with microcontrollers via the serial port.
• Board/Port Configurator: Selects the target microcontroller board and COM port.
• Compile-and-Upload Action: One-click mechanism to compile sketches and upload to the board.

6. Xcode

Xcode is Apple’s IDE that offers an editor with Interface Builder for UI design, project templates for Apple platforms, build system integration through Xcodeproj and xcbuild, debugging with LLDB, simulator launchers, and code indexing for Apple SDKs. It’s often regarded as one of the best IDEs in this space due to its seamless adaptation to the Apple ecosystem, tight SDK integration, and robust simulator support.

Key features:

• Interface Builder Integration: Design UIs visually with Storyboards and XIBs.
• Template-Based Project Setup: Generates projects for iPhone, macOS, Watch, and tvOS.
• Build System: Uses .xcodeproj and xcodebuild for compiling.
• LLDB Debugger Integration: Inspect, pause, and evaluate runtime code.
• Simulators: Launch apps in iOS, watchOS, and tvOS emulated environments.
• SDK-Aware Code Indexing: Offers autocompletion and documentation within Apple platform contexts.

7. Code::Blocks

Code::Blocks uses a workspace/project model with customizable build targets, editor panels based on Scintilla, plugin-managed compiler support (including GCC and Clang), dynamic debugging via GDB, and user-configurable interface layouts.

Key features:

• Workspace and Build Targets: Organizes projects with customizable build profiles.
• Scintilla Editor Panels: Provides raw text editing with syntax support.
• Compiler Plug-Ins: Supports GCC, Clang via dynamic plugin loading.
• GDB Debugger Integration: Enables breakpoints and variable inspection.
• Customizable Layouts: Allows user-defined panel arrangements and tool docking.

8. Android Studio

Android Studio is built on the IntelliJ Platform and includes Android-specific project templates, a Gradle-based build system, Android Emulator integration, a visual layout editor, manifest and resource managers, and a device logcat viewer, making it the go-to IDE for Android app development.

Key features:

• Android Templates: Generates initial Android app skeletons.
• Gradle Build System: Automates builds using Gradle configuration files.
• Emulator Integration: Runs virtual Android devices from the IDE.
• Layout Editor: Visually constructs UI using drag-and-drop.
• Resource and Manifest Managers: Edits XML files for layout, strings, and Android manifest.
• Logcat Viewer: Displays real-time device logs within the IDE.

9. JupyterLab

JupyterLab is a web-based interface offering notebook-style editing, interactive code execution, variable inspection, a built-in file browser, terminal access, and plugin support for visual outputs, making it one of the best IDEs for rapid prototyping and data-driven experimentation.

Key features:

• Notebook Interface: Executes code in cells with inline output.
• Variable Inspector: Displays current variables and their values.
• File Browser: Manages files from within the browser interface.
• Terminal Access: Launches system terminals alongside notebook editing.
• Extension Support: Renders charts, media, and integrates external plugins.

10. RStudio

RStudio IDE combines a script editor, R console, workspace and environment panels, data-viewing grids, built-in plot pane, package manager, and debugger for R syntax (e.g., breakpoints, stepping through code). Its integrated layout and immediate feedback loop make it one of the best IDEs for prototyping in data science workflows.

Key features:

• Script Editor with Syntax: Supports R code with syntax highlighting.
• Interactive Console: Runs R commands and scripts directly.
• Environment Panel: Shows current variables and workspace objects.
• Data Grid Viewer: Displays data frames in a tabular view.
• Plot Pane: Renders visual output inline.
• Package Manager and Debugger: Manages libraries and enables breakpoint-based debugging.

11. RubyMine

Based on IntelliJ, it offers a Ruby-aware code editor, Rails project structure navigation, integrated IRB console, test framework runners, Gem and Bundler integration, and Rails-aware refactoring support.

Key features:

• Ruby-Aware Editor: Highlights syntax and follows Ruby and Rails conventions.
• Rails Project Navigator: Understands and surfaces Rails-specific directories and structures.
• IRB Console: Integrated Ruby interactive shell.
• Test Framework Support: Runs RSpec, Minitest, and Cucumber tests.
• Gem and Bundler Support: Adds, updates, and manages gem dependencies.
• Rails Refactoring Tools: Recognizes Ruby/Rails code patterns and applies refactoring operations.

12. WebStorm

WebStorm is another IntelliJ variant geared for modern web development. It includes HTML/CSS/JavaScript editing, framework-specific support for React, Vue, and Angular, an integrated debugger, Node.js tools, package.json management, and a built-in terminal, making it one of the best IDEs for web developers working across full-stack JavaScript.

Key features:

• HTML/CSS/JavaScript Editor: Supports syntax highlighting and code completion.
• Framework Tooling: Recognizes React, Angular, and Vue project structures.
• Built-in Debugger: Debugs client-side JS and Node.js apps.
• Node.js Integration: Manages package.json, runs tasks, and scripts.
• Integrated Terminal: Command-line access inside the IDE.

13. Gitpod

Gitpod is a cloud-based, browser-accessible IDE built for automated, ready-to-code development environments. It provides prebuilt development containers that support real-time collaboration and continuous integration workflows.

Key features:

• Prebuilt Dev Environments: Automatically builds workspaces with dependencies via gitpod.yml.
• VS Code-Based Editor: Supports a familiar interface and extension system.
• Ephemeral Workspaces: Provides runnable, containerized environments per session.
• Built-In Terminal: Executes shell commands in the workspace.
• Workspace Lifecycle Management: Automates workspace startup, pause, and teardown.
• CI/CD Pipeline Hooks: Can trigger builds/tests on code changes.
• Port Forwarding: Exposes apps running in containers to the browser.
• Multi-Repo Support: Launches environments for mono or multi-repo setups.
• Collaborative Snapshots: Saves and shares session states across users.

14. Eclipse Theia

Eclipse Theia is a modern, modular open-source IDE framework with a decoupled front-end and back-end architecture. It supports the Language Server Protocol (LSP) for intelligent code completion, the Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP) for debugging, and a rich plugin system, making it one of the best IDEs for extensibility and customization.

Key features:

• Modular IDE Framework: Separates front-end and back-end processes.
• LSP Support: Leverages the Language Server Protocol for code intelligence.
• DAP Support: Uses Debug Adapter Protocol for debugging workflows.
• Extension-Based UI: Enhances functionality via Theia plug-ins.
• Embeddable Framework: Powers IDEs like Arduino IDE 2 and Mbed Studio.

15. Windsurf

An AI-native IDE powered by its “Cascade” agent, which deeply understands your project’s context. It offers intelligent autocomplete, live web preview with seamless edit-and-deploy, AI-generated codelenses, inline natural language commands, and a model-context protocol for tool integrations, positioning it among the best IDEs for AI-assisted development.

Key features:

• Cascade Agent: Context-aware AI agent with holistic project understanding.
• Supercomplete Autocomplete: Generates multi-line code completions in context.
• In-Editor Live Preview: Displays the rendered app inside the IDE and allows direct edits.
• In-IDE Deployment: Builds and deploys apps directly within the environment.
• MCP (Model-Context Protocol): Connects AI models to external tools/services.
• In-Line Commands (Cmd+I): Generates or refactors code using natural language.
• Codelenses and Highlighted Actions: Provides quick inline code operations next to breadcrumbs.
• Tab-to-Jump Navigation: Moves cursor predictively through code.
• Automatic Linter Integration: ID’s issues and autocorrects via Cascade.
• Problems Tab: Lists detected code issues across the project.

16. Cursor

An AI-centric code editor built on a modern foundation, supporting language editing for Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Java, and Swift. Core features include smart auto-completion, migration-friendly keyboard shortcut mappings, rich extension system, and customizable components for the editor and workflows. It stands out as one of the best IDEs for multi-language development.

Key features:

• AI Autocomplete (Tab): Predicts next edits powered by proprietary models.
• Multi-Line Edits: Suggests edits spanning multiple lines at once.
• Smart Rewrites: Detects errors and corrects code across context.
• Agent Mode (Ctrl+I): Executes end‑to‑end code changes via natural-language prompt.
• Context-Aware Retrieval: Understands and queries the entire codebase.
• Run Terminal Commands: Generates and executes shell commands from prompts.
• Loop-on-Error Fixes: Detects lint errors and repeatedly applies fixes.
• Privacy Mode and SOC 2 Compliance: Ensures code isn’t transmitted without consent.

17. Fleet

Fleet is a JetBrains lightweight IDE with a distributed design. It leverages IntelliJ’s code engine for smart completion, refactoring, error checks, and quick fixes. With built-in Git tools, terminal, AI assistance, Docker/Kubernetes integration, and collaboration features, it ranks among the best IDEs for cloud-native and remote development.

Key features:

• Dual-Mode UI: Switches between a lightweight editor and a full IntelliJ-based IDE.
• Smart Mode Activation: Enables indexing, refactoring, and completion only when needed.
• Language Server Support: Connects to LSP or IntelliJ back-end for language intelligence.
• Project-Aware Completion: Contextual code completion and navigation.
• Real-Time Error Detection: Highlights and suggests fixes on-the-fly.
• Built-In Tools: Includes terminal, Git, run/debug panels.
• Layered Settings: Applies overrides at user and workspace levels.