Softwr

Mobile Development · head to head

Android Studio vs Eclipse

Android Studio logo

Android Studio

Mobile Development

The official IDE for Android development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Technology

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Android Studio requires internet access during installation and initial project setup for dependency downloads; Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • They diverge on capability: Android Studio covers Intelligent code editor, Eclipse covers Java development environment.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Android Studio and Eclipse actually diverge.

Attributes where Android Studio and Eclipse differ
AttributeAndroid StudioEclipse
CategoryMobile DevelopmentTechnology
Founded20142001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Android Studio

  • Intelligent code editor
  • Visual layout editor
  • APK analyzer
  • Fast Android emulator
  • Real-time profilers
  • Built-in terminal
  • Gradle-based build system
  • Firebase

Only in Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Code refactoring
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform
  • SVN

Both cover

  • Version control integration
  • Git
  • Gradle
  • Maven
  • Local development
  • Local deployment
  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Android Studio

  • Android app developmentnot Eclipse
  • Mobile game developmentnot Eclipse
  • Enterprise mobile appsnot Eclipse
  • Learning Android developmentnot Eclipse
  • Prototyping mobile appsnot Eclipse

Eclipse

  • Java application developmentnot Android Studio
  • Enterprise software developmentnot Android Studio
  • Web application developmentnot Android Studio
  • Plugin developmentnot Android Studio
  • Educational programmingnot Android Studio

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Android Studio

  • Requires internet access during installation and initial project setup for dependency downloads
  • Offline mode limited without cached dependencies already downloaded
  • Can be resource-intensive with minimum 8GB RAM and 8GB disk space requirements

Eclipse

  • High memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
  • Slow startup times and performance degradation with large projects or many open editors
  • Requires configuration of eclipse.ini file to optimize heap sizes for adequate performance
  • User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives
  • User base fell from 39% of Java developers in 2024 to 28% in 2025, indicating market decline

Pricing, plan by plan

Android Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Android Studio review.

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Android Studio if

  • You need intelligent code editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want visual layout editor.
Android Studio review

Choose Eclipse if

  • You need java development environment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want extensible plugin architecture.
Eclipse review

Questions people ask

Is Android Studio or Eclipse better?
Neither clearly leads. Android Studio starts at Free and Eclipse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Android Studio or Eclipse?
Android Studio starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.
Does Android Studio or Eclipse run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Android Studio for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Android Studio best used for?
Android Studio is most often used for android app development, mobile game development, enterprise mobile apps, learning android development. Of those, android app development and mobile game development are not what Eclipse is typically brought in for.
What can Android Studio do that Eclipse cannot?
Android Studio covers Intelligent code editor, Visual layout editor, APK analyzer, Fast Android emulator. Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Code refactoring. Both handle Version control integration, Git, Gradle, Maven.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Android Studio: Can I use Android Studio offline?

Partially. You can work offline after initial setup by enabling Offline Work in settings, but internet access is required during installation and at least once for project dependency downloads.

Source
Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

Eclipse IDE is completely free and open-source, released under the Eclipse Public License 2.0.

Source
Android Studio: Does Android Studio support Kotlin?

Yes, Kotlin is fully supported with first-class IDE support, Kotlin plugin bundled with releases, and automatic update suggestions. Kotlin is now the default language choice for new Android projects.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Android Studio

More on Eclipse

Keep looking

Other head to heads