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Technology · head to head

Eclipse vs Visual Studio Code

Eclipse logo

Eclipse

Technology

The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Developer Tools

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • They diverge on capability: Eclipse covers Java development environment, Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eclipse and Visual Studio Code actually diverge.

Attributes where Eclipse and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributeEclipseVisual Studio Code
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools
Founded20012015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), 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 Eclipse

  • Java development environment
  • Extensible plugin architecture
  • Integrated debugger
  • Version control integration
  • Build automation
  • Multi-language support
  • Rich client platform
  • Git

Only in Visual Studio Code

  • IntelliSense
  • Debugging
  • Built-in Git
  • Extensions
  • Integrated terminal
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Snippets
  • GitHub

Both cover

  • Code refactoring

What people use each for

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

Eclipse

  • Java application developmentnot Visual Studio Code
  • Enterprise software developmentnot Visual Studio Code
  • Web application developmentnot Visual Studio Code
  • Plugin developmentnot Visual Studio Code
  • Educational programmingnot Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code

  • Code editingnot Eclipse
  • Web developmentnot Eclipse
  • Debuggingnot Eclipse
  • Version controlnot Eclipse
  • Remote developmentnot Eclipse

Where each one falls short

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

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

Visual Studio Code

  • Requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • Performance can degrade with very large codebases (100,000+ files)
  • Git integration is basic; requires extensions for advanced version control workflows

Pricing, plan by plan

Eclipse

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse review.

Visual Studio Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio Code review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Visual Studio Code if

  • You need intellisense.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
  • You also want debugging.
Visual Studio Code review

Questions people ask

Is Eclipse or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. Eclipse starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eclipse or Visual Studio Code?
Eclipse starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does Eclipse or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
Can I use Eclipse for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Eclipse best used for?
Eclipse is most often used for java application development, enterprise software development, web application development, plugin development. Of those, java application development and enterprise software development are not what Visual Studio Code is typically brought in for.
What can Eclipse do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, Version control integration. Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions. Both handle Code refactoring.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eclipse: How much does Eclipse IDE cost?

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

Source
Visual Studio Code: Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes. Visual Studio Code is completely free to use under the MIT license. There are no subscription fees or paid tiers.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Can I use VS Code for remote development?

Yes. The Remote Development extension pack allows development on remote machines via SSH, in containers, or in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) while using the full VS Code feature set.

Source
Visual Studio Code: How many extensions are available?

The VS Code Marketplace contains thousands of extensions from Microsoft and the community for language support, debuggers, themes, formatters, and productivity tools.

Source
Visual Studio Code: Does VS Code support debugging?

Yes. VS Code includes built-in debugging for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Node.js, and supports debugging for Python, C++, C#, Java, Ruby, Go, PHP, and other languages via extensions.

Source
Visual Studio Code: What operating systems does VS Code support?

VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with identical features and keybindings across all platforms.

Source
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