Technology · head to head
Envoy vs Eclipse
Envoy
Technology
An open source edge and service proxy, designed for cloud-native and AI-native applications
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Eclipse
Technology
The Eclipse Foundation - home to a global community
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Envoy licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (envoyproxy/envoy LICENSE); as a CNCF graduated project it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare; Eclipse high memory consumption and CPU usage, especially with multiple plugins installed
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Envoy and Eclipse actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Technology).
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 Envoy
Nothing recorded that Eclipse does not also cover.
Only in Eclipse
- Java development environment
- Extensible plugin architecture
- Integrated debugger
- Code refactoring
- Version control integration
- Build automation
- Multi-language support
- Rich client platform
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Envoy
No use cases recorded yet. See the Envoy review.
Eclipse
- Java application developmentnot Envoy
- Enterprise software developmentnot Envoy
- Web application developmentnot Envoy
- Plugin developmentnot Envoy
- Educational programmingnot Envoy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Envoy
- Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (envoyproxy/envoy LICENSE); as a CNCF graduated project it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Envoy is a proxy that runs alongside each application instance, per envoyproxy.io, requiring a sidecar or edge deployment model rather than a single centralized install
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- User interface considered outdated compared to modern IDE alternatives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
Envoy
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Envoy review.
Eclipse
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Eclipse 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.
Questions people ask
- Is Envoy or Eclipse better?
- Neither clearly leads. Envoy 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, Envoy or Eclipse?
- Envoy starts at Free and Eclipse at Free.
- Does Envoy or Eclipse run on more platforms?
- Envoy runs on Web. Eclipse runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Envoy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Envoy do that Eclipse cannot?
- Eclipse covers Java development environment, Extensible plugin architecture, Integrated debugger, 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