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Developer Tools · head to head

GoLand vs Visual Studio

GoLand logo

GoLand

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for developing applications in Go

From
$24/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Visual Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GoLand requires a paid subscription with no permanently free tier for commercial use.; Visual Studio community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GoLand and Visual Studio actually diverge.

Attributes where GoLand and Visual Studio differ
AttributeGoLandVisual Studio
Starting price$24/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Platformswindows, mac, linuxWeb
Founded2000Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Developer Tools).

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 GoLand

  • Smart code completion
  • Integrated debugger
  • Refactoring tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and Kubernetes support
  • Built-in terminal and database tools

Only in Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that GoLand does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

GoLand

  • Developing Go microservices and backend systemsnot Visual Studio
  • Debugging and profiling Go applicationsnot Visual Studio
  • Working with Docker and Kubernetes deploymentsnot Visual Studio
  • Refactoring large Go codebasesnot Visual Studio

Visual Studio

  • Managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platformsnot GoLand
  • Commercial development in small businessesnot GoLand
  • DevOps and automated deployment workflowsnot GoLand
  • Windows/SQL Server developer and tester rolesnot GoLand
  • Short-term or month-to-month IDE access needsnot GoLand

Where each one falls short

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

GoLand

  • Requires a paid subscription with no permanently free tier for commercial use.
  • Heavier resource usage than lightweight text editors like Vim or Sublime Text.
  • Primarily optimized for Go, so multi-language teams may prefer a broader IDE like VS Code or IntelliJ Ultimate.
  • License renewal pricing increases after the first year if a subscription lapses.

Visual Studio

  • Community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use
  • Monthly subscriptions are $45 per user per month for Professional and $250 per user per month for Enterprise, and do not include perpetual use rights the way annual Standard subscriptions do
  • A standalone perpetually licensed Visual Studio Professional 2022 costs $499 as a one-time purchase, separate from the subscription tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

GoLand

$24/month
  • Individual$24/month
    • Personal use license
    • Access to GoLand
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/month
    • Business use license
    • Access to GoLand
    • Volume and renewal discounts

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose GoLand if

  • You need smart code completion.
  • You work on windows, mac, linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
GoLand review

Choose Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Questions people ask

Is GoLand or Visual Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. GoLand starts at $24/month and Visual Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GoLand or Visual Studio?
Visual Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $24/month for GoLand and Free for Visual Studio.
Does GoLand or Visual Studio run on more platforms?
GoLand runs on windows, mac, linux. Visual Studio runs on Web.
Can I use Visual Studio for free?
Yes. Visual Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. GoLand starts at $24/month.
What is GoLand best used for?
GoLand is most often used for developing go microservices and backend systems, debugging and profiling go applications, working with docker and kubernetes deployments, refactoring large go codebases. Of those, developing go microservices and backend systems and debugging and profiling go applications are not what Visual Studio is typically brought in for.
What can GoLand do that Visual Studio cannot?
GoLand covers Smart code completion, Integrated debugger, Refactoring tools, Version control integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GoLand: How much does GoLand cost?

GoLand is sold as a JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with discounts for longer commitments and free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

Source
Visual Studio: What are the pricing differences between subscription types?

Standard subscriptions include access to more benefits, such as Azure dev/test pricing, monthly Azure individual credit, software and download access, services, training, and support. Monthly subscriptions offer flexibility but fewer benefits.

Source
GoLand: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial period for GoLand before requiring purchase of a Toolbox subscription license.

Source
Visual Studio: Are discounts available for startups?

There aren't any discounts available to start-ups, however an unlimited number of users within an organization can use Visual Studio Community for specific scenarios like open source work.

Source
GoLand: What platforms does GoLand run on?

GoLand runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux as a desktop application distributed through JetBrains Toolbox.

Source
Visual Studio: Who can use Visual Studio Community for free?

In non-enterprise organizations, up to five users can use it. Enterprise organizations (greater than 250 PCs or greater than $1M annual revenue) cannot use it beyond academic/open-source scenarios.

Source
Visual Studio: What's the renewal pricing structure?

Enterprise standard renews at $214.09/month (after initial $499.92); Professional at $66.59/month (after $99.99).

Source
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