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PyCharm vs Visual Studio

PyCharm logo

PyCharm

Technology

The IDE for Professional Python Development

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PyCharm exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage; 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 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PyCharm and Visual Studio differ
AttributePyCharmVisual Studio
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWeb
CategoryTechnologyDeveloper Tools
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 PyCharm

  • Intelligent code editor
  • Smart code navigation
  • Fast and safe refactorings
  • Debugging and testing
  • VCS integration
  • Scientific development tools
  • Web development support
  • Database tools

Only in Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that PyCharm does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

PyCharm

  • Python developmentnot Visual Studio
  • Data science projectsnot Visual Studio
  • Web developmentnot Visual Studio
  • Machine learningnot Visual Studio
  • Scientific computingnot Visual Studio

Visual Studio

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

Where each one falls short

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

PyCharm

  • Exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage
  • Community edition free but limited to open-source projects only
  • Professional edition pricing requires visiting buy page

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

PyCharm

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Intelligent Python editor
    • Graphical debugger and test runner
    • Navigation and refactoring
  • Professional$24.9/month
    • Everything in Community
    • Web development frameworks
    • Database tools

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose PyCharm if

  • You need intelligent code editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want smart code navigation.
PyCharm review

Choose Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Questions people ask

Is PyCharm or Visual Studio better?
Neither clearly leads. PyCharm starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PyCharm or Visual Studio?
PyCharm starts at Free and Visual Studio at Free.
Does PyCharm or Visual Studio run on more platforms?
PyCharm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Visual Studio runs on Web.
Can I use PyCharm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is PyCharm best used for?
PyCharm is most often used for python development, data science projects, web development, machine learning. Of those, python development and data science projects are not what Visual Studio is typically brought in for.
What can PyCharm do that Visual Studio cannot?
PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor, Smart code navigation, Fast and safe refactorings, Debugging and testing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PyCharm: How much does PyCharm cost?

PyCharm offers a free Community edition plus a Professional edition with a one-month free trial of Pro features included. Exact Pro pricing is available on JetBrains' buy page.

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
PyCharm: Is there a free version of PyCharm?

Yes, PyCharm Community Edition is completely free. All new downloads also include one month of PyCharm Professional included free.

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
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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