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Software · head to head

PyCharm vs Visual Studio Code

PyCharm logo

PyCharm

Software

The IDE for Professional Python Development

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Studio Code logo

Visual Studio Code

Software

Code editing. Redefined.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PyCharm pyCharm Pro commercial licence is USD 299/year (USD 29.90/month); personal licence is USD 109/year dropping to USD 68.25 by year three with loyalty discounts, per jetbrains.com/store inline pricing JSON checked 19 Aug 2026; Visual Studio Code requires extension installation for language-specific features and tooling
  • They diverge on capability: PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor, Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PyCharm and Visual Studio Code differ
AttributePyCharmVisual Studio Code
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Macos, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces)
Founded20102015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Code

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

Both cover

  • GitHub
  • Docker

What people use each for

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

PyCharm

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

Visual Studio Code

  • Code editingnot PyCharm
  • Web development
  • Debuggingnot PyCharm
  • Version controlnot PyCharm
  • Remote developmentnot PyCharm

Both are used for web development, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

PyCharm

  • PyCharm Pro commercial licence is USD 299/year (USD 29.90/month); personal licence is USD 109/year dropping to USD 68.25 by year three with loyalty discounts, per jetbrains.com/store inline pricing JSON checked 19 Aug 2026

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

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 Code

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio Code 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 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 PyCharm or Visual Studio Code better?
Neither clearly leads. PyCharm 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, PyCharm or Visual Studio Code?
PyCharm starts at Free and Visual Studio Code at Free.
Does PyCharm or Visual Studio Code run on more platforms?
PyCharm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux. Visual Studio Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web (via GitHub Codespaces).
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 Code is typically brought in for.
What can PyCharm do that Visual Studio Code cannot?
PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor, Smart code navigation, Fast and safe refactorings, Debugging and testing. Visual Studio Code covers IntelliSense, Debugging, Built-in Git, Extensions. Both handle GitHub, Docker.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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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Related pages

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