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Developer Tools · head to head

Visual Studio vs WebStorm

Visual Studio logo

Visual Studio

Developer Tools

IDE for .NET and C++ development on Windows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
WebStorm logo

WebStorm

Technology

The JavaScript and TypeScript IDE

From
$12.9/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Visual Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Visual Studio community edition is free only for individual developers, classroom use, academic research and open-source contribution, not general commercial use; WebStorm jetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Visual Studio and WebStorm differ
AttributeVisual StudioWebStorm
Starting priceFree$12.9/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTechnology
FoundedUnknown2000

Identical on both: 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 Visual Studio

Nothing recorded that WebStorm does not also cover.

Only in WebStorm

  • Smart JavaScript editor
  • TypeScript support
  • Node.js development
  • Modern framework support
  • Built-in debugger
  • Unit testing
  • Version control
  • Live templates

What people use each for

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

Visual Studio

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

WebStorm

  • Web application developmentnot Visual Studio
  • React/Angular/Vue developmentnot Visual Studio
  • Node.js backend developmentnot Visual Studio
  • TypeScript projectsnot Visual Studio
  • Frontend testingnot Visual Studio

Where each one falls short

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

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

WebStorm

  • JetBrains WebStorm is sold as an annual subscription rather than a one-time purchase: commercial price is $199 per year (USD), and personal price starts at $299 in year one, dropping to $239 in year two and $179 from year three onward with continuous renewal.
  • If the subscription lapses, use of new versions stops; JetBrains grants a fallback license only for the last version used while the subscription was active, per its published buy page.

Pricing, plan by plan

Visual Studio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Visual Studio review.

WebStorm

$12.9/month
  • Individual$12.9/month
    • Intelligent JavaScript & TypeScript editor
    • Debugging and testing
    • VCS integration
  • Organizations$25.9/month
    • All Individual features
    • Commercial use license
    • Centralized license management

Which should you pick?

Choose Visual Studio if

  • You want to start without paying.
Visual Studio review

Choose WebStorm if

  • You need smart javascript editor.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want typescript support.
WebStorm review

Questions people ask

Is Visual Studio or WebStorm better?
Neither clearly leads. Visual Studio starts at Free and WebStorm at $12.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Visual Studio or WebStorm?
Visual Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Visual Studio and $12.9/month for WebStorm.
Does Visual Studio or WebStorm run on more platforms?
Visual Studio runs on Web. WebStorm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Visual Studio for free?
Yes. Visual Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WebStorm starts at $12.9/month.
What is Visual Studio best used for?
Visual Studio is most often used for managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platforms, commercial development in small businesses, devops and automated deployment workflows, windows/sql server developer and tester roles. Of those, managing complex, large-scale projects across multiple platforms and commercial development in small businesses are not what WebStorm is typically brought in for.
What can Visual Studio do that WebStorm cannot?
WebStorm covers Smart JavaScript editor, TypeScript support, Node.js development, Modern framework support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
WebStorm: Is there a free version of WebStorm?

Yes, WebStorm is free for non-commercial use and includes access to JetBrains AI with a free tier.

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
WebStorm: What is the cost of a commercial WebStorm license?

The page references a testimonial mentioning 70 euros as a cost, though specific current pricing requires visiting the dedicated pricing page.

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
WebStorm: How does JetBrains AI licensing work?

Users can pay with JetBrains AI credits, bring their own AI subscriptions and API keys to avoid vendor lock-in, or use the free tier included with WebStorm.

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
WebStorm: What features does the free tier include?

The free tier includes the smart code editor, navigation tools, integrated developer tools, and customization options.

Source
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