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CLion
A cross-platform IDE for C and C++
As of 29 August 2026, CLion is free to use. IDE for C and C++ with code completion, an integrated GDB/LLDB debugger, remote development and embedded toolchain support. Softwr lists it under Developer Tools.
Overview
What CLion does
IDE for C and C++ with code completion, an integrated GDB/LLDB debugger, remote development and embedded toolchain support.
What people use it for
- C and C++ development with real-time analysis
- Embedded systems and ARM toolchain development
- Remote development via Docker and WSL
- Educational programming instruction
- Cross-platform development for Linux and Windows
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about CLion.
- Specific subscription pricing not listed on product page
- Requires reference to separate store page for tier details
- AI credits needed for integrated AI features
- No mention of free trial for commercial use
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of CLion
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- CLionvsGNAT Pro
GNAT Pro: Software development environments and toolchains for Ada, C/C++ and Rust
- CLionvsIAR Embedded Workbench
IAR Embedded Workbench: Complete toolchain for embedded software development
- CLionvsKeil MDK
Keil MDK: Microcontroller Development Kit for Arm-based devices
Pricing
What CLion costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Free (Non-commercial)
Free
- Non-commercial use license
- Full IDE features for hobby and open-source projects
Free (Educational)
Free
- Student licenses
- Teacher licenses
- Full IDE access for educational purposes
Subscription
On request
- Different subscription options for individuals and organizations
- 25% discount for switching from competing products
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is CLion free?
CLion offers free licenses for students, teachers, and non-commercial use. Commercial users can purchase subscriptions with organization pricing available.
SourceWhat free options does CLion provide?
CLion provides non-commercial use licenses for open-source and hobby projects, plus full licenses for students and teachers without cost.
SourceDoes CLion include AI assistance?
Yes, CLion natively integrates AI with support for Claude, GPT, Gemini, and Grok models. Users can apply JetBrains AI credits or bring their own API keys to avoid vendor lock-in.
SourceAre there discounts for switching to CLion?
CLion offers a competitive discount of 25% for users switching from other IDEs and similar products.
SourceKeep looking
Where to go from CLion
- CLion alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- CLion pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- CLion badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Developer Tools softwareThe full category
- Best Developer Tools softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Developer Tools software for
Compare CLion with
- IAR Embedded Workbench
- GNAT Pro
- Keil MDK
- RAD Studio
- Rust
- Turborepo
- GitHub Copilot
- Penpot
- Depot
- Eclipse IDE
- Nx Cloud
- Pants Build
- Frappe
- Git
- GoLand
- Hookdeck
- JFrog Artifactory
- Namespace
Other Developer Tools software
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Free, then $39/mo12 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for CLion, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on CLion
CLion alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
CLion pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare CLion
Put it head to head with anything we hold
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