BEST C# IDE for Windows, Linux & Mac (2023 Update)
C# (C Sharp) is one of the most popular programming languages widely used for building Windows applications, mobile applications, and games.
It is a middle-level programming language, so it is easy to understand and user-friendly. Moreover, C# contains fewer libraries, and it has a faster execution time; therefore, it is widely used in embedded programming.
Programming in C# becomes very easy using a C# IDE. There are many C# IDE software available in the market that contains a source code editor, a debugger, build automation tools.
Following is a handpicked list of Top 9 C# IDE with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.
Best FREE C# IDE & Compiler (Editor)
Name | Support platform | Link |
---|---|---|
VS Code | MacOS, Windows, Linux. | Learn More |
SlickEdit | Windows, Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi. | Learn More |
Dreamweaver | Windows, Android and iOS | Learn More |
Eclipse aCute | Windows | Learn More |
Notepad+ | Windows and Linux | Learn More |
#1) VS Code
Visual Studio Code is an open-source code editor software developed by Microsoft. This free text editor offers built-in support for C#, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Node.js. It provides autocomplete with IntelliSense features that provide smart completions based on variable types, essential modules, and function definitions.
Features:
- Easy working with Git and other Software Configuration Management providers.
- Offers code refactoring & debugging.
- This C sharp IDE is easily extensible and customizable.
- Visual Studio Code runs on Node JS easily.
- Omni sharp server helps you to change the values in the drop-down that helps you to manage with different API calls.
- Supported platforms: MacOS, Windows, Linux.
Link: https://code.visualstudio.com/
#2) SlickEdit
SlickEdit is a cross-platform, multi-language code editor with support for over 60 languages on nine platforms. It allows you to sync with version control integration. This C# IDE offers smart editing features and also provides increased productivity.
Features:
- Symbol analysis and navigation
- Syntax expansion and indenting
- Multiple cursors and selections
- This product offers version control support with Shelving.
- You can use a compiler and debugger for your code to show all errors for quick access.
- Its standard and pro editions are available with affordable plans as per your needs.
- Provides JUnit integration
- Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi
Link: https://www.slickedit.com/
#3) Dreamweaver
Dreamweaver is a popular C# Editor Tool. This tool helps you to create, publish, and manage websites. A website created with DreamWeaver can be uploaded to any web server.
Features:
- Dynamic websites can be quickly developed using Dreamweaver.
- You can create a website that fits any screen size.
- This tool helps you to customize workspace the way you like.
- It has an inbuilt HTML validator to validate your code.
- Provides Real-time collaboration, Live Preview, Drag-and-drop Editor, Multilingual, Syntax Highlighting, and Dual View
- Supports compliance standard such as GDPR
- Provides numerous plugins like Code View
- Seamlessly integrates with Fireworks and Flash
- Offers ready-made templates for blogs, ecommerce, newsletters and portfolios
- Provides programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Offers flexible coding, Seamless Live View editing, Multi-monitor, and Redesigned
- It provides customer support via Phone and Chat
- Supported Platforms: Windows, Android and iOS
- Price: Plans start at $20.99 a month.
- Free Trial: 7 Days Free Trial
#4) Eclipse aCute
Eclipse aCute is a language-based extension that provides development tools for C# and .NET Core. It allows resource allocation towards other language features. This one of the best C# IDE provides great features for developers who are looking to build a customized code editor of their own.
Features:
- It provides ready-made code templates.
- This tool automatically validates Syntax.
- Eclipse enables you to manage the project remotely.
- Supported platform: Windows.
Link: https://projects.eclipse.org/projects/tools.acute
#5) NotePad++
Notepad++ is a popular free to use C# code editor. It uses pure Win32 API, which offers great execution speed and smaller program size. This free C# IDE runs only in the Windows environment, and it uses GPL License.
Features:
- This free text editor supports syntax highlighting for languages like HTML, PHP, JavaScript, and CSS.
- Auto-completion: Word completion, Function completion.
- It offers macro recording and playback.
- It also offers user-defined syntax highlighting and folding.
- This C# compiler supports a multi-language environment.
- Provides customizable GUI interface.
- Multi-language and multi-view support.
- Supported platforms: Windows and Linux.
Link: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/
#6) Rider
Rider is a cross-platform C# IDE, which works perfectly with the IntelliJ platform and ReSharper. It is designed to function with .NET Framework and .NET Core.
Features:
- It provides 2200+ live code inspections and hundreds of context actions and refactoring.
- It allows you to split the editor either horizontally or vertically.
- It helps you visualize project dependencies in your solution.
- Allows you to run and debug unit tests based on NUnit, xUnit.net, or MSTest.
- This C Sharp IDE helps you work with SQL and databases without leaving Rider.
- Rider comes with TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and Sass support built-in.
- It supports Windows, Linux, Mac platforms.
Link: https://www.jetbrains.com/rider/
#7) DevExpress
DevExpress is one of the best C# IDE, which helps you create elegant, high-impact user experiences with emulator. It also provides high-performance decision support systems and analytics dashboards.
Features:
- Desktop UI components
- Offers office file and PDF API
- It also offers a fully integrated suite of UI controls, reporting tools, and dashboards.
- This C sharp IDE provides reporting and analytics.
- Offers cross-platform .Net app development.
Link: https://www.devexpress.com/
#8) Codeanywhere
Codeanywhere is one of the best C# IDEs that helps you save time by deploying a development environment in seconds. It also enables you to code, learn, build, and collaborate on your projects.
Features:
- You can preview your projects using private URLs with a preconfigured SSL certificate or assign your domain.
- Provides a fully-featured development environment with dedicated memory and disk space.
- You can stick with your favorite development tools and workflows.
- It helps you view and insert possible completions to speed up your coding.
- This free C# complier helps you to save time by deploying a development environment.
- Helps you debug code with breakpoints, call stacks, and an interactive console.
- This application enables you to share the project with your colleague.
- It helps you to compare two files side by side.
- Codeanywhere helps you to easily move or copy a folder from one server to another.
- It enables you to save changes to a remote server.
- Expandable with a vast amount of existing extensions.
- Supported platforms: Windows.
Link: https://codeanywhere.com/
#9) Scriptcs
Scriptcs offers a lightweight text editor that helps you code in C# with ease. It is a strongly typed compiled programming language. You can use it as the JavaScript in the scripts environment for executing scripts.
Features:
- Write C# in your favourite text editor.
- You can use this C# IDE for programming that helps you manage dependencies easily.
- This C# IDE allows you to bootstrap the environment for new scripts.
- Helps you write and execute an application with ease with less and clean code.
- Providing the option of Syntax highlighting in visual studio code.
- Provides plugin for Omni-sharp that will give immediate syntax highlighting.
Link: http://scriptcs.net/
FAQ:
Best FREE C# IDE & Compiler (Editor)
Name | Support platform | Link |
---|---|---|
VS Code | MacOS, Windows, Linux. | Learn More |
SlickEdit | Windows, Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi. | Learn More |
Dreamweaver | Windows, Android and iOS | Learn More |
Eclipse aCute | Windows | Learn More |
Notepad+ | Windows and Linux | Learn More |