BEST C# IDE for Windows, Linux & Mac (2025 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
Dreamweaver	Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS	Learn More
Zoho Creator	Windows, macOS, Android and iOS	Learn More
SlickEdit	Windows, Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi.	Learn More
Eclipse aCute	Windows	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/

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#2) Dreamweaver

I found Dreamweaver to be a good C# Editor Tool during my evaluation. Here are the reasons why:

Features:

• Starter Templates: Dreamweaver offers a variety of starter templates that I can customize to quickly build HTML emails, About pages, blogs, e-commerce pages, newsletters, and portfolios.
• Creative Cloud Integration: As part of Adobe Creative Cloud, Dreamweaver integrates seamlessly with other Adobe products. I can easily bring assets from my Creative Cloud Libraries and Adobe Stock to enhance my websites.
• Responsive Design: Dreamweaver provides tools for designing and developing responsive websites that work across different screen sizes and devices. I liked using live previews and real-time edits.
• Code Editor: Dreamweaver includes a powerful code editor that supports HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more. It offers code hints, syntax highlighting, and code introspection for quick and accurate coding.
• Real-Time Browser Preview: I can preview my websites in real time in multiple browsers and devices simultaneously.

Visit Dreamweaver >>

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#3) 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/

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#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

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#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/

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#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/

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#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/

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#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/

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#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/

Why use C# IDE?

Here are the reasons for using C# IDE:

• It provides you ready-made code templates.
• This tool automatically validates syntax.
• It supports code refactoring.
• It supports syntax coloring.
• It allows you to set breakpoints.
• It offers a robust debugger.

FAQ:

Best FREE C# IDE & Compiler (Editor)

Name	Support platform	Link
VS Code	MacOS, Windows, Linux.	Learn More
Dreamweaver	Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS	Learn More
Zoho Creator	Android and iOS	Learn More
SlickEdit	Windows, Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi.	Learn More
Eclipse aCute	Windows	Learn More