Best C++ IDEs and Editors in 2023

Our team evaluated C++ IDEs. Here, we review their strengths and weaknesses. We also show you where to find them, and we list the pros and cons for each of the most popular C++ IDEs.

These tools impact your everyday life, as they're primary contributors to work and flow. In fact, many programmers take sides when it comes to their preferred C++ IDEs, and it's common enough to hear discussions on which works best. Once you read our evaluations, choose the option that best suits your needs.

Before we go into what the best C++ IDE is for you, let’s take a look at what an IDE is exactly, and why you should use one. 

What is an IDE?

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a packaged interface that provides a suite of tools and features that aid development. It is basically a complete package that offers a code editor, a debugging tool, and an automated tool.

Most IDEs offer many additional features, but the latter three form the skeleton of an IDE. Some C++ IDE supports only a single language, like IDLE supports only Python, but most support development in several languages.

Why Should You Use a C++ IDE?

IDEs can go a long way in making the development process easier and quicker. For one thing, they offer all the most commonly used tools in a neat and intuitive interface. Most IDEs will automatically configure parameters as well, meaning you can get started with coding much faster.

Convenience is one of the biggest selling points of IDEs - you can, for example, hover over a keyword and it’ll display documentation information. It’ll also show an error in your coding should you have made one. All of these benefits add up and make for a much less frustrating development experience.

Then there are features like intelligence code completion and automated code generation - nifty processes that can save a lot of time. The IDE will literally finish the tedious aspects of coding, while you can focus on the logic. Many programmers earn their first experience with a C++ IDE in a beginner's course. Only once they start working on their own do they develop a preference.

As you’ll see, each C++ IDE has its own features, and related advantages and disadvantages. Bear in mind that some IDEs here don’t support all platforms, so this research also focuses on which serves as the best C++ IDEs for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux. They can really make a difference when you’re working on a C++ project.

Best C++ IDE & Source Editors

1. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a modern, open-source IDE developed by Microsoft. Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, Visual Studio Code provides features such as a nice command-line interface, high-quality APIs, code snippets, code refactoring, auto code completion, and integrated Github, among other things.  Our team appreciates the variety of features and availability on multiple platforms. That makes it our top overall choice for C++ IDE.

Features:

• Annotations reporting: Allows developers to extract C# annotations and render them in HTML or store them in XML documents.
• Auto-hide: Stow documents along the edges of the development environment and pop up docs as the developer mouses over them.
• Cascading Style Sheets: Full support for creating styles that can be applied to HTML or XML elements
• Debugging support: Enhanced debugging support for C#, C++, and Visual Basic directly in the environment, as well as support for managed code and remote debugging.
• Deployment tools: Allow the developer to take advantage of Windows Installer to deploy applications; supports installation rollback and app advertising;
• Enhanced automation support: Allows the developer to access and control parts of the IDE programmatically, such as the Code Editor, projects, tool windows, and debugging, building, and deployment tools
• Macro recording: This allows the developer to record and play macros directly in the development environment.
• Schemas support: the automatic creation of a schema from an XML document instance

2. Code:: Blocks

Code::Blocks is a lightweight C++ available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It has all the basic features such as debugging, compiling, and auto code completion. Additionally, it features profiling, code coverage, code analysis, and drag and drop. You can add more features through plugins. Our team appreciates its ease of use and low-tech demand. That earns it a place as our second most recommended C++ IDE.

Features:

• Open Source
• Written in C++, so no interpreted languages or proprietary libs needed.
• Extensible: Has several plugins that you can use
• Compiler support: Supports multiple compilers, including GCC, MSVC++, clang, and more
• Features syntax highlighting, which is customizable and extensible
• Code folding for C, C++, Fortran, XML and more

Suggested Course

Beginning C++ Programming - From Beginner to Beyond

3. Eclipse

Eclipse is one of the simplest and most powerful IDEs for C++ development. This is a very simple, open-source IDE that is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Beginners will find it very easy to use. It offers features such as debugging, code compiling, auto code completion, profiling, refactoring, static code analysis, and drag and drop. Our team appreciates the clean interface and versatility. It remains a top C++ IDE for those who also plan to add plugins.

Features:

• Coding shortcuts 
• Autocorrection 
• Refactoring 
• Diffing files 
• Has several plugins
• JavaDoc facility lets you automatically create documentation

4. CodeLite

CodeLite is a powerful code editor that supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s open-source and comes with features such as code compiling, debugging, profiling, class browser, static code analysis, code completion tool, and refactoring. This IDE also gives you a RAD tool that lets you build widget-based apps. Our team evaluated this as one of the best C++ IDEs for its plugins and lightweight design.

Features:

• Clang-based code completion engine
• JavaScript code completion
• PHP code completion
• Word completion (based on open editors)
• Git, Svn plugins
• Database Explorer
• Valgrind Support
• SpellChecker

5. Sublime Text

One of the most popular code editors, Sublime Text is an IDE that you can use for many programming languages, including C++. It is a very fast text editor, with a simple UI that makes it easy to use. 

Sublime Text comes with great features such as syntax highlighting, Goto Anything, Goto Definition, Command Palette, Multiple Selections, powerful API, split editing, and instant project switch. Our team appreciated the interface on this C++ IDE. 

Features:

• Command Palette: Adaptive matching for quick keyboard invocation of arbitrary commands.
• Simultaneous editing: Make the same changes to multiple selected areas.
• Customizability: Offers a lot of customization via JSON settings files
• GoTo Anything: Easily and quickly navigate files, lines, and symbols.
• Auto-completion: Automatically completes codes and variables.
• Snippets: Save blocks of code that are frequently used and assign them keywords.

6. NetBeans

NetBeans has been a popular choice for a C++ IDE and is open-source and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. Features include refactoring, automatic indentation, syntax highlighting, bracket matching, and code folding.  As with the top C++ IDE, we recommend NetBeans as a standard for debugging and testing code. 

Features:

• Support for the latest Java technologies
• Smart code editing
• Rapid User Interface development
• Support for multiple languages
• Rich set of community-provided plugins

7. Qt Creator

Qt Creator is a useful C++ IDE for building GUI-based cross-platform software applications for mobile, desktop, and embedded devices. Using this software development tool, you can build high-quality graphical user interfaces and high-performance applications, all while speeding up development. Our evaluation revealed the drag-and-drop functionality as a primary benefit of this C++ IDE.

Features

• Design tools: Offers the following design tools: Qt Design Studio, Qt 3D Studio, Qt Designer, and Qt Quick Designer 
• Integrated analyze rs: QT Creator has integrated numerous analyzers, including Linux Performance Analyzer, Valgrind memory profile, Clang-Tidy, and Clazy
• Other features include Qt Core, Qt GUI, Qt Multimedia, Qt Multimedia Widgets, Qt Network, Qt QML

8. Brackets

Brackets is an open-source code editor that is used mainly for web development, but you can also use it for C++ by installing a plugin. Brackets is one of the most popular IDEs, loved by a huge number of programmers. We recommend this C++ IDE in part because of its widespread usage in the community.

Features:

• Inline Editor: Brackets enable you to open a window into the code you care about most. 
• Live Preview: Real-time connection to your browser makes changes to CSS and HTML to instantly see those changes on screen. 
• Preprocessor Support: Brackets features quick editing and live highlighting with your LESS and SCSS files, which will make working with them more comfortable than ever.

9. Atom

Atom is a modern, powerful IDE, which can be used for many computer programming languages including C++. Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, it is a very customizable IDE. It has features such as auto-completion, a find and replace feature, file browser, and package manager.

Features:

• Package manager: Atom has thousands of plugins.
• Autocompletion: An extensive autocomplete system for many programming languages.
• File system browser: The file tree and fuzzy finder make opening projects and files very simple.
• Multiple panes: Split your workspace into multiple panes to compare and edit code across files.

10. Dev C++

Dev C++, an open-source IDE, is considered by some to be one of the best C++ IDEs. However, it can be used only on Windows and macOS. It has features like code completion, tool manager, integrated debugging, syntax highlighting, GCC-based compilers, and profiling.

Features:

• Support GCC-based compilers
• Integrated debugging using GDB
• Support for multiple languages
• Customizable syntax highlighting editor
• Support of templates for creating your project types
• Tool Manager
• Easy installation of add-on libraries

Which is the Best C++ IDE?

The best IDE for C++ will come down to your own preference, largely. There may be some favoritism here or there depending on what you do, but the C++ IDEs listed here should cover all needs.

You could also choose an alternative to a C++ IDE, namely a text editor or command-line interface. Vim and emacs are good choices for these. These are good if you want something faster. Furthermore, IDEs can be difficult to wrap your head around, so the coding process from start to finish might be more cumbersome - hence a text editor instead. Still, the benefits of an IDE are hard to resist.

If you want to know more about these top C++ IDEs, check out their websites. But remember, a good C++ IDE will have lots of features and should perform well. And if you want to boost your C++ knowledge, consider taking a C++ certification!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does C++ Have an IDE?

Yes, there are several IDES for C++, and many of them are widely used. The specific C++ IDE you’ll choose will invariably end up being a personal decision. Don’t rush into making a decision, and try different IDEs before settling on one. 

2. What is the Fastest IDE for C++?

In terms of speed, there is a negligible difference between the different C++ IDEs. Speed here mostly depends on what you are doing and your workflow. Different IDEs will offer different results based on that. If you want a lightweight IDE, then perhaps Code Blocks or QTCreator is the right one for you.

3. Which IDE Should You Use for C++?

This will come down to personal preference, what you intend to do, and your workflow. Take a look at the IDEs on this list, try them out, and then decide for yourself. 

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