Link copied to clipboard # Eclipse vs Visual Studio Comparison - What are their main differences? Share [ Export ](/compare/eclipse/visual-studio/export.csv) EclipseVisual Studio[+ Add Product](#) Pricing **Eclipse** No pricing available **Visual Studio** No pricing available **Pricing Insights** from reviews Time to Implement **Eclipse** 3 months Based on 47 responses **Visual Studio** 3 months Based on 44 responses Return on Investment **Eclipse** 12 months Based on 36 responses **Visual Studio** 12 months Based on 40 responses Perceived Cost **Eclipse** $$$$$ **Visual Studio** $$$$$ Average Discount **Eclipse** 20%6% more **Visual Studio** 14% **Pros & Cons** from reviews **Eclipse** [ Ease of Use (173) ](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1515973&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Features (148) ](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1515847&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Slow Performance (79) ](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1517060&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Outdated Interface (69) ](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1516998&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) **Visual Studio** [ Ease of Use (206) ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1778394&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Features (181) ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1778921&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ Slow Performance (147) ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1777886&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[ High Resource Consumption (86) ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1777843&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews) Integrations **Eclipse** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dd2cb7ce28768d6490870c9453edea61/amazon-chime.png "Product Avatar Image") Amazon Chime ](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-chime/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b739b2c64813e26b9968100a5983bb9f/apache-jmeter.png "Product Avatar Image") Apache JMeter ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-jmeter/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_9d00048205a466c174da3c77093a1336/apache-maven.png "Product Avatar Image") Apache Maven ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-maven/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_d99c715051d74e27de9fd48624b6561e/apache-tomcat.png "Product Avatar Image") Tomcat ](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-tomcat/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/integrations) **Visual Studio** [ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_5a7938ffd6497884772dc39786f9e1e2/adobe-analytics.png "Product Avatar Image") Adobe Analytics ](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-analytics/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_92678e42a1cad1b80e7d257e3636e25e/android-studio.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Android Studio ](https://www.g2.com/products/android-studio/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_dbc216204b9197e5c0a1b6ac81e9b7e1/azure-devops-server.png "Product Avatar Image") Azure DevOps Server ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-devops-server/reviews)[ ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_f176b4154a751d10150daa67a57b7dc5/azure-functions.jpg "Product Avatar Image") Azure Functions ](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-functions/reviews)[ View all ](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/integrations) Screenshots **Eclipse** ![Eclipse screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/20655/uploads_2Fd23ca165-a96d-426d-9ae8-9036dc331bfc_2Fdesktop-ide-screenshot.jpg) **Visual Studio** ![Visual Studio screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/20653/uploads_2Fd08cf40a-35bd-4c8e-87de-d117cd10b517_2FIC798331.png) **Ratings** from reviews Meets Requirements **Eclipse** 8.7 8.72,648 **Visual Studio** 9.1 9.13,228 Ease of Use **Eclipse** 8.3 8.32,656 **Visual Studio** 8.7 8.73,251 Ease of Setup **Eclipse** 8.4 8.4651 **Visual Studio** 8.7 8.7913 Ease of Admin **Eclipse** 8.1 8.1396 **Visual Studio** 8.5 8.5567 Quality of Support **Eclipse** 8.0 8.02,280 **Visual Studio** 8.4 8.42,811 Has the product been a good partner in doing business? **Eclipse** 8.5 8.5377 **Visual Studio** 8.8 8.8531 Product Direction (% positive) **Eclipse** 8.0 8.02,565 **Visual Studio** 8.9 8.93,125 **Features** ratings from reviews C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE) 8.5 350 8.8 576 Application Development Platforms Not enough data 8.9 470 Python Integrated Development Environments (IDE) 8.6 311 Not enough data Mobile Development Platforms Not enough data 8.6 53 .NET Integrated Development Environments (IDE) Not enough data 8.8 955 PHP Integrated Development Environments (IDE) 8.5 265 Not enough data User Insights **Reviewers' Company Size** Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 29.3% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 26.9% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 43.7% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 29.3% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 26.9% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 43.7% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 36.1% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 32.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 31.9% Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.) 36.1% Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.) 32.0% Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.) 31.9% **Reviewers' Industry** [![Eclipse](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/99f6b354a419d817b55329e62b0ea83f/eclipse.svg "Eclipse")](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews) Eclipse Computer Software 32.7% Information Technology and Services 24.2% Higher Education 3.7% Internet 3.5% Financial Services 3.0% Other 32.9% [![Visual Studio](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/646c72569089375221819d6efbe819a0/visual-studio.svg "Visual Studio")](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews) Visual Studio Computer Software 31.1% Information Technology and Services 22.6% Higher Education 2.9% Financial Services 2.6% Internet 2.2% Other 38.7% Alternatives **Eclipse Alternatives** ![AWS Cloud9](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476507/aws-cloud9.svg "AWS Cloud9") [ AWS Cloud9 ](/products/aws-cloud9/reviews) ![NetBeans](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565581/netbeans.svg "NetBeans") [ NetBeans ](/products/netbeans/reviews) ![Selenium IDE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_d41baf070939d3f0f6ace283c304df25/selenium-ide.png "Selenium IDE") [ Selenium IDE ](/products/selenium-ide/reviews) ![Xcode](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565953/xcode.svg "Xcode") [ Xcode ](/products/xcode/reviews) **Visual Studio Alternatives** ![Xcode](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565953/xcode.svg "Xcode") [ Xcode ](/products/xcode/reviews) ![NetBeans](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565581/netbeans.svg "NetBeans") [ NetBeans ](/products/netbeans/reviews) ![Android Studio](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487566603/android-studio.jpg "Android Studio") [ Android Studio ](/products/android-studio/reviews) ![AWS Cloud9](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1528476507/aws-cloud9.svg "AWS Cloud9") [ AWS Cloud9 ](/products/aws-cloud9/reviews) ## Eclipse vs Visual Studio FAQs Generated using AI Last updated: August 14, 2026 ### What is the difference between Visual Studio vs Eclipse? Visual Studio stands out for its higher G2 rating, stronger support, and top-cited strengths in productivity and integration, while Eclipse is favored for Java-specific development and plugin flexibility. | [Visual Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews) | [Eclipse](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews) | | --- | --- | | 4.5/5 (4,004 reviews) | 4.3/5 (3,221 reviews) | | Enterprise | Small-Business | | 8.7 | 8.4 | | 8.4 | 8.0 | | Productivity and integration with tools like Git and Azure | Java development, plugin ecosystem, and debugging tools (163+ mentions for Ease of Use, 137+ for Features, 102+ for Java Support) | ### How do the pricing models of Visual Studio and Eclipse compare? Visual Studio is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Eclipse. - **Visual Studio:** Reviewers highlight the free Community edition as a strong value, especially for students and individual developers, and appreciate the productivity gains relative to cost. - **Eclipse:** Reviewers consistently cite Eclipse's open-source, no-cost model as a major advantage, making it attractive for teams seeking a free Java IDE. - **Switching reasons:** In recent reviews, buyers mention switching to Visual Studio for its integrated features and productivity tools, while Eclipse is chosen for its cost-free, open-source nature and Java focus. ### What are the best alternatives to Visual Studio and Eclipse? The top 3 alternatives to Visual Studio and Eclipse are AWS Cloud9, Xcode, and NetBeans. | Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Visual Studio](https://www.g2.com/products/visual-studio/reviews) | 4.5/5 (4,004 reviews) | Enterprise | Free Community edition available; strong value for productivity | Productivity and integration with Git, Azure, and extensions | | [Eclipse](https://www.g2.com/products/eclipse/reviews) | 4.3/5 (3,221 reviews) | Small-Business | Open-source and free; strong value for Java development | Java development, plugin ecosystem, debugging tools | | [AWS Cloud9](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-cloud9/reviews) | 4.3/5 (368 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Cloud-based development environment | | [Xcode](https://www.g2.com/products/xcode/reviews) | 4.2/5 (1,039 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Native development for Apple platforms | | [NetBeans](https://www.g2.com/products/netbeans/reviews) | 4.2/5 (675 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Java development and project management | ### Which Java Integrated Development Environments (IDE) features should I prioritize when comparing Visual Studio and Eclipse? Buyers should prioritize debugging tools, plugin ecosystem, Java support, integration capabilities, and ease of use when comparing Visual Studio and Eclipse. - **Debugging tools:** Visual Studio is frequently praised for its advanced debugging and IntelliSense; Eclipse has 90+ all-time mentions for debugging and 78+ for debugging tools. - **Plugin ecosystem:** Eclipse is cited in 137+ reviews for features and 51+ for integrations, with strong praise for its extensibility; Visual Studio is also noted for its extensive extension marketplace. - **Java support:** Eclipse has 102+ all-time mentions for Java support and 90+ for Java development, making it a top choice for Java-centric teams. - **Integration capabilities:** Visual Studio is highlighted for integration with Git (587+ mentions) and Azure; Eclipse is noted for Git (361+ mentions) and compatibility with other tools. - **Ease of use:** Eclipse has 163+ all-time mentions for ease of use; Visual Studio scores higher on Ease of Use (8.7 vs 8.3). ### What are the pros and cons of Visual Studio vs Eclipse? Visual Studio's headline strength is productivity and integration, while Eclipse's is Java development and plugin flexibility. - **Visual Studio strengths:** Reviewers highlight productivity gains from integrated debugging, IntelliSense, and Git/Azure integration; praised for supporting multiple languages and extensions. - **Visual Studio trade-offs:** Many reviewers note high resource usage, slower startup, and a complex interface for beginners. - **Eclipse strengths:** 163+ reviews cite ease of use, 137+ mention features, 102+ highlight Java support, and 90+ mention debugging; praised for its plugin ecosystem and being open-source. - **Eclipse trade-offs:** 76+ reviews mention slow performance, 68+ cite an outdated interface, and 40+ note high memory usage; plugin conflicts and complex setup are also recurring themes. ### Is Visual Studio or Eclipse better for small businesses? Eclipse is the better fit for small businesses, as it is most popular in the Small-Business segment and praised for its no-cost, open-source model. - **Visual Studio:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers in smaller companies appreciate the free Community edition but note licensing complexity for advanced tiers. - **Eclipse:** Largest segment is Small-Business; reviewers consistently highlight its free, open-source nature and suitability for Java development in smaller teams. ### Which Java Integrated Development Environments (IDE) platform has better integrations? Visual Studio is favored for integrations, with higher all-time mention counts for Git and GitHub compared to Eclipse. - **Visual Studio:** Git integration (587+ reviews), GitHub integration (168+ reviews), Azure integration frequently cited in recent reviews. - **Eclipse:** Git integration (361+ reviews), GitHub integration (58+ reviews), Visual Studio Code integration mentioned in recent reviews. ### How do Visual Studio and Eclipse compare on customer support? Visual Studio and Eclipse are rated within 0.4 points on Quality of Support, indicating near parity (8.4 vs 8.0). - **Visual Studio:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and helpful, with documentation and community resources aiding onboarding and troubleshooting. - **Eclipse:** Reviewers note generally helpful support and strong community backing, though some mention longer response times for complex issues. ### Which is easier to implement, Visual Studio or Eclipse? Visual Studio and Eclipse score within 0.3 points on Ease of Setup (8.7 vs 8.4), indicating near parity. - **Visual Studio:** Reviewers frequently describe setup as straightforward, with guided installers and clear documentation, though some note the large installation footprint. - **Eclipse:** Reviewers highlight easy initial installation, but mention that plugin configuration and workspace setup can be complex for beginners.