Compare Visual Studio and Xcode

At a Glance
Visual Studio
Visual Studio
Star Rating
(3,881)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (35.8% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Visual Studio
Xcode
Xcode
Star Rating
(1,018)4.2 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (54.7% of reviews)
Information
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Xcode
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • G2 reviewers report that Visual Studio excels in ease of use, with many users appreciating its quick startup and smooth handling of complex projects. One user highlighted how it manages to load Laravel projects without freezing, even with multiple files open, making it a reliable choice for developers.
  • Users say that Xcode shines in iOS app development, particularly for those working with the Swift programming language. Reviewers appreciate its built-in iOS simulator, which allows them to test applications without needing an actual device, enhancing the learning experience.
  • According to verified reviews, Visual Studio offers a more robust support system, with users noting the quality of help guides and community resources. One user mentioned the effectiveness of extensions like PHP Intelephense for autocomplete features, which significantly boosts productivity.
  • Reviewers mention that Xcode provides a seamless integration experience for package management and dependency handling, making it easier for developers to set up their projects. Users have praised its effortless implementation, which can be a significant advantage for newcomers.
  • G2 reviewers highlight that Visual Studio's cross-platform capabilities are a major plus, especially for .NET development. Users appreciate the ability to develop Xamarin applications, which broadens their development scope and allows for more versatile project management.
  • Users report that while Xcode has a simple interface, it sometimes lacks the customization options that Visual Studio offers. Reviewers noted that Visual Studio's flexibility in adapting to different workflows can be a game-changer for developers looking for tailored solutions.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
Visual Studio
No pricing available
Xcode
No pricing available
Free Trial
Visual Studio
No trial information available
Xcode
No trial information available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.1
3,131
8.8
831
Ease of Use
8.7
3,151
7.8
834
Ease of Setup
8.6
807
8.1
183
Ease of Admin
8.5
558
8.0
138
Quality of Support
8.4
2,719
7.7
735
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.8
522
8.1
128
Product Direction (% positive)
8.9
3,040
7.9
808
Features by Category
.NET Integrated Development Environments (IDE)Hide 7 FeaturesShow 7 Features
8.8
923
Not enough data
Functionality
9.1
828
Not enough data
9.0
810
Not enough data
8.9
720
Not enough data
8.7
799
Not enough data
8.7
784
Not enough data
8.6
782
Not enough data
8.7
788
Not enough data
C/C++ Integrated Development Environments (IDE)Hide 7 FeaturesShow 7 Features
8.8
568
8.7
70
Functionality
9.1
510
9.0
65
8.9
505
8.8
63
8.9
465
8.7
57
8.8
495
8.5
63
8.8
495
8.8
63
8.7
495
8.6
61
8.7
492
8.6
61
Not enough data
8.6
108
Functionality
Not enough data
8.7
91
Not enough data
8.5
89
Not enough data
9.0
98
Management
Not enough data
8.3
87
Not enough data
8.6
85
Not enough data
8.8
85
Application Development PlatformsHide 7 FeaturesShow 7 Features
8.9
440
8.5
71
Functionality
9.2
410
8.7
66
9.1
395
8.7
63
9.0
371
8.2
61
8.9
394
8.3
65
8.7
381
8.8
67
8.7
385
8.4
65
8.9
390
8.8
65
Mobile Development PlatformsHide 3 FeaturesShow 3 Features
8.5
47
8.7
13
Agentic AI - Mobile Development Platforms
8.6
39
8.7
13
8.3
41
8.7
13
8.3
38
8.6
12
Categories
Categories
Unique Categories
Visual Studio
Visual Studio is categorized as .NET Integrated Development Environments (IDE)
Xcode
Xcode is categorized as Mobile App Debugging and Mobile App Testing
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Visual Studio
Visual Studio
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
35.8%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
31.9%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
32.3%
Xcode
Xcode
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
54.7%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
23.6%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
21.7%
Reviewers' Industry
Visual Studio
Visual Studio
Computer Software
31.0%
Information Technology and Services
22.6%
Higher Education
2.9%
Financial Services
2.5%
Internet
2.2%
Other
38.7%
Xcode
Xcode
Computer Software
35.9%
Information Technology and Services
18.0%
Internet
5.7%
Higher Education
3.4%
Financial Services
2.2%
Other
34.8%
Alternatives
Visual Studio
Visual Studio Alternatives
Eclipse
Eclipse
Add Eclipse
NetBeans
NetBeans
Add NetBeans
Android Studio
Android Studio
Add Android Studio
Qt
Qt
Add Qt
Xcode
Xcode Alternatives
Eclipse
Eclipse
Add Eclipse
NetBeans
NetBeans
Add NetBeans
Android Studio
Android Studio
Add Android Studio
Qt
Qt
Add Qt
Discussions
Visual Studio
Visual Studio Discussions
What is Visual Studio used for?
10 Comments
Pratik  D.
PD
IDE for Applications DevelopmentRead more
What is the use of Visual Studio?
6 Comments
Khabul S.
KS
Visual Studio is user friendly IDE tool used for developing code with lots of plugins available.Read more
can i use visual studio with mysql database? is it the best compatibility
5 Comments
Jacqueline U.
JU
Yes, you can go ahead, MS Visual Studio is efficiently compatible with both MSSql and Mysql.Read more
Xcode
Xcode Discussions
Can we use Xcode for the hybrid apps in future?
2 Comments
Karan S.
KS
It's doubtful - Apple likes to keep their environment separate from others. iOS will continue to be its own identity and I doubt hybrid apps will be...Read more
Is Xcode good for Python?
2 Comments
Yuvraj B.
YB
no its only for swift there was objective -C also but prefer to go with swift.Read more
What is the use of Xcode in Mac?
2 Comments
vishal singh s.
VS
For application developmentRead more