Freedom251 › Cross-Platform App Development Frameworks

Lazarus

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

What Lazarus is

Lazarus is a free, Delphi-compatible integrated development environment for Free Pascal and rapid application development. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with the project also listing BSD and Raspberry Pi support. A drag-and-drop graphical form designer works alongside code, while the editor provides syntax highlighting, code completion, and refactoring tools. An integrated build system, built-in debugger, and integrated testing tools cover core development tasks. Lazarus projects can be moved to another platform and compiled there, and its LCL supports cross-platform form design. Downloads provide builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS, together with source archives. The package system accepts third-party add-ons, including database frameworks, reporting, charting, and networking libraries. Lazarus is GPL licensed; its core libraries use LGPL with additional linking permission, which the project says allows commercial applications, while some extra packages have different licenses. It can build native binaries without runtime dependencies. Linux and BSD applications may use GTK2 or QT, and add-on packages can introduce dependencies. Lazarus began in February 1999 and provides forums, mailing lists, and a bug tracker for support and reports.

Who it suits

Lazarus suits Free Pascal developers who want a Delphi-compatible IDE with visual form design, coding tools, building, debugging, and testing in one environment. It also fits teams targeting multiple desktop systems or using third-party database, reporting, charting, or networking packages.

What it does well

Free plan with no trial requirement
Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Drag-and-drop form designer integrates with code
Built-in build system, debugger, and testing tools
Projects can be copied and compiled on another platform
Third-party package system supports database and networking libraries

What to know first

Some extra packages use different licenses
Linux and BSD builds may require GTK2 or QT
Add-on packages can introduce runtime dependencies
No free trial is offered

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Lazarus	Free Pascal IDE; GPL/LGPL licensing; additional packages may have different licenses	Free

As lazarus-ide.org lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Lazarus website
Choose a Windows, Linux, or macOS build from the downloads page
Install the selected build on a supported platform
Use the form designer and code editor to create an application
Add third-party packages through the package system when needed

Verdict

Pick Lazarus for a free Free Pascal IDE that combines visual form design with editing, building, debugging, and testing. Its cross-platform project support and package system are useful for applications spanning several systems. Review package licensing and possible Linux or BSD dependencies before relying on add-ons or native builds.

Questions

What does Lazarus cost?

Lazarus has a free plan priced at $0.

Which platforms can run Lazarus?

Downloads are offered for Windows, Linux, and macOS. The project also lists BSD and Raspberry Pi among supported systems.

Is Lazarus open source?

The IDE is GPL licensed. Its core libraries use LGPL with additional linking permission, while some extra packages have other licenses.

Does Lazarus include debugging and testing?

It includes a built-in integrated debugger, build tools, and integrated testing tools.

Can Lazarus create cross-platform projects?

Projects can be copied to another platform and compiled there, and the LCL supports cross-platform form design.

How does Lazarus provide support?

General product, installation, coding, and feature questions go to the forum or mailing lists. Bug reports and feature suggestions go to the bug tracker.

Facts from Lazarus's own pages

Cross-platform projects: The site says projects can be copied to another platform and compiled there, and that the LCL supports cross-platform form design. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Downloads: The downloads page offers builds for Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as source archives. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Editor and debugger: Features include a code editor with syntax highlighting and code completion, refactoring tools, and an integrated build system and debugger. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Extensibility: Lazarus supports third-party add-ons through its package system and lists database frameworks, reporting, charting, and networking libraries. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Form designer: It includes a drag-and-drop graphical form designer that integrates with code. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Founded: 1999 · lazarus-ide.org, 28 Sept 2026
Licensing: The IDE is GPL licensed, and core libraries use LGPL with additional linking permission; the site says these allow commercial applications, while some extra packages have other licenses. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Output dependencies: The site says Lazarus can build native binaries without runtime dependencies, with GTK2 or QT dependencies possible for Linux/BSD applications and dependencies possible from add-on packages. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Privacy: The privacy policy says the project collects names and email addresses for its bug tracker, wiki, forum, and mailing lists, and deletes server logs after 14 days unless needed to investigate a server problem. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Product: Lazarus is a Delphi-compatible, cross-platform IDE for Free Pascal and rapid application development. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Project history: The about page says Lazarus started in February 1999 and was primarily founded by Cliff Baeseman, Shane Miller, and Michael A. Hess. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Security contact: For security-related issues, the contact page directs users to file a bug tracker report and enable the confidentiality option. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs general product, installation, coding, and feature questions to its forum or mailing lists, and directs bug reports and feature suggestions to the bug tracker. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026
Supported systems: The site lists Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, and Raspberry Pi among the platforms Lazarus runs on. · lazarus-ide.org, 9 Oct 2026

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