FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Integrated Development Environments

Pelles C

Free plan Windows

Visit Pelles C Alternatives Pricing

Pelles C's own site

What Pelles C is

Pelles C is a free development kit for desktop Windows software. It includes an optimizing C compiler, macro assembler, linker, resource and message compilers, code-signing and make utilities, and an install builder. Its IDE provides project management, source editing, debugging, profiling, and resource editors. Resource tools cover dialogs, menus, strings, accelerators, bitmaps, icons, cursors, silent AVI animations, versions, and manifests. The kit supports C99, C11, C17, and C23, while OpenMP support is limited to version 3.1. Processor support includes ARM64, X64, and X86, with listed X64 intrinsics from SSE through AVX512(F) and a subset of ARM64 NEON intrinsics. X64 hosts run on 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11; ARM64 hosts require 64-bit Windows 11. Version 14.50 is dated Jul 20, 2026.

Who it suits

Pelles C suits Windows developers who want a free C development kit with integrated project management, build tools, debugging, profiling, and resource editing. It is relevant to projects targeting the listed Windows and processor combinations.

What it does well

  • Freeware with no paid plan listed
  • Optimizing C compiler and build utilities
  • Integrated debugger and profiler
  • Supports C99 through C23
  • Supports ARM64, X64, and X86

What to know first

  • OpenMP support is limited to version 3.1
  • ARM64 hosts require 64-bit Windows 11
  • Windows is the only listed platform
  • Some ARM64 NEON intrinsics are only a subset

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Pelles CFreeware · Desktop Windows development kitFree

As pellesc.se lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Pelles C offers a broad Windows C toolchain at no cost, including compiler, IDE, debugger, and resource editors. Check its Windows, architecture, and OpenMP limits against your target environment.

Facts from Pelles C's own pages

Compiler
The kit includes an optimizing C compiler, macro assembler, linker, resource compiler, message compiler, code signing utility, make utility, and install builder. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
C standards
The product supports C99, C11, C17, and C23. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Current release
The download page lists version 14.50 dated Jul 20, 2026. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Download architectures
The executable setup downloads are listed for X86 and ARM64 and include the Add-In SDK. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Host requirements
The X64 host is 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11; the ARM64 host is 64-bit Windows 11. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
IDE
The IDE includes project management, a debugger, profiler, source code editor, and resource editors. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Instruction sets
It supports most listed X64 intrinsics from SSE through AVX512(F) and a useful subset of ARM64 NEON intrinsics. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
OpenMP
OpenMP support is version 3.1 only. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Price
Pelles C is freeware. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Processor support
It supports ARM64 and X64 64-bit processors and X86 32-bit processors. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose
Pelles C is a development kit for Desktop Windows. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Resource editing
Resource editors cover dialogs, menus, string and accelerator tables, bitmaps, icons, cursors, AVI animation videos without sound, versions, and manifests. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Target requirements
An X64 host can target 64-bit or 32-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11; an ARM64 host can target 64-bit Windows 11. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026
Translations
IDE translation projects are listed for English, Swedish, German, and Greek. · pellesc.se, 11 Oct 2026

Where Pelles C stands on Freedom251

Look at these too