Freedom251 › Integrated Development Environments
Rider
What Rider is
Rider is JetBrains’ cross-platform IDE for .NET and game development. It supports projects built with .NET, ASP.NET Core, MAUI, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Code inspections and suggestions flag code quality issues and possible compilation or runtime problems. For web development, Rider supports JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and Sass, with integrations for Node.js, React, Angular, Vue.js, Bower, NPM, and Yarn.
The IDE includes version control support for Git, Subversion, Mercurial, Perforce, and TFS. Developers can run and debug NUnit, xUnit.net, and MSTest unit tests, and use its debugger with .NET Framework, Mono, and .NET Core applications. Database tools connect to databases, edit schemas and table data, run queries, and show schema relationships in UML diagrams. Docker and Docker Compose tools are available for .NET Core projects, but not .NET Framework projects.
Rider offers a free non-commercial plan and a commercial plan priced at $169 a year, with a free 30-day trial. JetBrains is headquartered in Amsterdam and was founded in February 2000.
Who it suits
Rider suits .NET and game developers working with technologies such as MAUI, Unity, Unreal Engine, or Godot. It also fits developers who want web, database, version control, testing, and debugging tools in one IDE, with options for non-commercial or commercial use.
What it does well
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Covers .NET, ASP.NET Core, MAUI, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot.
- Includes inspections for code quality and possible runtime or compilation issues.
- Runs and debugs NUnit, xUnit.net, and MSTest unit tests.
- Connects to databases and includes query and UML schema tools.
What to know first
- Docker and Docker Compose tools do not support .NET Framework projects.
- Direct support requests are available to commercial license holders.
Limits
The free plan is limited to individual non-commercial development. The commercial plan’s free trial lasts 30 days; the listed commercial price is $169 a year.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Rider Non-Commercial | Free · Individual non-commercial development · AI Free included · Public forums and bug tracker support | Free |
| Rider Commercial | per year · Plans for individual developers and organizations · Free 30-day trial · AI Free included | $169 a year |
As jetbrains.com lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Rider website.
- Choose the Rider Non-Commercial plan for individual non-commercial development, or the Rider Commercial plan for commercial use.
- Use the commercial plan’s free 30-day trial if you want to try it before paying.
- Use Rider on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Verdict
Choose Rider if you need a cross-platform IDE for .NET or game development with integrated testing, debugging, version control, and database tools. Its free plan is for individual non-commercial development; commercial users should consider the 169.00 USD yearly plan and its 30-day trial.
Questions
Is Rider free?
Rider has a free plan for individual non-commercial development. The commercial plan costs $169 a year and includes a free 30-day trial.
Which operating systems does Rider support?
Rider runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What development targets does Rider support?
It supports .NET, ASP.NET Core, MAUI, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot development.
Which version control systems does Rider support?
Rider includes support for Git, Subversion, Mercurial, Perforce, and TFS.
Who makes Rider?
Rider is made by JetBrains, which is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and was founded in February 2000.
What support options are available?
Commercial license holders can make direct support requests. Users can also use the community forum and issue tracker.
Facts from Rider's own pages
- Code analysis
- Rider provides code inspections and suggestions to identify code quality issues and potential compilation or runtime problems. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Company
- JetBrains is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and was founded in February 2000. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Database tools
- Rider can connect to databases, edit schemas and table data, run queries, and analyze schemas with UML diagrams. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Development targets
- Rider supports .NET, ASP.NET Core, MAUI, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot development. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Docker support
- Rider supports Docker and Docker Compose tools for .NET Core projects; these tools are not supported for .NET Framework projects. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2000 · jetbrains.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, Netherlands · jetbrains.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Product
- Rider is a cross-platform IDE for .NET and game developers. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Security
- Rider treats each newly opened solution as untrusted by default and prompts users to trust it or leave it unopened. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Security and compliance
- JetBrains says its Trust Center provides information about SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- Direct support requests are available to commercial Rider license holders; users can also use the community forum and issue tracker. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Supported operating systems
- Rider runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Testing and debugging
- Rider can run and debug NUnit, xUnit.net, and MSTest unit tests and includes a debugger for .NET Framework, Mono, and .NET Core applications. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Version control
- Rider includes out-of-the-box support for Git, Subversion, Mercurial, Perforce, and TFS. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
- Web development
- Rider includes JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and Sass support and integrates with Node.js, React, Angular, Vue.js, Bower, NPM, and Yarn. · jetbrains.com, 30 Sept 2026
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