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Best Developer Tools in 2026

Developer tools support coding work across Windows, macOS, Linux, the web, self-hosted setups and APIs. They can cover coding assistance, version control, debugging, testing, CI/CD automation and API access.

  1. 1

    Bruno

    Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+3

    Bruno pairs API testing and automation with Git-friendly plain-text collections and companion tools.

    9.3 Free plan · paid from $6/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
  2. 2

    Cypress

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2

    Cypress combines browser-based application testing with cloud features for recorded CI runs and team workflows. Review the plan limits and public-project data visibility before choosing a Cloud setup.

    9.1 Free plan · paid from $67/mo (annual) · 30-day trial Visit site
  3. 3

    PyCharm

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+2

    PyCharm combines Python-focused editing with debugging, testing, integrations, and database tools across three desktop platforms.

    8.7 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  4. 4

    Selenium

    Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4

    Selenium offers browser automation through WebDriver, IDE and Grid, with no listed price. Anyone deploying Grid should account for its default lack of authentication and restrict external access.

    8.7 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Bitbucket

    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    Bitbucket combines repository hosting and CI/CD with connections to Jira, Trello, and third-party services.

    7.7 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    Apache NetBeans

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    Apache NetBeans combines a code editor and tools with a modular Swing application framework, at no cost under the Apache License.

    7.6 Free plan Visit site
  7. 7

    Buildkite

    Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4

    Buildkite combines pipeline execution with test-result management and a choice of agent hosting. Its free and Pro plans have stated user and concurrency limits.

    7.6 Free plan · paid from $30/user/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
  8. 8

    CircleCI

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    CircleCI brings build execution, test optimization, deployment visibility, and security controls into a CI/CD offering.

    7.6 Free plan · paid from $15/mo Visit site
  9. 9

    CLion

    Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2

    CLion covers core C and C++ development workflows alongside remote and embedded toolchains. Its free offer is limited to non-commercial use, so commercial developers need a paid subscription.

    7.6 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    Cursor

    Free plan APIiPhoneLinux+3

    Cursor offers coding-agent workflows from a free entry plan through paid individual, team, and enterprise options.

    7.6 Free plan · paid from $20/user/mo Visit site
  11. 11

    DataGrip

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    DataGrip brings database connections, SQL assistance, data editing, and query workflows together in a desktop IDE.

    7.4 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  12. 12

    Eclipse IDE

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    Eclipse IDE offers a free, extensible development platform with packages for several programming areas and dedicated Java tooling.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  13. 13

    GitKraken Desktop

    by GitKraken Desktop
    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    7.3 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
  14. 14

    Insomnia

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    Insomnia covers API design and client workflows alongside mocking, CI/CD execution, and team collaboration.

    7.3 Free plan · paid from $12/user/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  15. 15

    IntelliJ IDEA

    Free plan APIExtensionLinux+2

    IntelliJ IDEA combines Java and Kotlin coding assistance with debugging, build, testing, and version-control integrations.

    7.3 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  16. 16

    GoLand

    by GoLand
    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    GoLand brings Go editing, testing, debugging, and version control together, with support for several other languages. Consider the annual subscription terms and trial options when choosing it.

    7.2 30-day trial Visit site
  17. 17

    Neovim

    Free plan AndroidAPILinux+3

    Neovim pairs Vim-style editing with a documented API, plugin options, and built-in language-server features.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  18. 18

    Playwright

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2

    Playwright combines cross-browser automation, test authoring tools, and support for agent workflows. Teams can run it locally or in CI on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  19. 19

    Postman

    by Postman
    Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2

    Postman combines API creation, testing, documentation, and monitoring in one platform, with a free plan and paid options. Check plan availability and the annual billing terms before choosing a tier.

    7.2 Free plan · paid from $9/mo (annual) Visit site
  20. 20

    Jenkins

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2

    Jenkins offers a wide range of CI/CD workflows, deployment formats, and community plugins without a software fee.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  21. 21

    Rider

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    Choose Rider if you need a cross-platform IDE for .NET or game development with integrated testing, debugging, version control, and database tools.

    7.0 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  22. 22

    Visual Studio Code

    Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1

    VS Code offers a broad editor toolkit and optional agent workflows across desktop and web. Consider the web environment’s limits and extension permissions when deciding how to use it.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  23. 23

    JUnit

    Free plan Self-hosted

    JUnit provides a structured testing stack with broad IDE and build integrations. Check runtime and Kotlin requirements, and treat Vintage as a temporary migration component.

    6.8 Free plan Visit site
  24. 24

    WebStorm

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    Choose WebStorm for JavaScript or TypeScript work that benefits from integrated code assistance, debugging, tests, and database tools.

    6.8 Free plan · 30-day trial Visit site
  25. 25

    Xcode Cloud

    Free plan iPhoneMacWeb

    Choose Xcode Cloud if your team uses Xcode and wants cloud builds, parallel tests, and TestFlight delivery within connected Apple development tools.

    6.8 Free plan · paid from $49.99/mo Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Compare the free plan, paid starting price, deployment model and the features your workflow needs. Check trial length and limits, and review the licence when open-source code or code changes matter.

Questions

Can I use a developer tool without paying?

Items in this category offer free plans, and some are listed as free products. Check the plan details and limits before relying on unpaid use.

Do developer tools offer free trials?

Some listed tools include free trials, with periods such as 14 or 30 days. Check the individual pricing note for the trial length and terms.

Which platforms do these tools support?

Listed platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, the web, self-hosted deployments and APIs. Check the tool's deployment model for the option you need.

What features should I compare?

Compare free plan, paid starting price, deployment model, AI coding assistance, version control, debugging, test automation, CI/CD automation and API access.

How do I check whether code is open source?

Look for the tool's licence information. Open-source code is offered by tools in this category, but licence terms differ and should be read before modifying or sharing code.

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