Side by side

CLion vs PyCharm

Both stand on integrated development environments. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

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.

Visit CLion

PyCharm combines Python-focused editing with debugging, testing, integrations, and database tools across three desktop platforms. The free plan provides an entry point, while Pro is listed at $200 per user annually and Ultimate has a 30-day evaluation period.

Visit PyCharm

The facts

	CLion	PyCharm
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	No	Yes
Runs on	Extension, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows
Lowest paid plan	CLion Commercial: $10.90 a month	PyCharm Pro personal annual first year: $100 a year
Plans published	4	5
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	jetbrains.com	jetbrains.com
On integrated development environments	#7 of 65	#3 of 65

CLion: what it does well

Supports CMake, Makefile, Bazel, and Meson projects
Includes GDB and LLDB debugging tools
Built-in test runner supports four listed frameworks
Offers remote and embedded development workflows

What to know first

Free plan is limited to non-commercial use
Commercial development requires a subscription
Individual commercial plan costs $10.90 a month

PyCharm: what it does well

Python completion, inspections, and refactorings are included.
Local AI completion can run without sending code online.
Supports multiple dependency managers and version-control systems.
Free plan includes one month of Pro.
Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

What to know first

Pro costs $200 a year per user.
Ultimate requires purchase and license activation after its 30-day trial.
Data sharing is enabled by default in Preview and EAP versions.

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