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Head-to-head · Python IDEs

Eric vs LiClipse

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Eric #4 in Python IDEs 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Eric
LiClipse #7 in Python IDEs 7.9/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit LiClipse

Eric leads on 2 checks, LiClipse on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreEric · 8.6/10
  • Free planonly Eric
  • Free trialonly LiClipse
  • Most featuresEric · 5 of 5

Eric scores higher on our rubric for python ides: 8.6 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

Eric offers free plan; LiClipse doesn't. Eric offers integrated profiler; LiClipse doesn't.

Eric is the better fit for free open-source general Python development. LiClipse is the better fit for eclipse users wanting a focused Python IDE.

  • Eric fits best

    Free open-source general Python development

  • LiClipse fits best

    Eclipse users wanting a focused Python IDE

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Side by side

Feature Eric 8.6/10 Visit ↗ LiClipse 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 7.9
Ranking #4 in Python IDEs #7 in Python IDEs
Best for Free open-source general Python development Eclipse users wanting a focused Python IDE
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $99 one-time
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community Email, Community, Tickets
Integrations 13 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Eric 5/5 · LiClipse 4/5
Integrated debugger ✓ ✓
Integrated test runner ✓ ✓
Remote development ✓ ✓
Integrated profiler ✓ (best) —
Python environment tools ✓ ✓
Specs
Code intelligence Advanced Advanced
Supported platforms windows, macos, linux windows, macos, linux
Our review
Pros
  • Advanced editing, autocompletion, debugging, profiling, and code coverage
  • Supports Git, Mercurial, Subversion, pip, and virtual environments
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with remote debugging support
  • Advanced completion, analysis, navigation, and type hinting
  • Integrated and remote Python debugging with unittest and pytest
  • Native Windows, macOS, and Linux installers with Eclipse integrations
Cons
  • Remote capabilities focus on debugging and remote files rather than hosted development
  • The broad feature set may be more than casual Python scripting requires
  • Its desktop IDE model may not suit browser-based development workflows
  • No free plan; the license costs $99 one time
  • The license applies to a purchased software version
  • Bundled PyDev features may vary by LiClipse version
Our verdict

Eric is a free, open-source Python editor and integrated development environment for developers working on local Python projects. Written in Python and based on Qt and Scintilla, it combines source-code editing, syntax highlighting,…

Read the review →

LiClipse is a commercial Eclipse-based development environment with bundled PyDev support for Python work. It combines Python completion with auto-import and type hinting, code analysis, navigation to definitions, integrated and remote…

Read the review →
  1. EricPython IDEs 8.6Free plan
  2. LiClipsePython IDEs 7.930-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Eric — where it wins

    • Advanced editing, autocompletion, debugging, profiling, and code coverage
    • Supports Git, Mercurial, Subversion, pip, and virtual environments
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with remote debugging support

    Where it doesn't

    • Remote capabilities focus on debugging and remote files rather than hosted development
    • The broad feature set may be more than casual Python scripting requires
    • Its desktop IDE model may not suit browser-based development workflows

  • LiClipse — where it wins

    • Advanced completion, analysis, navigation, and type hinting
    • Integrated and remote Python debugging with unittest and pytest
    • Native Windows, macOS, and Linux installers with Eclipse integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; the license costs $99 one time
    • The license applies to a purchased software version
    • Bundled PyDev features may vary by LiClipse version

Eric vs LiClipse: questions

Which is better for python IDEs, Eric or LiClipse?

Eric scores higher on our rubric for python ides: 8.6 against 7.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

How do Eric and LiClipse compare?

Of the 6 checks we put side by side, Eric leads on 2, LiClipse on none, and 4 are level. Free plan only on Eric.

Do Eric and LiClipse have a free plan?

Eric: Yes. LiClipse: No.

More comparisons

All python IDEs comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update