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Head-to-head · Integrated Development Environments

PyCharm vs CLion

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score PyCharm #3 in Integrated Development Environments 9.2/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit PyCharm
CLion #5 in Integrated Development Environments 9.0/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit JetBrains

PyCharm leads on 0 checks, CLion on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePyCharm · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth

PyCharm scores higher on our rubric for integrated development environments: 9.2 against 9.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

PyCharm is the better fit for python developers needing a full IDE. CLion is the better fit for professional C and C++ development.

  • PyCharm fits best

    Python developers needing a full IDE

  • CLion fits best

    Professional C and C++ development

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Side by side

Feature PyCharm 9.2/10 Visit ↗ CLion 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.0
Ranking #3 in Integrated Development Environments #5 in Integrated Development Environments
Best for Python developers needing a full IDE Professional C and C++ development
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days 30 days
Free trial length 30 days 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs, Tickets Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations 16 integrations 20 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PyCharm 4/5 · CLion 4/5
Integrated debugger ✓ ✓
Integrated testing tools ✓ ✓
Build tools ✓ ✓
Project management Not checked yet Not checked yet
Dev container support ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported operating systems Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Deep Python completion, navigation, inspections, and refactoring
  • Integrated testing, debugging, Jupyter, databases, and SQL tools
  • Docker, Dev Containers, remote development, and broad integrations
  • Supports CMake, Makefiles, Gradle, Meson, and compilation databases
  • Integrated GDB and LLDB debugging with core dump support
  • Covers testing, containers, remote, embedded, and version control workflows
Cons
  • Advanced capabilities require a Pro subscription after the trial
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of lightweight coding workflows
  • Core free functionality does not include the full IDE feature set
  • Commercial licensing varies by individual or organization use
  • The non-commercial license is limited to qualifying non-commercial use
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simpler C/C++ projects
Our verdict

PyCharm is a cross-platform integrated development environment from JetBrains for Python developers building web applications, data projects, and AI/ML workloads. It combines code completion, navigation, inspections, refactoring,…

Read the review →

CLion is JetBrains’ cross-platform integrated development environment for C and C++ development. It is aimed at professional developers and teams working across Windows, macOS, and Linux, with tools for code completion, navigation, static…

Read the review →
  1. PyCharmIntegrated Development Environments 9.2Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. CLionIntegrated Development Environments 9.0Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PyCharm — where it wins

    • Deep Python completion, navigation, inspections, and refactoring
    • Integrated testing, debugging, Jupyter, databases, and SQL tools
    • Docker, Dev Containers, remote development, and broad integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced capabilities require a Pro subscription after the trial
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of lightweight coding workflows
    • Core free functionality does not include the full IDE feature set

  • CLion — where it wins

    • Supports CMake, Makefiles, Gradle, Meson, and compilation databases
    • Integrated GDB and LLDB debugging with core dump support
    • Covers testing, containers, remote, embedded, and version control workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Commercial licensing varies by individual or organization use
    • The non-commercial license is limited to qualifying non-commercial use
    • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simpler C/C++ projects
  • PyCharm9.2/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A full-featured Python IDE with strong testing, debugging, data, and remote workflows.

    Visit PyCharmFull verdict →
  • CLion9.0/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A full-featured C/C++ IDE with broad build, debugging, testing, and remote workflows.

    Visit JetBrainsFull verdict →

More comparisons

All integrated development environments comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update