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Head-to-head · Python IDEs

PyCharm vs Eric

  • Updated Nov 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score PyCharm #1 in Python IDEs 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit PyCharm
Eric #4 in Python IDEs 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Eric

PyCharm leads on 0 checks, Eric on 0, and 6 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 scorePyCharm · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly PyCharm
  • Most featuresEric · 5 of 5

PyCharm scores higher on our rubric for python ides: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

PyCharm is the better fit for professional Python development across platforms. Eric is the better fit for free open-source general Python development.

  • PyCharm fits best

    Professional Python development across platforms

  • Eric fits best

    Free open-source general Python development

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Side by side

Feature PyCharm 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Eric 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.6
Ranking #1 in Python IDEs #4 in Python IDEs
Best for Professional Python development across platforms Free open-source general Python development
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Docs, Tickets Community
Integrations 16 integrations 13 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features PyCharm 0/5 · Eric 5/5
Integrated debugger Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Integrated test runner Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Remote development Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Integrated profiler Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Python environment tools Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Code intelligence Not checked yet Advanced
Supported platforms Not checked yet windows, macos, linux
Our review
Pros
  • Code completion, refactoring, debugging, and integrated testing
  • Docker, Dev Containers, notebooks, databases, and SQL support
  • Remote development and broad Python environment management
  • 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
Cons
  • Advanced PyCharm features require the Pro plan after the trial
  • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple scripts
  • Pro pricing varies by region and purchase flow
  • 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
Our verdict

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

Read the review →

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 →
  1. PyCharmPython IDEs 9.4Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. EricPython IDEs 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • PyCharm — where it wins

    • Code completion, refactoring, debugging, and integrated testing
    • Docker, Dev Containers, notebooks, databases, and SQL support
    • Remote development and broad Python environment management

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced PyCharm features require the Pro plan after the trial
    • Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of simple scripts
    • Pro pricing varies by region and purchase flow

  • 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
  • PyCharm9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A full-featured, cross-platform Python IDE with a capable free tier.

    Visit PyCharmFull verdict →
  • Eric8.6/10 · Free plan

    A capable free Python IDE with debugging, profiling, testing, and environment tools.

    Visit EricFull verdict →

PyCharm vs Eric: questions

Which is better for python IDEs, PyCharm or Eric?

PyCharm scores higher on our rubric for python ides: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

How do PyCharm and Eric compare?

All 6 checks we put side by side come out level: neither leads on any.

Do PyCharm and Eric have a free plan?

PyCharm: Yes. Eric: Yes.

More comparisons

All python IDEs comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026

Last updated · How we research and update