CLion
CLion: A full-featured C/C++ IDE with broad build, debugging, testing, and remote workflows. Ranked #5 of 65 in Integrated Development Environments by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Free plan · 30-day trial; best for professional C and C++ development.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 30-day trial
- Best forProfessional C and C++ development
- Free planYes
- Founded2000 · Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on CLion
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 analysis, refactoring, project configuration, debugging, testing, and source control. A free non-commercial license is available, while commercial subscriptions serve individual developers and organizations. Rust support is included in the non-commercial plan, and AI Free is included in the listed commercial individual plans.
Its strongest differentiator is breadth across the native development workflow. CLion supports CMake, Makefiles, Gradle, Meson, compilation databases, and other project models, while also connecting with GCC, Clang, MSVC, Bazel, and Docker. The integrated GDB and LLDB support covers breakpoints, variable inspection, memory views, and core dump debugging. Testing support includes Google Test, Boost.Test, Catch2, Doctest, and CTest, giving teams several established framework options within the IDE.
CLion also fits projects that extend beyond a local desktop build. Docker toolchains support container-based build, run, and debug workflows, while Dev Container features cover creation, mounting, cloning, and remote projects. Remote and embedded development includes WSL, remote toolchains, and GDB servers. Version-control integrations span Git, GitHub, Mercurial, Subversion, CVS, and Perforce. Choose CLion when a C/C++ team needs one environment for complex builds, debugging, testing, and remote targets. Developers seeking a smaller editor for basic source editing may find this scope broader than necessary, and commercial users should select a plan that matches their licensing needs.
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CLion pricing
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CLion fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Supported operating systems | Not verified |
| Integrated debugger | Yes |
| Integrated testing tools | Yes |
| Build tools | Yes |
| Project management | Not verified |
| Dev container support | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Support | Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 20 integrations: CMake, Makefiles, Gradle, Meson, Bazel, Docker … |
| Pricing | Free plan · 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | jetbrains.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
CLion integrations
CLion lists 20 integrations on its own site.
- CMake
- Makefiles
- Gradle
- Meson
- Bazel
- Docker
- WSL
- GCC
- Clang
- MSVC
- Google Test
- Git
- GitHub
- Mercurial
- Subversion
- CVS
- Perforce
- Valgrind
- Google Sanitizers
- STM32CubeMX
Alternatives to CLion
- IntelliJ IDEAA full-featured, cross-platform IDE for Java and Kotlin teams.9.4
- Visual StudioA full-featured Windows IDE for .NET and C++ teams with broad tooling.9.3
- PyCharmA full-featured Python IDE with strong testing, debugging, data, and remote workflows.9.2
CLion vs the competition
- CLion vs IntelliJ IDEA
- CLion vs Visual Studio
- CLion vs PyCharm
- CLion vs Rider
- CLion vs Eclipse IDE
- CLion vs Qt Creator
Compare CLion with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
CLion is ranked in 6 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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