April 18, 2024

Best Python IDEs and Code Editors

Have you ever wondered which tool can take your Python programming to the next level? Selecting the best Python IDE can make all the difference in how you code, debug, and manage your projects.

In this article, let’s know what you should look for to identify the best Python IDE for your coding needs.

10 Best Python IDEs and Code Editors – Overview

Here’s an overview of the 10 best Python IDEs and Code Editors:

S.No.	IDE Name	License Type	Platform Compatibility	Version Control Integration	Download Link
1	PyCharm	Free/Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
2	Visual Studio Code	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
3	Jupyter Notebook	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux, Any platform with a web browser	No	Download
4	Spyder	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	No	Download
5	Thonny	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	No	Download
6	Atom	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
7	Sublime Text	Free/Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	No	Download
8	Eclipse with PyDev	Free	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
9	Wing IDE	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download
10	Komodo IDE	Paid	Windows, macOS, Linux	Yes	Download

Top 10 Python IDEs for Developers

Below are the top 10 Python IDEs for developers:

1. PyCharm

PyCharm is a comprehensive integrated development environment (IDE) designed specifically for Python programming, developed by JetBrains.

It is renowned for its coding assistance, intelligent code analysis, and a wide range of modern tools for web development and scientific applications.

The best Python IDE for Mac like PyCharm maximizes macOS capabilities and offers smooth integration with system features.

License Type: Available in both free (Community Edition) and paid (Professional Edition) versions

Supported Programming Languages:

Python (primary focus)
JavaScript, HTML, CSS (supported in Professional Edition for web development)
SQL (database support in Professional Edition)

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Intuitive, user-friendly interface with customizable UI
Seamless integration with major frameworks and technologies

Customization Options:

Extensive plugin ecosystem to extend functionality
Customizable UI themes and editor configurations

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting tailored to Python and other web languages
Code inspection and smart navigation to optimize code review and refactoring

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Sophisticated debugger with graphical UI for Python code
Inline debugging and variable values display during code execution
Remote debugging and integration with Docker and Vagrant

Version Control Integration: Yes (supports Git, Mercurial, Subversion, and more)

Community and Support:

Robust community support with forums and a vast number of tutorials
Professional support available with the purchase of the Professional Edition

Download Now

2. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is the most popular and best Python IDE for Windows. It is a powerful, lightweight code editor developed by Microsoft.

It offers a comprehensive suite of features for programming, especially beneficial for students through its vast extension marketplace and free use.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

JavaScript
TypeScript
Python
Java
C++
and many more

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Clean, user-friendly interface
Highly responsive even with large files

Customization Options:

Themes to adjust the look and feel
Configurable key bindings and settings

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Customizable syntax highlighting for various programming languages
Real-time syntax errors and warnings

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Inline debugging directly in the editor
Support for multiple debugging sessions
Conditional breakpoints

Version Control Integration: Yes

Community and Support:

Extensive documentation available online
Active community forums and regular updates

Download Now

3. Jupyter Notebook

Jupyter Notebook is an open-source web application that allows you to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text.

It’s particularly useful for students and researchers for data cleaning and transformation, numerical simulation, statistical modeling, data visualization, and much more.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
R
Julia
Scala
and many more through additional kernels

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux
Any platform with a web browser

User Interface and Experience:

Interactive web-based interface
Supports inline display of figures and charts

Customization Options:

Extensive configuration options through JSON files
Supports custom extensions and plugins

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Automatic syntax highlighting for supported languages
Visualize data directly in the notebook with libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Simple debugging capabilities within cells
Integration with Python debuggers like pdb
Use of %debug magic command for post-mortem debugging

Version Control Integration: No (Version control can be managed externally, e.g., through git, but it’s not integrated within the UI)

Community and Support:

Large, active community with many resources for learning and troubleshooting
Frequent updates and improvements by contributors

Download Now

4. Spyder

Jupyter Notebook is an open-source web application that allows you to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text.

It’s particularly useful for students and researchers for data cleaning and transformation, numerical simulation, statistical modeling, data visualization, and much more.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
R
Julia
Scala
and many more through additional kernels

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux
Any platform with a web browser

User Interface and Experience:

Interactive web-based interface
Supports inline display of figures and charts

Customization Options:

Extensive configuration options through JSON files
Supports custom extensions and plugins

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Automatic syntax highlighting for supported languages
Visualize data directly in the notebook with libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Simple debugging capabilities within cells
Integration with Python debuggers like pdb
Use of %debug magic command for post-mortem debugging

Version Control Integration: No (Version control can be managed externally, e.g., through git, but it’s not integrated within the UI)

Community and Support:

Large, active community with many resources for learning and troubleshooting
Frequent updates and improvements by contributors

Download Now

5. Thonny

Thonny is a free and open-source integrated development environment (IDE) designed specifically for beginners learning Python programming.

It provides a simple interface with features tailored to help novices understand the basics of coding and debugging.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

Python

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Simple, user-friendly interface ideal for beginners
Displays variables at work and their changes in real-time

Customization Options:

Basic customization options suitable for beginners
Themes to adjust the visual appearance

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Clear syntax highlighting for Python
Easy-to-read error messages and notifications

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Step through the code to see the execution in detail
Simple to use debugger with automatic display of call stack
Variables and their states are visually represented

Version Control Integration: No (Version control can be managed externally, but Thonny does not have built-in support for it)

Community and Support:

Active support through forums and online resources
Regular updates and improvements to the IDE

Download Now

6. Atom

Atom is a free and open-source text editor developed by GitHub, which can be enhanced to work as a full-featured integrated development environment (IDE) using various packages and extensions.

It’s designed to be deeply customizable, but still approachable using the default configuration.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

JavaScript
Python
HTML
CSS
PHP
Ruby
C++
and many more via community-packages

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modern, sleek user interface that is highly customizable
Supports split editing and browsing for better multitasking

Customization Options:

Install thousands of open-source packages to enhance functionality
Fully customizable appearance and functionality through themes and plugins

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Rich syntax highlighting with community-created themes
Flexible layout and file system browser to manage projects

Code Autocompletion: Yes (through community packages like ‘autocomplete-plus’)

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Debugging capabilities through third-party packages (e.g., ‘atom-ide-debugger’)
Integration with various build tools and compilers via packages
Customizable linter integrations to help identify and fix errors

Version Control Integration: Yes (integrated support for Git and GitHub)

Community and Support:

Extensive community-contributed packages and themes
Active forums and substantial documentation for troubleshooting and learning

Download Now

7. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, markup, and prose, widely appreciated for its speed and ease of use.

It offers a sleek, user-friendly interface and a vast array of powerful features, making it popular among developers and writers alike.

License Type: Free/Paid

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
PHP
Ruby
C++
Java
and many more

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Minimalist, distraction-free interface
Extremely fast and responsive, even with large files

Customization Options:

Highly customizable through JSON settings files
Extensive library of plugins available via Package Control

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Robust syntax highlighting for a variety of programming languages
Supports split editing and customizable themes

Code Autocompletion: Yes (enhanced by installing packages like SublimeCodeIntel)

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Lacks built-in debugging; requires plugins for advanced debugging features
Integration with build systems for compiling and error-checking
Plugins available for more specific language debugging needs

Version Control Integration: No (integrated support for version control is limited; relies on plugins for extended functionality)

Community and Support:

Active community with a wide range of plugins and themes
Extensive documentation for customization and troubleshooting

Download Now

8. Eclipse with PyDev

Eclipse with the PyDev plugin is a popular combination for Python development, leveraging Eclipse’s robust platform features alongside PyDev’s Python-specific capabilities.

This setup is ideal for developers looking for an integrated development environment that supports both Python and other programming languages.

License Type: Free/Open-source

Supported Programming Languages:

Python (via PyDev)
Java (natively supported by Eclipse)
C/C++ (with CDT plugin)
JavaScript (with JSDT plugin)
and many others through additional plugins

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Traditional, feature-rich IDE interface
Customizable perspectives and views tailored to different development needs

Customization Options:

Extensively customizable through plugins and settings
Flexible workspace configuration to support various project types

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting for Python and other languages
Graphical debugging and variable inspection

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Integrated debugger for Python, with capabilities like stepping through code and breakpoints
Watch expressions, stack view, and interactive console
Supports remote debugging

Version Control Integration: Yes (supports Git, SVN, and others through plugins)

Community and Support:

Strong community support through forums and extensive documentation
Regular updates and a large ecosystem of plugins

Download Now

9. Wing IDE

Wing IDE is a powerful integrated development environment designed specifically for Python, offering a full suite of features tailored to professional developers.

It stands out for its comprehensive debugging capabilities and robust code intelligence features.

License Type: Paid (with a free trial version available)

Supported Programming Languages:

Python

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Customizable interface with multiple layouts to suit various workflows
Designed to reduce coding errors and improve productivity

Customization Options:

Themes to modify visual appearance
Configurable editor and project settings to enhance coding efficiency

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Advanced syntax highlighting for better code readability
Auto-editing features for faster development

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Powerful debugger with conditional breakpoints, multi-threaded debugging, and remote debugging
Debugging in the IDE without leaving the editor
Inspection tool to view variable values, evaluate expressions, and interact with the debugger

Version Control Integration: Yes (supports Git, Mercurial, Subversion, Perforce, CVS, and Bazaar)

Community and Support:

Detailed documentation and tutorial videos
Responsive support team and active user forums

Download Now

10. Komodo IDE

Komodo IDE, developed by ActiveState, is an integrated development environment designed to support multiple programming languages, with a strong emphasis on web development.

It combines robust functionality with tools for collaboration, web development, and customization.

License Type: Paid (with a free trial available)

Supported Programming Languages:

Python
Perl
PHP
Ruby
Go
Tcl
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
and more

Platform Compatibility:

Windows
macOS
Linux

User Interface and Experience:

Modern, flexible interface that supports multiple workspaces and split-view editing
Supports remote file access and editing

Customization Options:

Extensive options for themes and UI tweaks
Ability to add functionalities through extensions

Syntax Highlighting and Visualization:

Robust syntax highlighting tailored to many programming languages
Visual debugging aids and real-time code collaboration

Code Autocompletion: Yes

Integrated Debugging Tools:

Advanced debugging capabilities across various languages
Features include breakpoints, call stack inspection, and live code introspection
Ability to debug web applications directly in the browser

Version Control Integration: Yes (supports Git, Mercurial, Subversion, and more)

Community and Support:

Active community forums and detailed documentation
Professional support available from ActiveState

Download Now

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are some of the best free Python IDEs and code editors available?

Some of the best free Python IDEs and code editors available are:

VS Code
Atom
Spyder

2. What is the key difference between Python IDE and Code Editor?

The key difference between a Python IDE and a Code Editor is that a Python IDE comes with integrated tools specific to Python development, while a code editor supports multiple languages but lacks these integrated features.

3. What are the key features to look for in the best Python IDEs and code editors?

The Key features to look for in the best Python IDEs and code editors are syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging tools, and support for version control systems.

4. Can you recommend Python IDEs that are best for beginners?

PyCharm Community Edition and Thonny Python IDEs are best for beginners due to their user-friendly interfaces and essential built-in tools.

5. Which Python IDEs have strong community support and reliable customer service?

PyCharm and Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code have strong community support and reliable customer service.

6. What tools are available in Python IDEs for debugging code?

Breakpoints, step-through execution, and variable inspection tools are available in Python IDEs for debugging code.

7. What Python IDEs have the best integration with version control systems like Git?

PyCharm and Visual Studio Code have the best integration with version control systems like Git.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the best IDE for Python or Code Editor can influence your coding skills and project management.

If budget is a concern and you’re looking for cost-effective solutions, these top 10 best free Python IDEs can provide tools without the investment. So, carefully consider your requirements and preferences to select the best tool for your Python development journey.

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Thirumoorthy

Thirumoorthy serves as a teacher and coach. He obtained a 99 percentile on the CAT. He cleared numerous IT jobs and public sector job interviews, but he still decided to pursue a career in education. He desires to elevate the underprivileged sections of society through education