Apache NetBeans vs Visual Studio
Apache NetBeans
netbeans.apache.org
Visual Studio
visualstudio.microsoft.comSide by side
| Figure | Apache NetBeans | Visual Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 18 |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environments | 8.3 (#12) | 8.3 (#18) |
| Spec score · IDE Software | 8.3 (#13) | 8.3 (#16) |
| Spec score · Web Development IDEs | 8.3 (#15) | 8.4 (#14) |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environment Ide Software | 8.3 (#11) | 8.4 (#10) |
| Spec score · Debugging Software | 8.3 (#11) | 8.5 (#10) |
| Spec score · Developer Tools | 8.3 (#14) | 8.4 (#13) |
| Languages | It provides editors, wizards, and templates for Java, PHP, and other languages. | Visual Studio lists support for C++, Node.js, Python, .NET and JavaScript/TypeScript development. |
| Product | Apache NetBeans is a development environment, tooling platform, and application framework. | Visual Studio is a fully featured IDE for building web, cloud, desktop, mobile apps, services, and games. |
Plans
Visual Studio
- CommunityPrice not published
- Professional monthly$45 a month
- Enterprise monthly$250 a month
- Professional standard$99.99 a year
- Enterprise standard$499.92 a year
- IDE standalone$499, paid once
- Visual Studio CommunityFree
- Visual Studio CommunityFree
- Visual Studio Professional monthly$45 a month
- Visual Studio Professional monthly$45 a month
In their own words
Apache NetBeans
Apache NetBeans is a development environment, tooling platform, and application framework for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its editor highlights code by syntax and meaning and supports refactoring. Editors, wizards, and templates cover Java, PHP, and other languages, with plugins and linked support for JavaFX and JavaScript. The NetBeans Platform is a modular framework for Swing applications, with state saving, menus, toolbars, keyboard shortcuts, and window management. The IDE and Platform are free for commercial and non-commercial use under the Apache License; the listed plan is free. Apache NetBeans 31, dated August 10, 2026, supports running on JDK 26, 25, or 21, with initial support for JDK 27. Downloads include platform-independent binary and source ZIPs, plus linked installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Those installers are provided by committers for convenience, not as Apache Software Foundation releases. The release page provides SHA-512 hashes and PGP signatures. Windows/ARM is not fully supported, and older releases are no longer supported.
Visual Studio
Visual Studio is a Windows IDE for building web, cloud, desktop, and mobile apps, as well as services and games. It combines code editing, graphical designers, compilers, code completion, source control, and extensions. Listed development support covers Windows desktop, ASP.NET web work, Python, Node.js,.NET Core, Docker tools, and cross-platform C++ libraries. Debugging and testing tools include IntelliTrace, memory dump analysis, static code analysis, unit testing, code coverage, and IntelliTest. GitHub support lets users authenticate, create repositories, and push commits within the IDE. Visual Studio can create and manage Azure resources and deploy applications, and it supports Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions for CI/CD automation. GitHub Copilot provides code completion, chat, multi-file editing, debugging assistance, and test generation. Community is free, subject to limits for enterprise organizations. Professional monthly access costs $45 a month, and Enterprise monthly access costs $250 a month. A free trial is listed.