Arduino IDE vs Eclipse IDE
Arduino IDE
arduino.cc
Eclipse IDE
eclipse.orgSide by side
| Figure | Arduino IDE | Eclipse IDE |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Integrated Development Environment Ide Software | 9.1 (#2) | 8.0 (#18) |
| Spec score · Embedded Development IDEs | 9.1 (#2) | 7.9 (#7) |
| Extensibility | Arduino IDE 2 debugging uses an open framework that lets core maintainers add debugger support for boards. | Eclipse supports platform plugins that add functionality, available through Eclipse Marketplace. |
| Headquarters | Arduino's privacy policy gives its registered office as Via Andrea Appiani 25, Monza, Italy. | Brussels, Belgium |
| License | Arduino IDE 2 source code and executable distributions are licensed under GNU AGPLv3; bundled third-party components use compatible GPLv2, MIT and BSD-3 licenses. | The Eclipse Foundation states that the Eclipse Public License is the default license for its projects unless project documentation says otherwise. |
| Purpose | Arduino provides software for creating projects with electronic devices that interact with the physical world. | The Eclipse Top-Level Project provides a platform for developing integrated tools and rich client applications. |
| Security | Arduino says it applies security practices across planning, design, building, testing, release, operation, and monitoring. | The Eclipse Foundation provides project security support including vulnerability management and reporting, repository management guidance, and developer training. |
Plans
In their own words
Arduino IDE
Arduino IDE is a free desktop environment for building projects with electronic devices that interact with the physical world. The software page lists version 2.3.10, with downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its editor provides autocompletion, code navigation, and a live debugger; documentation also covers debugging, the Serial Monitor, and the Serial Plotter. Arduino CLI offers a text-based environment to build, compile, and upload sketches, and manage libraries and boards. Documentation describes synchronizing sketches between IDE 2 and Arduino Cloud through a Remote Sketchbook. Arduino IDE 2.0 is open source, with source code hosted on GitHub. Listed targets include Arduino AVR, megaAVR, SAMD, SAM, Mbed OS Nano, and Mbed OS Portenta. Nightly builds preview incoming releases with updated features and bug fixes. Arduino describes its ecosystem as serving students, makers, and professional developers. The software page states that downloads are provided as is and disclaims express and implied warranties.
Eclipse IDE
Eclipse IDE is a free development platform for building integrated tools and rich client applications, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its Java Developers package combines a Java IDE with a Git client, XML editor, and Maven and Gradle integration. The 2026-09 release supports Java 26 and includes a compact source file wizard for Java 25 and later projects, plus a quick assist for converting enhanced for loops to forEach statements. Other platform features include regular expression content assistance in find and replace, console zoom controls, and search filters in Problems, Tasks, and Bookmarks views. Packages cover Java, Enterprise Java and web, C/C++, embedded C/C++, PHP, DSLs, and other development areas. Eclipse Marketplace plugins can extend the platform. The Eclipse Foundation provides project security support, and users can seek community help through its chat space or report issues through its problem reporting process. The Foundation’s default project license is the Eclipse Public License unless project documentation says otherwise. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association based in Brussels.