Arm Keil MDK vs CS+
Arm Keil MDK
keil.arm.comCS+
renesas.comSide by side
| Figure | Arm Keil MDK | CS+ |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 2 |
| Spec score · Embedded Systems Toolchains | 9.5 (#1) | 8.0 (#10) |
| Spec score · Embedded Development IDEs | 9.5 (#1) | 8.0 (#6) |
| Spec score · C++ IDEs | 9.5 (#1) | 7.9 (#11) |
| Included tools | MDK v6 includes Keil Studio Visual Studio Code extensions, Keil μVision, Arm Compiler for Embedded, and Arm Fixed Virtual Platform models. | The CS+ installer includes compiler packages for target products, and compatible Renesas emulators can provide debugging functions. |
| Integrations | MDK v6 feature listings include CMSIS-FreeRTOS, Keil RTX5, MDK-Middleware, IoT clients, CMSIS-DAP, ULink, and third-party debug adapter support. | CS+ can interoperate with Smart Configurator for the RX family, and Renesas offers a co-simulation tool linking CS+ with MATLAB and Simulink. |
| Purpose | Keil MDK simplifies embedded software development for Cortex-M and Ethos-U processors through CLI, IDE, or continuous integration workflows. | CS+ is an integrated development environment and coding tool for developing software for Renesas MCUs. |
| Support | Keil MDK support offers support cases, a community forum, documentation, and learning videos. | Renesas offers online support communities, a knowledge base, and ticket submission for technical questions or confidential information. |
Plans
Arm Keil MDK
- EssentialPriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
- CommunityFree
- Keil MDK v6 Essential82.39 CHF a month
- Keil MDK v6 Essential$99 a month
- Keil MDK v6 Professional165.60 CHF a month
- Keil MDK v6 Professional$199 a month
In their own words
Arm Keil MDK
Arm Keil MDK is a toolchain for embedded software targeting Cortex-M and Ethos-U processors. MDK v6 supports command-line, IDE, and continuous-integration workflows across major operating systems. It includes Keil Studio extensions for Visual Studio Code, Keil μVision, Arm Compiler for Embedded, and Arm Fixed Virtual Platform models. Software packs add device and board support, middleware, components, code templates, and example projects independently of the toolchain. Keil Studio supports CMSIS workflows with an integrated debugger and extensions for creating, building, and testing embedded applications. Listed integrations include CMSIS-FreeRTOS, Keil RTX5, MDK-Middleware, IoT clients, CMSIS-DAP, ULink, and third-party debug adapters. Community is for non-commercial use. The listed MDK v6 Essential plan costs $99 a month per license; Professional costs $199 a month per license and adds Arm Virtual Hardware, functional-safety compiler tools, and legacy tools including Arm Compiler 5. Keil μVision is available only for Windows hosts.
CS+
CS+ is Renesas’s integrated development environment for creating software for Renesas microcontrollers. The free IDE is available for development and production, while evaluation compiler packages may impose limits. CS+ for CC targets the RL78, RH850, and RX families; CS+ for CA,CX targets RL78, 78K, and V850. Its installer includes compiler packages for target products, and compatible Renesas emulators provide debugging functions. The graphical interface can generate C device-driver programs for MCU peripherals, although generation is unavailable for some MCUs. Modified or saved source files build automatically in the background, and action events can show variable values at a specified address. Smart Browser for CS+ for CC presents device information, hardware manual content, sample code, and related FAQs. CS+ can interoperate with Smart Configurator for RX, and Renesas offers a co-simulation tool linking it with MATLAB and Simulink. Current listed versions run on Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11; 32-bit use requires CS+ IDE V8.06 or earlier. Debugging emulators are sold separately.