Arm Keil MDK vs PyCharm
Arm Keil MDK
keil.arm.com
PyCharm
jetbrains.comSide by side
| Figure | Arm Keil MDK | PyCharm |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99/mo | $8.33/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 8 | 5 |
| Spec score · IDE Software | 9.4 (#1) | 8.9 (#6) |
| Company headquarters | Arm lists its global headquarters at 110 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 9NJ. | LinkedIn lists Amsterdam as JetBrains' headquarters. |
| Debugging | The VS Code integration supports pyOCD with ST-Link, CMSIS-DAP and ULINK, plus J-Link Server. | PyCharm includes a configurable visual debugger that works locally, remotely, in virtual environments, and in containers. |
| Documentation | Arm provides getting-started, user, licensing, installation, CMSIS-Toolbox and CI/CD guides plus videos and forums. | JetBrains maintains versioned PyCharm 2026.2 documentation covering setup, interpreters, testing, debugging, databases, remote development, security, plugins, and data sharing. |
| Integrations | MDK v6 feature listings include CMSIS-FreeRTOS, Keil RTX5, MDK-Middleware, IoT clients, CMSIS-DAP, ULink, and third-party debug adapter support. | Built-in version-control integrations include Git, GitHub, GitLab, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce support. |
| License | MDK components are governed by Arm end-user license agreements rather than an open-source license. | The open-source PyCharm build consists of open-source software governed by the Apache 2.0 license; proprietary Pro functionality is distributed separately. |
| Purpose | Keil MDK simplifies embedded software development for Cortex-M and Ethos-U processors through CLI, IDE, or continuous integration workflows. | PyCharm is an IDE built for web, data, and AI/ML professionals. |
| Support | Keil MDK support offers support cases, a community forum, documentation, and learning videos. | PyCharm lists a community forum, bug and issue tracker, plugin repository, and PyCharm blog as support resources. |
| Version control | Its Source Control view integrates Git and creates a workspace .gitignore file. | Out-of-the-box version-control support includes Git, GitHub, GitLab, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce. |
| What it does | Keil MDK is Arm’s toolchain for creating, building and debugging software for Cortex-M and Ethos-U microcontrollers and processors. | PyCharm is JetBrains' integrated development environment for Python programming, combining code analysis, debugging, testing, refactoring, project navigation, databases, version control, and collaboration tools. |
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
PyCharm
- PyCharm coreFree
- PyCharm FreeFree
- PyCharm Pro personal annual first year$100 a year
- PyCharm Pro$200 a year
- PyCharm Pro commercial annual$200 a year
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.
PyCharm
PyCharm is an IDE for web, data, and AI/ML professionals, with tools for Python development. It provides code completion, PEP 8 checks, inspections, and refactoring, alongside debugging and testing. The IDE includes an integrated terminal, package managers, Docker integration, and support for Pipenv, conda, virtualenv, and Poetry. Version control includes Git, GitHub, GitLab, Subversion, Mercurial, and Perforce; database tools cover MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Redis, and other providers. Local AI code completion can run local LLMs without sending code over the internet. Remote development supports several listed services, and remote connections use end-to-end TLS 1.3 with SSH security and host-fingerprint verification. PyCharm runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its free plan costs nothing and includes one month of Pro. The listed Pro plan costs $200 a year, billed per user per year. PyCharm Ultimate can be evaluated free for 30 days before purchase and license activation are required.